IMO the most under rated beach destination in California. There is something for all recreational visitors. From Monarch Butterfly migration to hiking, biking, swimming, surfing, camping, sand dune atv riding sight seeing, I could go on and on. Miles of beaches including the drive on beach. There are all of the usual things you would find in a beach/tourist area. Great family owned restaurants with 50 year histories, shops and lodging. This is a great starting point to explore Avilla Beach, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo and local wineries. California sunsets and sunrises without all the smog blurring the skyline. read more

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Pismo beach is nice, very convenient especially if you live in the Central Valley. Clean, waters are calm. The pier is walkable . Restrooms located right on the boardwalk. Parking lot nearby , pay to park! Everything is walking distance to restaurants,, bars and hotels. read more

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The last time I was here was during covid when I literally needed to get out of the house. Drove from LA just to get out and ended up here... Fast forward to now, it was nice to be back. The stretch of beach is massive. Not only that, they allow cars onto the sand. So there were loads of cars just parked with people setting up chairs. Like a little camping area. But I don't believe you could camp, I don't know. The beach also has sand dunes that's really nice to have a little wander through. Behind the beach area, there's a like a woody area which I believe might be a reserve of some sort. You could also rent some things for the beach. Noticed people on electric bike as well as atv driving along the sand. Plus it's pet friendly which is nice. Just be courteous and pick up after your pets. As it was Fourth of July weekend. There were lines of cars already early in the morning trying to get into the beach for the fourth. I don't know how it works or if there's a parking spot that you need to reserve but whatever it was, people were wanting in. Plus, I believe you could also have a bonfire as there was residue of burning wood throughout the beach. Compared to others, this beach is really nice. Sand was nice and soft. Big stretch and the sand dunes was a plus. read more

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April 11, 2025 A true beach beauty! 17 miles of glorious beach. Dog friendly (on-leash), perfect for beach cycling, horse-back riding, fishing, or just relaxing. There is a portion of the beach where vehicles are allowed, so you can drive and park on the beach. We were camped at Pismo State Beach - North, and had easy access to the beach. A little over a mile to walk to the Pismo Pier. A couple miles in the opposite direction to Oceano Dunes. read more

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Lovely public beach! When we were there (late August), there was a LOT of sealife in the sand so just be careful where you walk. There's a parking lot by the pier right by the beach. read more

Beach Therapy Seventeen mile stretch of pristine CA beach that extends across both the towns of its eponymous Pismo Beach and neighboring Grover Beach (fka Grover City). The Good: *Multiple access points by the DT Pismo Pier area (paid) and also access at Grover Beach entrance/Oceano Dunes (free). But beware, if you access it via Grover Beach, you'll have to schlep a little less than 2.5 miles and cross an estuary to get to the Pier. *Fantastic views and superb coastline *the weather here is almost always perfect *The Pier is a must-see *Access to great shopping and restaurants near the Pier. *Great people watching *Lots of shore bird action *Playground *Restrooms *Sand showers *Volleyball courts *Free to visit (kinda see above) The Meh: *Can get busy at certain times of the year The Ugly: *Parking is not free as the lots around the pier charge $3-5/hr variable, and the lots a bit further away charge $2-3/hr variable. Conclusion: Iconic Beach that's been named one of the Top-21 Beaches in CA by Travel + Leisure magazine. read more

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Beautiful spot along the pristine coast. The central coast has a beautiful blend of rural with a reasonable proximity to creature comforts. Beach is well maintained and nice and clean. Consistent with how the beautiful state beaches roll. read more

Pismo State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California

Nice clean beach, not that many people early in the morning. I just wish when I visited it would have been a little warmer so that I can get in the water. I'll be back though! read more

I almost don't wanna give this five stars because I don't want to share this wonderful place with anyone else. I love that you can drive on to the beach at the Grover and Oceano entrances and enjoy the day. This beach is well-maintained and the beach patrol is always around. You can't be a beautiful day at the beach, but when tourist season hits you wanna make sure to get your spot early as it does tend to get busy. read more

