Your Guide to the Best Beaches in Avila, California

Tucked away on California’s Central Coast, you’ll find Avila Beach, a quaint and charming beach town known for its beautiful coastline, which attracts visitors from all over the country year-round. Its miles of picturesque beaches are ideal for walking, sunbathing, surfing, kayaking, fishing and even whale watching.

Avila is not just home to one amazing beach, but four! There’s the main beach located in downtown Avila, two more on the way to Port San Luis and even a nude beach set back in a breathtaking secluded cove.

Visit one or visit them all depending on what you and your travel companions fancy.

Avila City Beach

Located in downtown Avila Beach, this half-mile spot, which is split down the middle by the Avila Beach Pier, has a universal appeal, and is enjoyed by thousands of people and families every year. The large sandy beach takes up the entire waterfront of the town and the pier sticks out over 1600 feet into San Luis Bay.

Dog owners enjoy mornings and evenings at the north end of the beach where there is a sand-spit at the mouth of San Luis Obispo Creek. South of the pier the beach extends to a rocky headland, forming a unique and picturesque view.

Visitors can fish off the pier without a license and more active beachgoers can experience the coastline on bike by cycling along the Bob Jones Trail, a scenic paved bike path that begins at First Street and Avila Beach Drive.

Beach amenities include bathrooms, outside showers, six BBQ pits and picnic tables available on a first come, first serve basis, volleyball and basketball courts, swings and a slide. Visitors will also find lifeguards, kayak rentals, body board and wetsuit rentals, and beach butler services during the summer and on holidays.

Fisherman’s Beach

Nestled in the Port San Luis Harbor, Fisherman’s Beach is the smallest in the area and the last beach you come to along Avila Beach Drive. Affectionately dubbed the “dog beach” by locals because dogs were allowed to roam off leash here, the Fisherman’s Beach no longer allows dogs at all.

Still, the spot has a lot to offer. Day-use car parking spots are located along the road shoulder and beside the beach there are self-serve RV camping spaces. Across the road, visitors can check out the Fishermen’s Memorial, which displays the names of the souls lost at sea, while the nearby Port San Luis Boatyard has a coffee shop, brew pub, ice cream shop and more.

The site is also home to the historic Harford Pier, which houses the Olde Port Inn Restaurant and ideal for fishing, along with a nice view of Port San Luis Harbor, the surrounding hills and Avila Beach.

Pirates Cove

Hidden between Avila Beach and Shell Beach, Pirates Cove is the only clothing optional beach on the Central Coast of California. It’s a hidden beach at the end of a trail with wooden steps leading down to the sand. The area started out as a secret spot to bring ashore large stashes of liquor that were smuggled in ships coming into the Port San Luis Harbor. Since then, it’s become a local’s favorite.

The south-facing cove is partially protected from the weather, which makes it ideal for people looking for a comfortable, clothing optional beach atmosphere. Pirates Cave and other sea caves nearby are the reason the area on the bluff has been named Cave Landing, and offers a stunning viewpoint of the ocean and San Luis Bay.

There are a few trails visitors can use to make their way to the beach if they’re interested in a hike, otherwise, the most direct route to Pirate’s Cove is from the main parking area at the end of Cave Landing Road, which branches off Avila Beach Drive.

Keep in mind that this beach has no restrooms, lifeguards or facilities, and getting there can be challenging.

Olde Port Beach

Located in Port San Luis Harbor, Olde Port Beach, best known for having bonfire pits during the summer months, is the first beach you’ll find after crossing the bridge out of Avila and into Port San Luis. The wide sandy cove is less populated than other beaches, but its only amenities are lifeguards in the summer and the occasional food truck.

Visitors are also allowed to drive onto the beach to unload or load small boats, and dogs are welcome off leash here. 

All of these beaches are easily accessible from Cobbo’s Beach House, our 5-star luxury vacation rental located in the heart of downtown Avila Beach, California. Visit our website for booking information.