Things to Do in Pismo Beach: 12 Fun Family Activities
As a California native, I’ve driven past Pismo Beach countless times over the years. Yet somehow, I’d never managed to visit until we planned a family trip to this quaint coastal town over the summer. I’d heard of the sand dunes and the beaches, but I honestly didn’t know where to start when it came to things to do in Pismo Beach.
We managed to pack a lot into our five days in Pismo, so by now I feel a bit like an expert. If you’re planning a trip and wondering what to do in Pismo Beach, I’m here to help with my top recommendations of activities, attractions, and restaurants we actually loved. We traveled as a family with little kids, grandparents, and everyone in between, so rest assured, all of these suggestions will be crowd-pleasers for any age!
Quick tips: Things to do in Pismo Beach for…
🥐 Foodies: Eat clam chowder at Splash Café and cinnamon rolls at Old West.
🏖️ Beach bums: Visit Pismo, Grover, Shell, and Avila beaches.
🏄 Adventure addicts of all ages: Sign up for a surf lesson.
🐐 Kids: Feed farm animals and have a BBQ lunch at Avila Valley Barn.
🌅 Families: My family LOVED staying at the SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel.
⛰️ Everyone: Run around the Pismo Beach sand dunes!
Fun Things to do in Pismo Beach
Run around the Pismo Beach sand dunes
When it comes to things to do in Pismo Beach, visiting the sand dunes has to be #1 on your list. Stretching for 18 miles and covering roughly 4,000 acres, the Pismo Beach sand dunes (aka the Oceano Dunes) are absolutely spectacular. Trust me when I say you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Africa or the Middle East the moment you spot these massive formations.
While you can no longer just drive everywhere on the dunes, you can still take your 4×4 vehicle, dune buggy, or ATV out on the dunes in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. There are plenty of rental places along Pier Avenue in Oceano, right next to the Oceano Dunes SVRA.
However, if you don’t want to drive on the dunes, you can easily walk to the biggest dunes in the park. Do what I did and drive to the Pacific Dunes Ranch Campground (Google Maps location), park in the gravel lot outside of the park, and walk up the paved road (Euclid Avenue) until you reach the entrance to the Oceano Dunes.
My mind was blown by the Sahara-like landscape, and my whole group (young and old) loved clambering around the dunes. You can even get ocean views from the top of the tallest dunes!
Feed animals & get lunch at Avila Valley Barn
If you’re looking for free, family-friendly things to do in Pismo Beach, make your way to Avila Valley Barn. This gem is located an easy 10-minute drive from downtown Pismo, and there’s plenty going on to keep all ages entertained for hours on end.
The highlight is seeing all of the cute farm animals – from goats and chickens to cows and donkeys. You can even purchase lettuce from the farmstand for $3 and feed the animals, which is so fun for little kids (and adults, to be honest!). Depending on the season, there’s also u-pick fruit and flowers, seasonal foods and products, tractor hayrides, pony rides, and fun family photo ops.
The food is another big reason to visit Avila Valley Barn. This place is famous for its Chicken Shack & Smokehouse, which offers drool-worthy Smoked Tri-Tipper and Nashville Hot Chicken sandwiches. If you feel like imbibing, you can wash it all down with one of the farm’s homemade hard apple ciders.
The food doesn’t stop there. There’s also an excellent bakery, a fresh produce stand, an ice cream and candy shop (get the famous olallieberry ice cream), and a roasted corn stand. All in all, a visit to Avila Valley Barn is what to do in Pismo Beach if you’re looking for a family-friendly activity for your whole group.
Try Pismo Beach’s most famous foods
For such a tiny town, the food scene in Pismo Beach is pretty remarkable. I did a lot of eating during my five days in Pismo Beach and here are a few suggestions of local dishes and specialties to try and where to find them:
- Clam chowder: Pismo Beach is the “Clam Capital of the World,” so trying the city’s famous clam chowder at Splash Café, Cracked Crab, or Ada’s Fish House is a must!
- Cinnamon rolls: Getting a massive cinnamon roll at Old West Cinnamon Rolls is one of the most iconic things to do in Pismo Beach.
- Fish and chips: Pismo Fish and Chips has been serving customers since 1963.
- Pismo-style fries: Go to Wooly’s for their famous Carne Asada Fries Skillet and Chowder Fries Skillet.