Pismo State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California

"The minute that I heard my first love story, I started looking for you. Not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. There in each other all along." Rumi Does time heal all? Only you can answer this question. Let me tell you, some moments an individual will never heal from. This is year two, since the loss of my husband. I have good and bad days. While I am able to maintain more than the status quota; life is great. Having come to terms with the loss of my husband; I'm able to maneuver through life. The loss of a spouse is one of the hardest blows to feel. The pain is so tremendous that there are no words. I am remembering memories that are missing because the pain was so unbearable. We are made to be resilient; and carry on. Life is just beginning, for me now. To begin to heal , life has to take on new meaning. Honestly, if we took a break and went back in time to two years ago; I'm a new individual. I have grown and changed my way of thinking. When your married, you work as a single celled organism. My husband and I were a union inseparably by all time; now that he has moved to the beyond. Although, he is still my shadow, it's time for me today. Is it selfish to know that you have a second chance at life. But this second chance at life is mine and mine alone. If it's self I have spent time on my knees talking to our Lord. What I get is signs of new beginning and my new memories? Although, I walk alone my husband always promised to love me and be there for me. Trust that small blessings when needed are their, they are gifts from my belated husband. Our souls will always be a union that is inseparable. Together in heaven our souls and hearts will re unite as one being yet again. As the waves dance, they take me to a special place. Find that happy place, wherever it might exist. Transfer yourself to that place, now let's close those peepers. Let your mind wander and find the beauty that it seeks. As far as the eyes can stretch all those blue waves. Wander far into the deep blue abyss. The tides wash in and out and all the hurt washes out. Let the magic of this place forever go to the depths and bring ecstasy. The butterflies dance their small lives span here. So much to see, nature is indeed the best show on earth all the time. Take time from your busy busy life. Connect with nature and explore outside of our cities. By reconnecting with nature we create brave new worlds. By unleashing our imaginations, let them forever wander and make dreams come tru together. This is what I chose as my number 1000 Yelp review; please always know that life has purpose. It may take you a minute to discover your reason for being and importance. We all matter; know this fact. Love rules all, in the end. All my growth I can attribute to my faith, and the blessings that he has granted to me. For the greatest gift is the light that comes through our window from the sun herself. Light is where we live and exist. read more

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We came to the central coast looking for some beach/relax time so we booked a hotel near the beach to be able to be close to the water. Overall we enjoyed the beach but there were some things that we really loved and other things we didn't love about it so maybe it's just best to list the pros and the cons. Pros -A flat beach so you can wander quite far out without getting too deep! -Lots of sealife to see- tons of clams under your feet, sand dollars, etc! -Beach patrol has a presence there, nice to know people are watching out! -Great place to walk and stroll Cons -Tons of sand flies. Not sure if it was just the time/season we came but not pleasant to sit on your blanket out there or play in the sand for a long time. -We were lucky to be able to walk to the beach but if you're driving in, parking is difficult. -Near the staircase to our hotel there was some dead animal about the size of a very large dog partially buried in the sand. We could tell it had been there for some time, surprised it wasn't cleaned up! read more

The trash is picked up regularly. The park was kept clean, the campers were Jules. Everyone obeyed that Dog On A Leash rule no poop left on the ground restrooms clean showers fairly clean, could use some deep cleaning. Campground rules really need updating and employees updated as well on what these rules are. Nothing is posted to say anywhere that there is a two license plate per campsite. There should be a general universal role for all California state parks and there is not the sign posted at the entrance where there is no one to check your in says five dollar extra vehicle fee and yet they wanted to ticket us for having an extra vehicle there were no options given, but to park outside the park, even though we could have reserved an extra site for our extra vehicles Far less expensive than having your car stolen or receiving a ticket for too many vehicles in one site. State Park Ranger came in with a canine unit and came across very belligerent. read more

