Morro Bay
Discover Morro Bay
Morro Bay (population 10,000) is in San Luis Obispo County in the Central Coast region of California. The town is best known for the massive 581-foot (177-m) volcanic rock at the entrance to the harbour. Morro Bay is a 15-minute drive from San Luis Obispo, 2½ hours from Fresno or Bakersfield, and 4 hours from Los Angeles or San Francisco.
What to Experience in Morro Bay
Famous Beaches
Taste of Morro Bay...
Not available
Climate
Morro Bay is a 15-minute drive from San Luis Obispo, 2½ hours from Fresno or Bakersfield, and 4 hours from Los Angeles or San Francisco. The nearest airport is in San Luis Obispo, with a range of departures to western hubs. Take the SLO Transit bus downtown and then transfer to RTA route 12. San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority offers countywide bus service. Take Route 12 from San Luis Obispo or Los Osos, or Route 15 from Cambria and San Simeon. The nearest train station is in San Luis Obispo, with Amtrak service on the Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner. To reach Morro Bay, take the SLO Transit bus downtown and then transfer to RTA Route 12. Morro Bay can be traveled on foot, especially if staying in the central part of town. Car travel is easy in Morro Bay, though parking may be challenging on weekends and in the summer. The Embarcadero is the main tourist area and lines the east side of the bay.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMorro Bay is a 15-minute drive from San Luis Obispo, 2½ hours from Fresno or Bakersfield, and 4 hours from Los Angeles or San Francisco. The nearest airport is in San Luis Obispo, with a range of departures to western hubs. Take the SLO Transit bus downtown and then transfer to RTA route 12. San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority offers countywide bus service. Take Route 12 from San Luis Obispo or Los Osos, or Route 15 from Cambria and San Simeon. The nearest train station is in San Luis Obispo, with Amtrak service on the Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner. To reach Morro Bay, take the SLO Transit bus downtown and then transfer to RTA Route 12. Morro Bay can be traveled on foot, especially if staying in the central part of town. Car travel is easy in Morro Bay, though parking may be challenging on weekends and in the summer. The Embarcadero is the main tourist area and lines the east side of the bay....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Morro Bay can be traveled on foot, especially if staying in the central part of town. Car travel is easy in Morro Bay, though parking may be challenging on weekends and in the summer. The Embarcadero is the main tourist area and lines the east side of the bay. It is a great walking experience along a working port and eco-tourist destination. A variety of marine life is here, from sea otters to sea lions, and the town is a declared bird sanctuary. Excellent deep sea fishing originates at the north end of the Embarcadero. A public park and boat launch are at the south end. RVs and mobile homes may day-park at either end. There is a giant chess board in the middle of Embarcadero Rd. Popular surfing locations are to the north on easy access beach from free public parking and across the harbor entry to the north end of the sand spit that forms the west edge of the bay. You can rent a kayak and explore the south part of the bay, which is one of the larger estuaries on the west coast.
Money & Budget
Shops cater to the tourist trade with art, t-shirts and the like.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Morro Bay
This shot was taken during one of the calmest mornings that I’d ever witnessed. The boardwalk behind us was empty, and the only sounds came from a small pack of seagulls playing in the early morning light above us. There was not a cloud in the sky or a person to be found, and it was spectacular.
Sunset At Morro Bay
Morro Rock at sunset.
Morro Rock aerial shot at sunset.
Lone surfer at Morro Bay.
Photo taken from North Point Natural Area just north of Morro Strand State Beach.
Shot at Morro Bay after a really messy session. Once we got out I realized how beautiful the place looks at low tide.
a bench sitting on top of a lush green hillside
brown rock formation surrounded by body of water during golden hour
I took these pictures a day before the wedding to which I was invited in Morro Bay (CA) to take photos for the couple that was getting married. It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen!"
This shot was taken during one of the calmest mornings that I’d ever witnessed. The boardwalk behind us was empty, and the only sounds came from a small pack of seagulls playing in the early morning light above us. There was not a cloud in the sky or a person to be found, and it was spectacular.
Sunset At Morro Bay
Morro Rock at sunset.