2 min readCalifornia is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Stretching more than 840 miles along the Pacific Ocean, the state boasts roughly 427 public beaches—second only to Florida’s 663. While the Golden State can’t claim the highest number of beaches nationwide, it can lay claim to the country’s best small beach town.
According to the latest reader rankings from USA Today, California is home to the nation’s top small coastal town—and it’s not Malibu or La Jolla. Instead, the honor goes to Pismo Beach, a seaside gem nestled along the iconic Highway 101 roughly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This year marks the third consecutive time Pismo Beach has earned the title of America’s best small coastal town.
Known for a robust mom-and-pop business scene, Pismo is home to just about 8,000 residents and radiates with a calm, quaint air. The town boasts an extensive outdoor sports culture and waves that are perfect for surfing, kayaking, and paddle boating. On land, locals and visitors await the arrival of the monarch butterflies, which migrate to the town’s groves every winter, and enjoy basking at Pismo’s array of wineries. Home to the famous Oceano Dunes, this is the only beach in the entire state where you can actually drive along the coastline.
Pismo is unlike any other beach town on the California coast, not just because of the tire tracks in the sand, but because of the unique wildlife inhabiting the shore—the California ground squirrel calls the sand dunes of Pismo home. Though the squirrels are a quirky feature of the beach town, their intricate burrowing systems unfortunately pose an environmental threat: They accelerate erosion, harming coastal bluffs. Plus, their population is booming, throwing off the delicate balance of the coastline’s ecosystems. Local officials are working to take measures to curb the population.
When you’re not wading the waters or checking out the wildlife, your time would be best spent on the boardwalk. Pismo Beach’s award-winning pier is the centerpiece of the town, clocking in at 12,000 feet and boasting a unique diamond-shaped dock that offers the best ocean views, no matter where you’re standing. On the pier’s plaza, you’ll find the perfect marriage of California charm and downtown culture with cafés, restaurants, and surf shops vying for attention.
So, when you’re planning your next beach retreat, you might want to put Pismo at the top of your list—it’s truly a scene out of your favorite beach read.
