Family-friendly cabins near Pismo Beach
See monarch butterflies, dig clams, or take an off-road adventure on a camping trip to this Central California beach town.
- Pismo Beach
4 top cabins sites near Pismo Beach
Family-friendly cabins near Pismo Beach guide
Overview
Although the coastal town of Pismo Beach is best known for its boardwalk and status as the access point for the 17-mile-long Pismo State Beach, there are plenty of other things to do around town. Popular activities include biking, kayaking, hiking, and heading down Highway 1 for ATV adventures on the Oceano Dunes, home to two campgrounds: Oceano Campground and the North Beach Campground. both of which have restrooms, hot showers, picnic tables, and fire rings. Both campgrounds fill up fast—fortunately, the area is full of private alternatives, including plenty of quiet Hipcamps.
Where to go
San Luis Obispo County
Pismo Beach makes a good base for exploring other parts of San Luis Obispo County’s coastal and inland destinations. Popular activities include checking out the natural history museum at Morro Bay State Park to soaking in the hot springs of Paso Robles. About eight miles north of Pismo also sits another slice of paradise: the Avila Hot Springs offer rustic dry tent camping and cabins just two miles from the beach.
Santa Barbara County
A short drive from Pismo will take you to Santa Barbara County, where you'll find not only more beaches, but also Mission-style architecture and wineries galore. Pay a visit to Santa Maria to try the city's unique style of barbecue, or make your way up to the Danish-American community of Solvang to see colorful neo-Tudor architecture.
Big Sur
Popularized by the writings of Henry Miller, the Big Sur region of the Central Coast has long attracted artists of all stripes, offering scenic beaches, clifftop hiking trails, and hot springs. Some of these highlights are located in the region's much beloved state parks, including Andrew Molera State Parkand Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
When to go
Like elsewhere on the California Coast, Pismo Beach is at its most popular during the summer vacation months, but the weather is just as nice in early fall. Come in October to attend the annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival, an ode to the Pismo clam and its famous chowder. The winter off-season is a great time for whale watching, while Pismo Beach State Park also provides refuge for the largest overwintering colony of monarch butterflies in the country, which can be seen en masse from November through February.
