What to Do in Pismo Beach with Kids

Pismo Beach with kids: best beaches, family hotels, playgrounds, monarch butterlies, seafood restaurants, and dune adventures.

The last time we road-tripped to Southern California, we made a short stop in the laid-back beach town of Pismo Beach.

Over the years, we’ve explored our way through just about every coastal town in California, so to be honest, we didn’t expect much from Pismo Beach. But it comletely surprised us, and in the best way. We instantly fell for its easygoing surf vibe and its small, colorful downtown.

There is also so many fun things you can do with the kids at Pismo Beach. They have amazing beaches and ocean themed playgrounds, you can drive or sand-board at the sand dunes, go clamming, see monarch butterflies and learn how the cinnamon rolls are made. We had a blast!

Pismo Beach sits right along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), about 82 miles (132 km) north of Santa Barbara. It makes a perfect stop if you’re driving the coast in either direction. The nearest larger town is San Luis Obispo.

Pismo Beach has a population of around 8,000 people.

Things to Do and See in Pismo Beach

Spend a Day at Beach

Since this is a true beach town, everything naturally revolves around the coastline. The main beach, Pismo Beach, sits right in front of the downtown area. At the northern end, you’ll find Pier Plaza, where a long wooden pier stretches out into the ocean, a favorite spots for both locals and visitors.

There are also several smaller beaches tucked quietly behind residential neighborhoods, almost like little hidden gems. Some of these include Silver Shoals Park, Shell Beach, and Pirate’s Cove Beach, which is also known as a clothing-optional beach. In California, all beaches are public, so you’re free to access them even if homes sit right along the shoreline.

One of the larger and more popular beaches in the area is Grover Beach. Nearby, in the southern part of town, is Oceano Beach, which stands out for its unique sand dunes. Several of these coastal areas together form Pismo State Beach.

Visit The Famous Pismo Beach Letters

The city of Pismo Beach renovated Pier Plaza in 2019, and at the same time installed the now-iconic, over 8’ (2 m) tall Pismo Beach Letters right by the shore.

The Pismo Beach Letters quickly became one of the town’s most recognizable sights, and for a good reason. With the ocean as a backdrop, they make for beautiful photo spot, especially in the evening when the letters glow with soft neon light.

Go clamming

The town’s mascot is the famous Pismo clam, and clamming has long been part of Pismo Beach’s history. You’ll spot clams all over town; in artwork, statues, and little details throughout the streets.

Back in the early 1900s, clams were harvested here by the bucketful every single day, until their population dropped dramatically. Commercial harvesting was banned in 1947, but recreational digging is still allowed in limited amounts.

Today, you can collect up to 10 clams per person per day, as long as they are at least 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) in size. A permit from the state of California is required.

Clams are found by digging in the sand near the waterline, and any undersized clams must be carfeully returned and reburied. Collection is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

We spotted plenty clams along the beach, but most were still too small to take. They naturally burrow back into the sand to keep growing, and with predators like sea otters also feeding on them, full-sized clams are much harder to find these days.

Check out the Fun Playgrounds

When visiting with kids, it’s worth checking out the local playgrounds as each one has its own fun, coastal twist. Wouldn’t it be great if every town designed playgrounds to match its surroundings?

The most centrally located is Whale Surfing Playground, right by the main beach and next to the famous Pismo Beach sign. It’s not very big, but it features a whale-shaped climbing structure and several “surfboards” for balancing. Perfect for a quick play break by the ocean.

Another great spot is Dinosaur Caves Park, which is larger than the beachside playground. As the name suggests, it has a dinosaur theme, but you’ll also find sea lion statues and boat-inspired play structures scattered around the park.

Stroll around the Monarch Butterfly Grove

The Monarch Butterly Grove is a popular stop just south of downtown Pismo Beach, right along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Every year, monarch butterlies migrate thousands of miles across the U.S. to reach warmer wintering spots. Butterflies from the western states head to California’s coast, while those from the east can travel up to 5,000 km all the way to Mexico.