Pismo State Beach is a 17 mile stretch of beach running through the towns of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach , and Oceano. There are spots of entry along the stretches. In the town of Pismo Beach, there is free beach access and a large walking pier. But parking is all street (free non metered spots but they are time limited). There are no close parking spots, all of them belong to the hotels. The actual state park entry is in the town of Grover Beach right off Highway 1 and west Grand Ave. you can't miss the ranger booth. If you want to access the beach by driving right into it with your car, it's $5 for the day pass. 4 wheel drive recommended. In and out privilege allowed for the day if you keep your receipt. But if you want to just walk onto the beach, it's free. That's an entry separate than the ranger booth. Free parking and access is via the shared parking lot of Fin's restaurant. The drive on portion of the beach stretches down into the town of Oceano. Overnight camping (tents and RVs) is allowed but reservations are required. They can only be made online. Plus there are AtV rentals to explore the Sand dunes. #CaliforniaPismoStateBeach read more

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Love this Beach and the soft sand! Love the pier and the lighted marquee. We caught sunset here and it was so beautiful!! Restaurants, ice cream-yogurt shops, and candy stores line the streets leading to the beach. Decent Public restroom and parking lot here as well. read more

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Dog friendly beach but dogs must be on a leash. It's the law! The challenging part was finding parking! For that reason, I gave it 4 stars. The number of tourists was insane. We got a parking spot right away when someone was leaving. And parking was on a time limit, meter maids monitored time, marked tires, and gave out parking tickets. So we enjoyed the beach on a time limit. Panda, our dog, had a blast! She loved the sand, sun, and ocean! Beautiful weather, beautiful beach! read more

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We spent a wonderful late summer day here at Pismo Beach. I paid the vehicle entry fee to park at the beach. We came very early and got a spot right near the entrance which was fine. Dogs are allowed on the beach as long as they are on a leash. My dog is fun and friendly but loooooves to wonder around and I couldn't chance him getting caught. Even though we did see quite a few dogs off leash but they are clearly better listeners than my big galoot. It was fantastic to sit at my car with my chair and my umbrella and blanket spread out. No need to unpack anything other than the few mentioned before. All your stuff is right there in your car. The kids played all day. Hours of boogy boarding and flip flapping around in the waves. It was slightly cloudy and very windy but it wasn't cold. We had a wonderful time. Parking at the beach is my new favorite thing and only wish we could do this every time we came to the beach. Definitely a future vacation spot for many more years to come. read more

Pismo State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California

Unfortunately, I have to be honest here. I just love this State beach. It offers the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets especially this time of year. Never have I seen anything more breathtaking then the beauty of this beach. But...I often grab a cup of coffee, dog in hand and head out to the end of Grand Ave to do a little meditation while enjoying the sunrise. For some reason the entrance to the beach opens at 7:00 a.m. There is a toll booth there, where they are charging for entry. No problem there. But if you are unloaded, and in need of a bathroom they are locked (SEVERAL TIMES WAY AFTER 8:00A.M.)This is why I give this beach a 1 star. On numerous occasions I've had to drive back in town to find a bathroom that I feel should be available once I've paid for entry. I hope this message gets to the right person and this is corrected. Again today I visited and it was after 8:00 the bathrooms were still locked. read more

If you have an off-road vehicle, it's worth the visit. I just love taking my truck on to the beach. Just making use of your off-road vehicle abilities is a great feeling. Call me crazy. I just can't describe it in words. Four wheelers aren't required. Just stay away from the softer sand spots. There are also ATV rentals where you can enjoy the dunes. My dogs had a blast. They enjoyed the walk. Also, sunset was a killer sight! You have to experience it for yourself. It's the heart of Pismo Beach. The main attraction. Add this to your to do list. read more

Pismo State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California

Lots of free parking, there's a shower station at the top of the stairs, it was a fun day being able to enjoy the great natural beauty of the water and beach. Would recommend it. read more

One of the Best Walking Beaches Anywhere Pismo Beach is flat, clean, and very walk-able for miles. It's wonderful to be able to actually walk in the water or near the water without a slope. If you are staying at a hotel on the cliffs, there are 92 very well-crafted stairs to the beach. Lots of birds, surfers, and people with dogs! Love this beach. The smell of the sea air, the lapping of the waves, and the soft sand make it just perfect for a meditative walk or energizing run. Enjoy! read more

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Today on my Weald on the Beach from Oceano towards the east down the beach, Which is wonderful for seeing lots of little marine life and sea shells of many different animals. Today I was able to take pictures of a Hermit Crab read more

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Great beach area off the beaten path with lots to do. Visit Pier Ave for food, beach rentals and shopping or the downtown area.

