Pismo Beach
Discover Pismo Beach
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. 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.
What to Experience in Pismo Beach
Taste of Pismo Beach...
Not available
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsPismo Beach is off Highway 101 south of San Luis Obispo. 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. 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....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Car travel is fairly easy, but parking can be challenging on weekends and in summer. SLO RTA provides service within the city on Route 21 and 24, which generally run in opposite directions. 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.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Pismo Beach
people standing on beach during sunset
house near cliff
a pier on a beach with the sun setting in the background
A nice and warm sunset in Pismo Beach, California.
Pier Life
Bright sun shines over the ocean and beach.
a group of people standing on top of a wooden pier
Fog at Pismo Beach
a seagull sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean
a tall building with a sign on top of it
people standing on beach during sunset
house near cliff
a pier on a beach with the sun setting in the background