Overview
Pismo Beach (population 8,000 in 2020) is in San Luis Obispo County in the Central Coast region of California. It is part of the Five Cities Metropolitan Area which also includes Shell Beach (within the northern part of the Pismo Beach city limits), and Grover Beach, Oceano and Arroyo Grande, all to the south and south-east of Pismo Beach.
1 sights · 2 things to do · 3 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 10 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach
A fun place to go to the beach for all kinds of tourists. They offer beach bike rentals, surf board rentals, and ATV rentals for the Pismo Beach dunes.
Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove
Each year thousands of beautiful butterflies migrate to stay in Pismo Beach. Between 2010-2014 an average of 25,000 butterflies spent the winter in the grove. Butterflies arrive in the winter months, starting in late Oct…
Pismo Beach Clam Festival
During the 1950s Pismo Beach billed itself as the "clam capital of the world", with clams so abundant that they were harvested with plows on the beach. Over-harvesting led to a massive decline, but the town still celebra…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 72°F; winter lows dip to about 46°F. Wettest: Jan and Feb. (climate data from nearby Morro Bay)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SBP San Luis County Regional Airport, San Luis Obispo — 6 mi away. Directions
- SMX Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field, Santa Maria — 21 mi away. Directions
- FAT Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno — 124 mi away (major hub). Directions
Pismo Beach is off Highway 101 south of San Luis Obispo.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $89–$89 a night (typical $109), from 2 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $4 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$110, mid-range ~$150, comfortable ~$180.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, Pismo Beach
- Lunch Splash Café
- Afternoon Pismo Beach Clam Festival
- Dinner Old West Cinnamon Rolls
- Evening Hot Shots
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Pismo Beach is off Highway 101 south of San Luis Obispo.
By train
The nearest train station is a quarter mile (400 m) away in Grover Beach, served by Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. South County Transit's bus #21 can be used to reach downtown Pismo.
San Luis Obispo also has an Amtrak station, served by the Surfliner as well as the Coast Starlight between Seattle and Los Angeles. Taking public transportation from there is more difficult, so Uber is recommended.
By plane
The closest commercial airports are San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. SLO's airport has service to several western U.S. hubs. Santa Barbara Airport is 80 miles (130 km) south, with more departures than SLO. The nearest major international airport is Los Angeles International Airport, about 175 miles southeast of Pismo Beach. To reach Pismo, take the Central Coast Shuttle to Santa Maria, then Uber. Alternatively, take the Flyaway Bus and then Amtrak to Grover Beach.
A small general aviation airport exists in Oceano.
By bus
San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority provides bus service on Route 10 along Highway 101 between San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, and Santa Maria.
Flixbus stops in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria.
Orange Belt Stages provides service between Santa Maria, Paso Robles, and Visalia/Hanford in the Central Valley. Transfer from Amtrak in Hanford or Greyhound in Visalia.
Greyhound stops in Santa Maria.
Get around
By car
Car travel is fairly easy, but parking can be challenging on weekends and in summer.
By bus
SLO RTA provides service within the city on Route 21 and 24, which generally run in opposite directions.
By trolley
A free beach trolley runs between hourly between Port San Luis, Avila Beach, Shell Beach and the Pismo Beach Outlets on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, April to October.
By foot
By bike
See
See Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove
Each year thousands of beautiful butterflies migrate to stay in Pismo Beach. Between 2010-2014 an average of 25,000 butterflies spent the winter in the grove. Butterflies arrive in the winter months, starting in late October and ending in February. Docents are onsite to answer questions.
Do
Do Pismo Beach
A fun place to go to the beach for all kinds of tourists. They offer beach bike rentals, surf board rentals, and ATV rentals for the Pismo Beach dunes.
Do Pismo Beach Clam Festival
During the 1950s Pismo Beach billed itself as the "clam capital of the world", with clams so abundant that they were harvested with plows on the beach. Over-harvesting led to a massive decline, but the town still celebrates its yearly clam festival every year in mid-October. The weekend festival includes live music, a clam dig, clam bake, parade, chowder cook-off, and other festivities.
Buy
- Pismo Beach Premium Outlets Major shopping center.
Eat
Eat Splash Café
Wildly famous clam chowder dive, with more awards to their name than Donald Trump has buildings. Burgers, chicken strips, and other assorted staples accompany the world-famous chowder. Perfect lunch spot. Get there early, or get in line.
Eat Ada's Fish House
Family-owned restaurant, boasting fresh fish and seafood in a relaxed atmosphere. Classic coastal dishes such as steamed clams, lobster rolls, specialties of Pacific Coast halibut, grilled swordfish, and seafood pasta. Features a mostly-local wine list and full bar.
Eat Old West Cinnamon Rolls
Known for their soft, buttery cinnamon rolls, which some people will drive hundreds of miles for, or stand in long lines to buy these. The plain cinnamon roll is their original (and the owner's favorite), and the most popular topping is cream cheese frosting. Other variations have nuts, bacon, or chocolate. In addition to thousands of cinnamon rolls each day, they also sell baking mixes and other souvenirs for home bakers.
Drink
Drink Hot Shots
Large family friendly pool hall.
Sleep
- Dolphin Bay Inn
Stay SeaCrest Resort
- The Cliffs
Go next
- Grover Beach, Oceano and Arroyo Grande to the south and south-east
- Avila Beach - Avila Beach is a small coastal community located seven miles northwest of Pismo Beach that offers a number of quaint inns, spas and resorts. Point San Luis, accessible via a scenic docent-led hike or by trolley, is home to a lighthouse that dates back to 1890 and is the only surviving Prairie Victorian on the West Coast. Visitors looking for relaxation can soak in nearby mineral hot springs or lounge on the sandy beach that gives the town its name.
- San Luis Obispo - 13 miles (20 km) north of Pismo Beach and almost exactly half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, this small college town and its neighboring communities boast extraordinary resources for hiking, mountain biking, sea kayaking, swimming and surfing, outstanding natural beauty, a carefully preserved and thriving 19th-century downtown centered around a meticulously restored 18th-century mission, a small but thriving art gallery scene, and a large and growing collection of top-quality wineries.
Nearby
Grover Beach
City / town · 5 listings · 3 mi away
Oceano
City / town · 5 listings · 4 mi away
Avila Beach
City / town · 13 listings · 4 mi away
Arroyo Grande
City / town · 9 listings · 5 mi away
San Luis Obispo
City / town · 51 listings · 9 mi away
Nipomo
City / town · 3 listings · 13 mi away
Guadalupe
City / town · 2 listings · 14 mi away
Los Osos
City / town · 8 listings · 15 mi away
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