Beaches in San Luis Obispo County

About San Luis Obispo County

San Luis Obispo County is located along the Central California coast about mid-way between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The SLO coastline is a long one with many small cities spaced out just right. The cities south to north are Oceano, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria, and San Simeon. North of San Simeon is a long empty stretch of the Central Coast, including the Big Sur region of Monterey County, and there are no towns until you reach Carmel, although Big Sur Station has services. The area around San Simeon and Cambria has sandy cove beaches, most of which are part of Hearst San Simeon State Park. Morro Bay and Los Osos are sister cities on Morro Bay near the middle of the SLO coast. Nearby these cities are excellent beaches in state parks including Montana de Oro SP, Morro Bay SP, and Morro Strand State Beach. Pismo Beach and Avila Beach both have large sandy beaches with fishing piers jutting out from the center. Between these cities most of the beaches are in small coves below homes and parks on the bluff tops. The southernmost part of San Luis Obispo County has beaches that area backed by huge sand dunes. Some of the beaches and dunes are open to vehicles and ATV’s while others are protected in natural preserves and wildlife refuges.