Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach, California was founded in 1891 and incorporated in 1946. Home to one of California's longest and widest expanse of fine white sand, there are many recreational opportunities available to just about everyone. There is fishing, surfing, horseback riding, kayaking, camping, volleyball, touch football, soccer, clamming, shopping, and fine dining, just to mention a few activities.
Within minutes of Pismo Beach there can found championship golf courses, some of the finest wine tasting this side of Napa and even 2 airports! Just south of Pismo Beach there is camping and offroad fun on the Oceano Dunes. With over 30 restaurants and over 50 motels, hotels, inns and RV and tent campgrounds, there is a place to stay and eat for everyone's budget.

Surf, Tides, Climate, Water Temp: Surfers love this beach, as the waves are very consistent here. Water temp is quite cold, particularly in the summer when currents bring cold water up from the depths. There are mild air temperatures virtually year around, and it is actually cooler in the summer due to near constant fog.

Beach Activities: Because there aren't any rocks and due to the sand build-up around the pier, this is a surfer paradise! Just remember your wetsuit, as the water temperature is never warmer than 60 degrees! Kitesurfing, beach combing, walking, and running are all favorite shoreline activities due to the wide flat sand at the water's edge. Beach volleyball is also very popular with 14 permanent courts with nets maintained by the City of Pismo Beach. The wide beach has lots of room for sunbathing as well; the further you move away from the pier, the more privacy you'll have.

Scenery and Wildlife: Humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins come in quite close to shore and watching for them are 2 of the most popular activities that can be done from the shore or from the end of the 1,200-foot pier. Beachcombers will never leave empty handed, whether it is a perfect sand dollar or a gorgeous moon snail, shells are plentiful on this beach!

Places to Stay and Eat: There is no shortage of places to stay in Pismo Beach, no matter what your budget is, from camping in a tent to luxury hotels. Great dining abounds as well, from Rosa's Italian Food, to seafood at The Cracked Crab to partying with the locals at Scotty's Sport Bar.

Pets and Rules: Parking is free on all the side streets and in the main parking lot at the pier. Bring your dogs, but keep them on a leash, as the local police department will only warn you once if they catch your dog wandering free. No alcohol, no cars, no glass bottles are allowed on the sand. The beach is free to use with easy access to the sand down virtually every street.

Local Flavor, Crowds, well known local events: Pismo Beach prides itself on being a very friendly small town and is happy to welcome visitors to their little slice of heaven. Two very popular and well-attended events are the Father's Day Car Show which draws well over 50,000 spectators enjoying hundreds of the finest hot cars our country has to offer and the July 4th Fireworks spectacular. The Clam Chowder Festival in early October is a not-to-be-missed celebration of the clam that has lent Pismo Beach her name.

Best times to visit: The best time to visit Pismo Beach is in the fall. The summer crowds have gone home, the fog is gone and the weather is perfect.