Beaches in Ventura County

About Ventura County

Ventura County marks the southern end of the Central California Coast. South of Ventura is the Malibu coastline in Los Angeles County and the mega-city of LA with its popular crowded beaches. Ventura County is much quieter and has enough beaches to spread the people around so few beaches get crowded, except on sunny weekends. Ventura County has only three coastal cities and they are all close together near the center of the county shoreline. These cities are Oxnard, Ventura, and Port Hueneme. South of the cities are state beaches in Leo Carrillo and Point Mugu State Parks. Near the cities are many beaches of various descriptions including beaches at Mandalay SB, McGrath SB, San Buenaventura SB, and Emma Wood State Beach. North of the cities are numerous beaches right next to either the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) or the Ventura Freeway (Hwy 101) all the way up to the Santa Barbara County border at Rincon Point. Several housing communities dot the shoreline along the northern Ventura Coast including Solimar, Faria, Mussel Shoals, and La Conchita. Anacapa and Santa Barbara Island in Channel Islands National Park are both in Ventura County. Cruises to these small unpopulated islands leave from Ventura Harbor. Surfing, fishing, and beachcombing are popular activities at Ventura County’s beaches. Beach camping in Ventura is an option if you aren't staying in a hotel.