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Ventura County

Ventura County marks the southern end of the Central California Coast. Between ritzy Malibu and Montecito you'll find many uncrowded stunning beaches.

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Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County has a long south-facing stretch of the Central California coastline with a Mediterranean feel. It’s no wonder that Santa Barbara is known as The American Riviera.

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San Luis Obispo County

San Luis Obispo County is located along the Central California coast about mid-way between LA and the Bay Area. The SLO coastline is a long one with small cities spaced out just right.

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Monterey County

Monterey County has a diverse coastline that includes rugged beaches in the remote region of Big Sur and sandy beaches near the urban areas of Carmel and Monterey.

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Santa Cruz County

The Santa Cruz County coastline is south of San Mateo County on the San Francisco Peninsula and just a short drive from San Jose and the southern San Francisco Bay Area.

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Nearby Hotels

Nearby Attractions

About Central California

The Central California Coast is a long special coastline that stretches for many miles between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. The counties along this coast include Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz. Driving the Central Coast south to north starts on Pacific Coast Highway in northern LA County and continues along Highway 1 all the way to San Mateo County. Along this stunning scenic drive there are over 250 named beaches of all shapes and sizes. The popularity of coastal road trips through this region is easy to understand when you consider that it includes the American Riviera in Santa Barbara, the stunning Big Sur Coast, and the endless sand of Monterey Bay.