Pismo Beach

Travel Guide

Photo provided by Pismo Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau
Pismo Beach Pier showing fishing as well as a small group of people
Pismo Beach which includes surf and general coastal views
Pismo Beach featuring views, general coastal views and a beach
Pismo Beach featuring a lake or waterhole

Pismo Beach evokes old-world California with its rugged coastal scenery and its emphasis on outdoor living.

Fish from the pier, hike over sand dunes or enjoy the watersports on offer you’ll find that most activities at Pismo Beach centre around the sun, sand and waves.

To see the main stretches of the coastline, take advantage of the free Avila Beach Trolley. This seasonal service operates a roundtrip from Pismo Beach Premium Outlets, a shopping centre, to Port San Luis, stopping at beaches in between. Hop off the trolley and hit the sand to sunbathe, surf or swim. Kite flying and kite boarding are also popular in this area, because of the prevalent Pacific Ocean breeze.

If you visit between late October and February, be sure to check out the migrating Monarch butterflies. Every year, tens of thousands of them fly to Pismo Beach seeking respite from the colder weather further north. The colony can be found on the branches of eucalyptus and Monterey pines in the Monarch Butterfly Grove, located just half a mile (800 metres) south of Pismo Beach.

South of the township, hikers and thrill seekers have plenty of opportunities for fun at the towering sand dunes of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Complex. This natural landmark is 18 miles (29 kilometres) long and contains dunes that stand hundreds of feet above sea level.

Go on a hike and discover the flora and fauna, such as the California red-legged frog and the California tiger salamander. Visit the Interpretative Centre in Guadalupe, about 16 miles (26 kilometres) from Pismo Beach, for information on the area.

If you prefer things a bit faster, get behind the wheel of a rented quad, dirt-bike or four-wheel drive and speed around the sand drifts of the Oceano State Vehicular Recreation Area, one of the only areas in California where it is legal to drive on the beach. There are ATV rental agencies in the town of Oceano.

Pismo Beach is approximately halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The main street, Price Street, is just a short walk from the Pacific Ocean, and has many restaurants, cafés and souvenir shops.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Pismo Beach

4.3
Top destination
5 - Excellent
18
5 - Excellent 46%
4 - Good
17
4 - Good 44%
3 - Okay
2
3 - Okay 5%
2 - Disappointing
2
2 - Disappointing 5%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Boy spent a night there so only visited the hotels and the beach itself

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Lovely place to stop off on a route 1 trip.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Excellent wee place beautiful surroundings Defo on my route for my next holiday in california

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Loved Pismo just hotel over priced and badly run

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller

Bad choice for us

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Cracked Crab is definitely worth a visit (and possibly a wait ). Ventana Grill also really good.