You and your car could have a beach day at Oceano Dunes

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area in the Central Coast of CA is the only place in California where you can drive on the beach.

Oceano Dunes - California

If you are in California and enjoying beach weather, it’s not too difficult to get yourself to the coast. We’re certainly spoilt for choice, here in the Golden State. Now if you think your car (or truck or RV) could do with a beach day too, Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is your beach.

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is the only beach in California that lets you drive on the beach. So you might want to try it out if you are visiting California’s Central Coast. 

We holidayed in Avila Beach — a small beach town in CA — last summer. While we were looking up activities around there, we read about Oceano Dunes. Hubby and sonny boy were excited about the idea of driving on the beach.  So we picked up some lunch and drove south for a picnic on California’s only Car Beach. After a half- hour’s drive on Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway)we found ourselves in a vehicular line at Oceano Dunes SVRA, waiting to buy a day-use pass. As we waited in line I learned that vehicles are also allowed to camp here at the beach. So, remember — if you need to camp with your four-wheeler, that too on a beach, Oceano Dunes is an option. 

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area

Oceano Dunes - California's Car Beach

Oceano Dunes: Where you can drive on the beach

Pacific Ocean from Oceano Dunes SVRA

Beach Drives, California -- Oceano Dunes

 

 

Also, remember:

  • The speed limit here is 15mph
  • There are no signs to remind you about the road rules so drive with extra caution. Watch out for the vehicles backing up from unmarked parking areas. Watch out for the cars that may be driving on what might have been the wrong side of the road.
  • Most importantly, be aware of the kids who are used to running on the beach and may not be thinking about this place being a beach for cars too. 

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, California

Do you know of a beach that allows you to drive on the sand there? If yes, do let us know in the comments and it might be useful for readers coming this way.

Happy rest-of-the-summer, ya’ll. 🙂

linking  to: Our World Tuesday

Also, see: Beaches featured on Tipsy from the TRIP

Murudeshwar – a car beach on India’s West Coast

 

For pictures from the road,  Like/Follow Tipsy From The TRIP on  Facebook.
 Come, Trip with us. 
Share
Categories
BeachesCaliforniaCalifornia Central CoastScenic Drives

Dee (Divya) Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. 📸 Loves tripping.🛣 Tipsy from every TRIP!😬🫣 🏞Follow > for intoxicating virtual trips!🥂😉
21 Comments on this post.
  • Lady Fi
    6 August 2018 at 8:55 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Looks lovely!

    • dNambiar
      7 August 2018 at 7:35 am
      Leave a Reply

      🙂
      Thank you for coming this way, Lady Fi.

  • Fun60
    6 August 2018 at 11:18 pm
    Leave a Reply

    I would always be very nervous driving on a beach.

    • dNambiar
      7 August 2018 at 7:38 am
      Leave a Reply

      I thought the scary part was the kids running crossing your path. Otherwise, it was ok. 🙂
      Thank you for visiting, Fun 60

  • Niranjan R
    8 August 2018 at 8:47 am
    Leave a Reply

    That’s wonderful. Was reminded of our own Muzhappilangad beach in Thalassery.

    • dNambiar
      12 August 2018 at 7:34 pm
      Leave a Reply

      🙂
      I’ve heard of the beach in Kannur district that allows vehicles on the beach. Thank you for the name of the beach, Nomad.
      And there’s one near Mangalore also, alle? Then there’s Murudeshwar.

      Tried riding on the beach?

  • Molly
    9 August 2018 at 6:31 am
    Leave a Reply

    Kind of makes me sad, yet again humans destroying the earth

    Mollyx

    • dNambiar
      12 August 2018 at 7:37 pm
      Leave a Reply

      It sure doesn’t make it the best place for small creatures that live in the sand. This seems to be the only place in CA that allows this.

      There’s a lot of sandy coast around here and just south of this beach is an area that is one of the most well-protected sand-dune system in the US. I hope to put up a post about that, next

      Thank you for visiting, Molly. 🙂

  • Aditya
    9 August 2018 at 8:52 am
    Leave a Reply

    Lovely.

  • joshi daniel
    9 August 2018 at 10:41 pm
    Leave a Reply

    That is interesting 🙂

    • dNambiar
      12 August 2018 at 7:39 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you for coming this way, JD. 🙂

  • Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes: A hike to the preserve | Tipsy from the TRIP
    13 August 2018 at 7:41 pm
    Leave a Reply

    […] we were at the Pismo Beach area for the second time, we took our car for a beach day at Oceano Dunes SVRA and then headed further south to see the dunes. It was a last minute decision we had taken when we […]

  • magiceye
    31 August 2018 at 6:29 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Beautiful captures and wise dos and donts. Somehow I don’t like the idea of vehicles on the beach.

    • dNambiar
      4 September 2018 at 2:27 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Magiceye.

      I know what you mean. It was not exactly a pretty sight. But I also think it is ok to have a few places that allow this; just for the experience. South of this area is a well-preserved and pretty out-of-bound sand dunes. More about this in the next post. (It is up already.)

      Thank you for visiting, Magiceye. 🙂

  • Sachin Baikar
    31 August 2018 at 11:27 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Looks to be a clean beach. Beautiful pics ? Dee. Thanks for sharing ?

  • Jyotirmoy Sarkar
    1 September 2018 at 8:36 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Beautiful beach, good to see instead of the movements of the vehicles the beach is so clean.

    • dNambiar
      4 September 2018 at 2:27 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Sachin. 🙂

  • rupam { xhobdo }
    1 September 2018 at 9:57 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Amazing pics

    • dNambiar
      4 September 2018 at 2:28 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Rupam.

  • MondayMural: A map from Guadalupe, CA | Tipsy from the TRIP
    12 September 2021 at 5:51 pm
    Leave a Reply

    […] A hike to the sands of Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes Other places to see around here Avila BeachPismo BeachOceano DunesMoro […]

  • Leave a Reply

    *

    *

    RELATED BY