Dune It on the Beach!

Beach Camping at Oceano Dunes SVRA

Here’s where camping on the beach means … camping on the beach! Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is famous for its broad, flat beach, rolling sand dunes that seem to stretch out forever, reliably cool Central Coast temps, and its undesignated campsites that invite a sort of free-for-all atmosphere.

You can drive right on the beach here, though 4WD is recommended. If you blow it and get stuck in the sand, locals will come quickly to rescue you—for a fee, of course. But why risk it? If you don’t have the right wheels, just make the mile-long walk to the primitive campground. It’s a straight shot down the beach on firm, walkable sand. The campground starts just past Post 2, and aside from the areas clearly marked as “no camping,” the rest is wide open—just set up wherever you find a good spot! Watch out for the tide line, though, lest you awake to chilly waves lapping at your tent. Chemical toilets are provided, but you have to bring in your own water.

Oceano Dunes is a paradise for off-roaders, with miles of sand dunes to ride across. Don’t own an ATV? Spectating the scene can be entertaining, or get in on the fun! Plenty of vendors onsite will happily rent you a quad or dune buggy. Not into off-roading? Bird-watchers will enjoy searching for the endangered snowy plovers that reside in the protected area abutting the campground, and the vehicle-free dunes north of the park entrance are a blast to explore on foot. The campground crowd is on the rowdy side here, making it perfect for night owls and party animals. There is no quiet hour! The best part? It rarely fills up and is the cheapest beach camping you will find anywhere in SoCal. Spontaneous campers, rejoice!

Oceano Dunes SVRA is in Oceano, just south of Pismo Beach. Click here for a map of the area. From Hwy. 1, head west on Pier Ave. till it ends at the park entrance. The campground rarely fills up (holiday weekends being the exception), but you can still reserve a site through Reserve California. Though 2WD vehicles can drive on the wet sand, 4WD is recommended, especially since you’ll need to park away from the high tide line. Overnight parking is not permitted in the main Oceano Dunes parking lot, but you can leave your car at California Coast Candy Co.—a taffy shop by the park entrance—for a small fee. Just pay for your parking at the counter, and pick up some tasty confections while you’re there!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View
  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View
  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View