This has got to be one of my favorite California walking beaches, flat packed sand which does not have a slope towards the water! Cold water but feels so good on the toes, and sand dollars galore. Some free street parking if you are in the right spot near the pier but watch posted signs with the time limit, I've seen people get ticketed. read more

We just received an $80 parking ticket for parking near the Pismo Beach pier. You are supposed to park, pay at the pay station and then put the parking stub in your car. Then you pay before you leave. This is the most rigged parking lot I have ever seen! I will never go to Pismo Beach again! Those are the signs that are supposed to tell you that you have to pay first. Of course there was traffic so we didn't see the signs! I guess Pismo Beach has to make money somehow!!! read more

Pismo State Beach - Parking signs - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California

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It's definitely the busiest beach here, but it is a fun one with lots to do. The shopping area is worth a stop too, lots of cute and unique little shops. read more

Awesome beach! It's clean and allows for vehicles on the beach which is awesome! Go during low ride so you can enjoy more of the beach as it extends further out. If you have a trailer you can also take it onto the beach as well. Bring your horses and take them onto the beach for a ride up and down the coast. read more

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I love Pismo Beach! One of the best beach to have gathering of families and friends. Doing a bond fire at night is so nice and having the sound of waves is so serene. Best beach to camp on. Never to far from the ocean not even from groceries and restaurants as well. Did I mention that the sand dunes are just right there and depending on the spot you choose to set up camp it'll be your morning view! read more

Pismo State Beach - Car on Pismo Beach - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California

If walking along loooong stretches of sandy beaches is your thing, come to Pismo Beach! Beautiful beach, relatively clean and stretches for miles. What I don't like are the many cars here, it's one of the only beaches that allows cars, and it's very annoying to walk the beach and constantly have big RVs drive by - especially in the touristy summer. I'm going into nature to escape traffic! Most people come and set up bonfires, camp out or have picnics, and you can usually find a space that isn't too crowded. The water is cold, as everywhere on the central coast, but during the summer it's easy to jump in and refresh. If you're lucky, you can spot whales from the pier, or just watch the birds (mostly seagulls and big pelicans!) or the paddle boarders and surfers. Dogs are allowed on a leash, of course you have to pick up after them. read more

Pismo State Beach - Girl dancing with birds - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California

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My daughters and I went to Pismo Beach on spring break. The weather was a bit cold for us, but we enjoyed the swings on the beach. read more

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Great beach to just chill on the boardwalk or rent bikes and ride the hilly streets of Pismo. It's relatively clean compared to LA beaches with seagulls roaming around. There's a few shops and eateries in the area to check out. We ended up grabbing some clam chowder and then rode around on a quad surrey catching a really great sunset. Parking is metered along the streets. read more

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Pismo beach is definitely a beautiful sight. Not only is this city famous for their clam chowder, but it is a really nice and clean beach. I like that the beach is extremely close to the shops and is a walking distance to all kinds of stuff. Parking is not a hassle and finding a spot to hangout is never an issue. From sunset to sundown, the waves and the ocean continue to flow and stay beautiful. Definitely a nice beach to visit. The number 1 reason to visit Pismo in my books is definitely the chowder, but the beach is also fun for the family. The drive is not too far from Bakersfield, so Pismo is one of the beaches that we get away to when we want to visit the beaches. read more

