Harbor guide
Rainbow Harbor and Rainbow Marina
Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA
Overview
Rainbow Harbor is the small, busy waterfront basin in downtown Long Beach, set between Shoreline Village and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Rainbow Marina inside it has 87 slips for commercial and recreational vessels, and the surrounding public docks host tour boats, charters, restaurants and visiting yachts. It is operated by the City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, and the same city system also runs Shoreline Marina and Alamitos Bay Marina.
Layout
The city describes twelve 150-foot public docks around the harbor, many housing waterfront attractions. Day-guest space is limited: there is a 150-foot dock inside the marina for day guests and 250 feet of day guest mooring outside the entrance to the harbor. Dock 8 is the designated short-term guest dock, with a three-hour maximum stay. Lockable dock boxes, showers, restrooms and pump-out stations are provided, and gangways have security access.
Who uses it
Because the harbor sits in the middle of a major tourist district, it works best for lunch stops, aquarium visits and short visits rather than long stays. Commercial charter and excursion boats share the same basin, so expect traffic at peak times. Most owners wanting overnight or longer stays use Shoreline Marina, a short run away, which is also where inquiries are handled.
Getting information
The Rainbow Harbor office is closed. Call the Shoreline Marina office at (562) 570-4950 for information about Rainbow Harbor and Rainbow Marina. Fuel is available at the Shoreline fuel dock at 700 E. Shoreline Drive, (562) 491-4636.
Good to know before you go
The harbor is inside the Long Beach breakwater, so water is sheltered, though ship and ferry traffic nearby is heavy. Catalina Express boats leave from Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach for Avalon, which means passenger ferry wakes and maneuvering nearby. Parking in the area is busy, so consider Long Beach Transit, seasonal water taxis or bike share. Check the 3-hour limit at Dock 8 before leaving a boat unattended.
Getting there & access
By water
Rainbow Harbor is inside the Long Beach breakwater on Queensway Bay, just off the Aquarium of the Pacific. Expect ferry and tour-boat traffic. Use current charts for the approach.
Short-term guest dock
Dock 8 is the short-term guest dock with a three-hour limit. Day-guest dockage is also listed on a 150-foot dock inside the marina and 250 feet outside the entrance.
Overnight and longer stays
The Rainbow office is closed. Call the Shoreline Marina office at (562) 570-4950 for slip and guest-mooring information. The city's guest mooring across its marinas totals nearly 3,000 feet.
By road and transit
The harbor is in downtown Long Beach between Shoreline Village and the Aquarium. Long Beach Transit buses, seasonal water taxis and shuttles, and bike share serve it.
Trailer boats
Nearest launch is South Shore ramp, 590 Queensway Drive, open 24 hours with overnight parking. Launch fee is $15 per day.
Amenities
- Showers and restrooms — Available for boaters
- Pump-out stations — Free city pump-outs, holding tanks only
- Dock boxes — Lockable dock boxes
- Security — Gangway access control and 24-hour security patrols
- Courtesy phones — Dock phones
- Guest docks — Dock 8 (3 hours) and day-guest mooring
- Fuel — Shoreline fuel dock, 700 E. Shoreline Dr, (562) 491-4636
- Nearby attractions — Shoreline Village, Aquarium of the Pacific and Pike Outlets
- Boat rentals — Listed in the DBW facility record
Rules & official resources
- Dock 8 is short-term guest mooring with a three-hour maximum
- The Rainbow Harbor office is closed; inquiries go to the Shoreline Marina office at (562) 570-4950
- Pump-outs are free and for holding tanks only: no gray water, bilge water or petroleum products
- Guest mooring is first come, first served; visitors need proof of liability insurance and current registration for longer stays
- California Boater Card required for all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, since January 1, 2025
Common boat service needs here
Hull cleaning
Boats left in the warm water of the harbor foul quickly; regular diver cleaning keeps speed and efficiency up.
Find Bottom Cleaning, Hull Cleaning & Dive Services providers →Detailing and washdowns
Charter and display boats in a tourist district need to stay clean, and salt and sun dull finishes fast.
Find Boat Detailing & Washing providers →Engine service
Commercial and charter boats here run long hours. Mobile mechanics handle impellers, cooling and generators at the dock.
Find Marine Mechanics & Engine Service providers →Management and concierge
Visiting and absentee owners often use yacht managers to arrange cleaning, provisioning and dockage.
Find Yacht Management & Concierge providers →Guides & FAQs
Nearby providers
No providers listed near this location yet — check back soon.
Sources
Last verified October 1, 2026