01
Best overall pick
Pismo City Beach
Pismo Beach Waterfront • Classic Central Coast Surf Town Beach • Best All-Around Choice
Wide sand, a lively pier, and easy access make Pismo City Beach the classic first stop when you finally hit the coast from Taft Heights.
Pismo City Beach is where highway-weary Kern County drivers roll down the windows and breathe in real ocean air. The main stretch by the pier has plenty of parking, restrooms, and spots to grab clam chowder or tacos between walks on the sand. It’s a strong all-purpose pick, whether you want to surf, fish from the pier, or just let kids run wild in the salt breeze.
02
Best for a relaxed day trip
Avila Beach
Avila Beach Village • Sheltered Cove With A Small-Town Feel • Best For Low-Key Lounging
Tucked in a gentle cove, Avila Beach offers calmer water, a compact boardwalk, and a slower pace that suits unhurried day trips from Taft Heights.
Avila Beach feels more intimate than many Central Coast spots, with its short strip of sand framed by a small pier and pastel-colored storefronts. The water here is often a bit warmer and mellower, making it friendlier for wading and paddleboarding. After your beach time, you can stroll the promenade, grab a coffee, or detour up the road for wine tasting in the Avila Valley.
03
Most iconic scenery
Morro Rock Beach
Morro Bay Waterfront • Windy, Wide Beach Beneath A Landmark Rock • Best For Dramatic Views And Photo Ops
Backed by the massive outline of Morro Rock, this long, breezy beach trades crowds for big skies, rolling surf, and plenty of room to roam.
Morro Rock Beach is all about the backdrop: the hulking volcanic plug at the harbor mouth that you can see long before you reach the sand. It’s a great choice if you like space to walk, beachcomb, or watch surfers with the rock looming just offshore. Pack a windbreaker, because the breeze can kick up, but sunsets here reward anyone who sticks it out.
04
Best classic SoCal strip
San Buenaventura State Beach
Ventura Oceanfront • Long, Straight Stretch Of Southern California Sand • Best For Bike Rides And Long Walks
Close enough for a long day trip, Ventura’s main state beach serves up miles of sand, mellow surf, and a bike path that ties into the town’s laid-back waterfront.
If you want a taste of Southern California without driving all the way to Los Angeles, Ventura’s San Buenaventura State Beach hits a nice middle ground. There’s a wide, gently sloping beach, volleyball courts, and access to a coastal bike path that connects to the pier and harbor area. Pair a few hours on the sand with fish tacos or craft beer in town before heading back over the hills to Taft Heights.
05
Best big-city beach experience
Santa Monica State Beach
Santa Monica Shoreline • Lively Urban Beach With An Amusement Pier • Best For People-Watching And A Full-Day Outing
A longer drive from Taft Heights, Santa Monica State Beach rewards the effort with an iconic pier, broad sands, and nonstop people-watching.
Santa Monica is the beach you’ve seen in movies, and it delivers the full postcard version of Southern California: a classic pier with rides, lifeguard towers, and bike paths threading along the sand. It’s busier and more built-up than the Central Coast, but that’s part of the appeal if you’re in the mood for crowds, street performers, and plenty of food options. Plan this as a full-day trip and give yourself time to explore the pier, Third Street Promenade, and the shoreline itself.