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I'm sorry but after visiting Pismo Beach this weekend, I was thoroughly unimpressed. I had heard of this place as a weekend get-away for many Bakersfield residents; so we decided to venture out west to check it out. This beach is about 2 hours west of Bakersfield, and upon arrival - I felt like I was entering a 1950s/1960s zone. It's definitely got that feel. I liked that the sidewalks on some of the streets were FREE parking, so that's nice. There are a couple streets lined with eateries where people could stop and grab a bite to eat or sit down. You can park and walk down to the beach. Given the temp and season, there were few surfers in the water. The pier is OK; not the best I've seen before. I didn't see many people basking in the sun this past weekend, but perhaps it's too cold? The views were decent, but I just didn't feel the vibe of tranquility or peaceful ocean scenes here. It was more dodgy than anything. If you were to choose a beach to visit (while in the general area), I'd pick Avila Beach over Pismo Beach any day! read more

Pismo State Beach - Pismo Beach view from the Pier - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California

How does a natural treasure such as a beach NOT have five stars. This beach is beautiful plenty of sand dollars and seashells to take as souvenirs. You can drive your vehicle onto the actual sand/beach and do a bonfire or whatever while watching the waves serenade you. Also a good beach to run barefoot on or just run in general. Gorgeous views of the hillside, beachfront homes. Public restrooms and free parking available. read more

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Beautiful beach. Walked as the sun was going down. Free parking in a lot near by which was great! The day spots by the beach were sold out.

So beautiful! I love beaches! The sun, water, sky, good ass Prana! God is good! This beach is great. Came here on fine day to enjoy all good things. It was a wonderful day just sun gazing, and getting my feet wet in the water. So fun! read more

Pismo State Beach - Me soaking up that vitamin D! - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California

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Beautiful wide fine sand beach. Very shallow so it is good for younger kids. Minus is finding parking here. Come early to find parking. Most of the time it is cloudy/ foggy here in the morning. read more

Staying off 5 Cities Drive during my recent Pismo Beach vacation, I took a long walk one morning down to the small downtown area of Grover Beach and then headed west towards the ocean. To my surprise and delight, there was an entrance to the Pismo State beach area. Not knowing the area, the best way I can describe the entrance is that it's near the Pismo Beach Golf Course. There is an entrance booth charging an entrance fee for vehicles but for folks walking in, it's free. If you turn towards the left, that is where the vehicles are allowed, but towards the right, the area becomes open to pedestrians only. If you head north along the beach, you can see the Pismo Beach Pier off in the distance. On a Sunday morning just before some rain came in, this area of the coast featured dramatic skies, birds flying around the surf and bracing (but not too cold) winds. It's lovely spot for shell hunting and I even happened upon several sand dollars. This stretch of Pismo Beach coastline, is flat and wide, so plenty of walkers and runners taking advantage. The sand seemed very clean and overall it appeared to be a family friendly environment. I was so happy I discovered this entrance with the opportunity to take a long walk along the coast. I didn't venture too close to the pier, but imagine it's more crowded than the section I was on. Still, if you want to extend your walk a bit, I can imagine, it's still nice walk down to that section. Most likely in warmer, drier weather, it also seems to be a great stretch of beach for laying out, picknicking and spending time playing in the sand. I like that, although, vehicles are allowed on some sections of the beach, they leave this one long section open to pededstrians only. I also had the privilege of seeing a sea lion playing in the surf-what a great finale to my Pismo Beach Thanksgiving vacation. Very nicely maintained for a State beach and worth a visit if you're in the area! read more

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We've been to many beaches in California, Pismo State Beach comes to the top. I don't think words can adequately describe its natural beauty and our feelings. We're seriously considered uprooting from Alhambra to move here. We will update Yelp with our progress in future reviews. read more

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I went with some friends to Pismo Beach last weekend. They had a giant 4x4 truck and we loaded up and headed out. Cooking on the beach was fun but it was pretty darn hot in the day. Saturday night we went into town and got tasty mexican food. Yum! read more

The day was beautiful and we took a drive out on the beach. It was very pleasant. There weren't too many people out and it wasn't too windy. We had lunch at Finns too which is always good place to eat fish and chips at. read more

Pismo State Beach - Pismo Beach mid afternoon. It was a beautiful day and we took a drive on the beach. - Beaches Near Me - Oceano, California