- BBQ: Brad’s is known for its tri-tip sandwich, as well as its award-winning clam chowder.
- Olallieberry: Avila Valley Barn is famous for its olallieberries and olallieberry-flavored pastries, pies, ice cream, and other sweet treats!
Stroll along the Pismo Pier
The Pismo Beach Pier is easily one of the most iconic Pismo Beach attractions. The 1,200-foot pier was built in 1924 and is still a popular place to take a stroll, go fishing (no license needed!), watch the surfers, and catch unreal sunsets.
The Pismo Pier is located right in the main town of Pismo, just off of the always-bustling Pismo Pier Beach Plaza.
Take photos at the Pismo Beach sign
Speaking of Pismo Pier Beach Plaza, this is where you’ll find the Insta-famous Pismo Beach sign. This is always a fun spot to take photographs with your family or your crew. On weekends, there might be a small line, so you may have to wait your turn.
Go beach hopping
It goes without saying that spending time on the beach is one of the best things to do in Pismo Beach. A few of the most popular beaches in the area are Pismo Beach (near the pier), as well as Pismo State Beach, Grover Beach, and Oceano Dunes (near the jumping-off point for the sand dunes).
But there are quite a few smaller beaches and coves dotting the Pismo area, especially along the Shell Beach coastline. Just past that is Avila Beach, a very popular stretch of sand set in a super chill-out town.
Take a surf lesson
With its gentle waves, learning how to surf is one of the most fun things to do in Pismo Beach. Even if you’ve never surfed before, you can sign up for a surf lesson and have a professional teach you how to surf near the iconic Pismo Pier.
Have lunch in a retro train car
After visiting the Oceano Dunes, we stumbled across the Rock & Roll Diner in the city of Oceano. This restaurant is set inside two vintage 1950s train cars and the setting is absolutely adorable. The menu has something for all tastes – from breakfast classics to excellent Greek and Mexican dishes to Champagne-fueled Sunday brunches. It’s a great place to fuel up before or after a visit to the dunes.
Visit Monarch Butterfly Grove
Visiting Monarch Butterfly Grove is one of the best things to do in Pismo Beach if you’re in town between November and February. During this time of year, tens of thousands of Monarchs flock to the area’s Eucalyptus trees.
We visited in summer, so we didn’t have a chance to witness this natural marvel. But if you are planning a winter trip, the best months to see the trees covered with butterflies are December and January. It’s one of the coolest Pismo Beach activities for all ages.
Take the kids to Dinosaur Caves Park
Dinosaur Caves Park was a huge hit with the little kids in our group. I swear they spent more time running around and playing at this 11-acre seaside park than they did at the hotel. But with its setting right on the bluffs, it’s well worth visiting no matter what your age.
Dinosaur Caves Park is located 2 miles up the coast from downtown Pismo and features cute dolphins, dinosaur “eggs”, and a dinosaur, as well as a play area and plenty of trails and grassy spaces to run around and fly kites. The ocean views are also spectacular, especially at sunset!
Check out the cute towns near Pismo Beach
If you’re looking for things to do near Pismo Beach, you can have a beach day in Avila Beach, check out the restaurant scene in San Luis Obispo, visit the vineyards in Edna Valley, go whale watching in Morro Bay, and so much more. There are plenty of charming towns located a stone’s throw from Pismo!
Be dazzled by Sensorio in Paso Robles
If you’re wondering what to do in Pismo Beach that’s totally unique, consider getting tickets to Sensorio. These immersive light displays are actually located in the town of Paso Robles, which is about 45 minutes from Pismo. But trust me when I say it’s worth the drive.
We got there at sunset for the live music and food. Once the sun set, the light displays came to life, covering the hills with bioluminescent flowers and the landscapes with otherworldly geometric displays. We were all in awe!
Where to Stay in Pismo Beach
SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel
I stayed at SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel (pictured above) and I couldn’t recommend it more. We stayed in one of the Deluxe Oceanfront Rooms and the view was spectacular. Aside from the pool, three hot tubs, BBQ stations, and outdoor lounge areas with fire pits, this place also offers so many cool freebies, including beach cruisers, all-day coffee and tea, drinking water and ice, afternoon cookies, an excellent breakfast buffet, and a daily beer/wine voucher. It’s also perched on the cliffs, right above the beach and a 15-minute walk to the pier in downtown Pismo. The location is absolutely perfect!
