Gate 14 Fitness Journal

El Segundo

Redondo Beach vs El Segundo: Where Should You Train?

Choosing between training in Redondo Beach or El Segundo? Here's an honest breakdown of what each city offers, who each is right for, and why serious lifters from Redondo drive north.

The Gate 14 Coaching Team·Strength & Conditioning Coaches, Gate 14 El Segundo·Updated May 2026·2 min read

For coached strength and conditioning, El Segundo wins. For low-cost commercial gym access and proximity, Redondo Beach has more volume. The cities are 12-15 minutes apart and serve different needs — here is how to choose.

What each city offers for training

Redondo BeachEl Segundo
Commercial gym locationsMultiple (national chains)Some
Coached barbell S&CLimitedGate 14 at 130 E. Grand Ave
Boutique fitness studiosMultipleSome
Low monthly cost accessYesYes
Full-time coaching staffNot concentratedGate 14
Drive time between them—12-15 min

Redondo Beach is larger by population and has more gym real estate as a result. The commercial gym concentration in North and South Redondo gives Redondo residents proximity to multiple options. None of those options is a coached S&C gym with a full-time programming staff.

El Segundo has Gate 14. That is the distinction that drives Redondo Beach residents north.

Who should train in Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach gyms are the right answer when:

  • You want a commercial gym membership for low-cost equipment access
  • Your training is self-directed and you know how to program
  • You are looking for a boutique studio class (yoga, Pilates, barre, spin) convenient to your home
  • The 12-15 minute drive to El Segundo is genuinely not feasible for your schedule

There is no shame in this. Commercial gyms serve a real need. Self-directed training by experienced lifters produces real results. Proximity to home is a genuine adherence factor.

Who should train in El Segundo

El Segundo is the answer when:

  • You want a coached strength and conditioning program with a full-time coaching staff
  • You want your program written by a coach and executed under supervision
  • You are a beginner who needs someone to teach movement and manage loads from day one
  • You have tried commercial gym self-direction and found it produces variable results
  • You are an athlete training for a sport that requires a programmed strength base

The 12-15 minute drive is the cost. The coaching is the return.

For the full South Bay gym comparison, see the best gyms in the South Bay, honestly compared and Gate 14 vs big-box gyms.

See Gate 14 membership options or the Gate 14 story.

Frequently asked questions

Should I train in Redondo Beach or El Segundo?
For coached barbell strength and conditioning, El Segundo (Gate 14) is the destination. Redondo Beach has more commercial gym locations, which are better for low-cost equipment access or self-directed training. The products are different — choose based on what you actually need.
What does Redondo Beach have that El Segundo doesn't for gyms?
Redondo Beach has more commercial gym volume — more locations of national chains, more boutique studio options, and more proximity for Redondo residents. El Segundo has a coached S&C gym (Gate 14) that Redondo does not have an equivalent of.
Is it worth driving from Redondo Beach to El Segundo to train?
For people who want coached strength programming, yes. The drive is 12-15 minutes and the product at Gate 14 — coach-written program, form correction, tracked progression — is not available inside Redondo Beach at the same level.
What is the drive time between Redondo Beach and El Segundo?
From North Redondo, El Segundo is about 10-12 minutes via Aviation Boulevard or Prospect Avenue north. From South Redondo Beach, it is 15-20 minutes via PCH north or the 405 to Sepulveda.

Keep reading