In recent years, however, monarch populations have declined dramatically. Just a few years ago, over 20,000 butterflies were counted here during winter, but during our visit, there were only around 500. The main reason is believed to be the loss of milkweed and other plants they rely on for food, due to habitat loss and pesticide use.

Monarchs overwinter in several places along the California coast, but in addition to Pismo Beach, you can often see them in Pacific Grove and at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz. These locations attract them thanks to their mild climate and the presence of eucalyptus and cypress trees.

Besides butterflies, California is also known for large groups of ladybugs gathering together to overwinter in certain areas.

You can typically see monarch butterflies in Pismo Beach from November through March.

See How the Cinnamon Rolls are Made

When we arrived in Pismo Beach, a friend tipped us off to try the local cinnamon rolls, and we’re glad we listened. Right in downtown, you’ll find Old West Cinnamon Rolls, a popular bakery where you can even watch the baking in action.

Cinnamon Rolls here are made using a 40-year-old recipe, and the bakery is now run by the third generation. We always love supporting small family businesses, so we picked up a whole box for te road.

Drive on the Beach

Just south of Pismo Beach lies one of California’s largest sand dune areas; Oceano Dunes. Stretching about 17 miles (27 km), these dunes were formed over thousands of years by wind and waves.

There’s plenty to do here. You’ll find hiking trails, horseback riding, and more Pismo clam digging spots. You can also try sand boarding, which is basically snowboarding on sand, with board available for rent at local surf shops.

But the most popular activity is definitely driving on the beach. Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is the only official beach in California where driving is allowed. Visitors can also rent ATVs to explore the dunes.

A permit is required to drive on the sand (around $5), and the speed limit is 15mph.

Enjoy some seafood

Since this is a classic beach town, you really can’t go wrong with local seafood spots. Dishes like fish tacos and clam chowder are widely available, even in casual American-style restaurants.

While fish tacos originally come from Baja California in Mexico, they’ve become a true staple at the California coast. They’re fresh, flavorful, and every restaurant seems to have its own take.

California-style clam chowder is especially known for being served in an edible sourdough bread bowl. The soup itself is creamy, filled with clams, potatoes, and bacon. I had one of the best clam chowders of my life at The Break.

Near the Oceano Dunes, you can also grab a bite at the fun, retro-style Rock & Roll Diner, built inside old train cars. We stopped there for breakfast in one of our previous trips, and it was such a memorable experience. Their menu is wide, so there’s something for everyone.

Watch the Sunset by the Ocean

There’s really no better place to catch a California sunset than the beach. Check the exact sunset time online, then head to the shore and enjoy the evening glow.

In addition to the beaches, Pismo Beach has several scenic viewpoints where you can sit and watch the sun dip into the Pacific. For example spots like Topaz Ocean Overlook and Florin Ocean Overlook are perfect for that.

Where to Stay in Pismo Beach

There are plenty of great hotel options in Pismo Beach for different budgets and styles. If you want to stay right by the ocean, popular choices include Sandcastle Hotel on the Beach and Cottage Inn by the Sea. They both offer family-friendly rooms.

On this trip, we stayed at Oxford Suites Pismo Beach, which I can highly recommend. The rooms were clean, the grounds spacious and peaceful, and breakfast was excellent. The pool are was also well maintained, and the room rate even included drink tickets; perfect for a relaxing evening.

We’ve also stayed in nearby Oceano at Best Western Casa Grande Inn, which was another solid option with breakfast included.

For those traveling with an RV, there are several camping options in the area, including sites near Oceano Dunes right by the beach.

🐚🐚🐚

Pismo Beach is definitely worth adding to your itinerary if you’re driving along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway. On this trip, we detoured from U.S. Route 101 and passed one of California’s quirkiest hotels, the Madonna Inn which is well worth a stop even if you’re not staying overnight.

Nearby, Morro Bay is a favorite stop of ours for a meal and a stroll along the waterfront. We’ve also stayed in San Simeon, which we love; don’t miss the elephant seals there or a visit to Hearst Castle.

Another fun nearby destination is Solvang, a charming Danish-style town where we’ve stayed several times. On the way, you can even pass by Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch and relive a bit of pop culture history.

Have you ever driven Pacific Coast Highway or visited Pismo Beach?