Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Pismo Beach travel guide

Pismo Beach Tourism | Pismo Beach Guide

You're Going to Love Pismo Beach

With a population of 7,655, Pismo Beach is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Pismo Beach to see all of its attractions.

Article

Where to Eat in Pismo Beach

If you’re looking for affordable options, Lido Restaurant @ Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa (2727 Shell Beach Road) and Pequin Coastal Cocina (147 Stimson Ave) are great picks.

When to visit Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach in March
Estimated hotel price
$220
1 night at 3-star hotel
Pismo Beach in March
Estimated hotel price
$220
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Pismo Beach

Plane

When flying to Pismo Beach, you’ll arrive at San Luis Obispo County (SBP), which is located 7 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Pismo Beach include United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Pismo Beach departs from San Diego and takes around 1h 08m.

Car

Another option to get to Pismo Beach is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 152 miles from Pismo Beach. You’ll find branches of Priceless and Turo, among others, in Los Angeles.

Plane

When flying to Pismo Beach, you’ll arrive at San Luis Obispo County (SBP), which is located 7 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Pismo Beach include United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Pismo Beach departs from San Diego and takes around 1h 08m.

Car

Another option to get to Pismo Beach is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 152 miles from Pismo Beach. You’ll find branches of Priceless and Turo, among others, in Los Angeles.

Airports near Pismo Beach

SBPSan Luis Obispo County
SBASanta Barbara
BFLBakersfield Meadows Field

Airlines serving Pismo Beach

Lufthansa
Good (7,046 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,934 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (780 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,245 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,968 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,317 reviews)
Hawaiian Airlines
Good (2,406 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (1,414 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (11,163 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (472 reviews)
Southwest
Excellent (4,294 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Pismo Beach

Where to stay in Pismo Beach

There are also lots of vacation rental options in Pismo Beach, with prices from $24 to $785 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Pismo Beach are about 119% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Pismo Beach by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Pismo Beach

Most booked hotels in Pismo Beach

See all
Cottage Inn by the Sea
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 3385 reviews)
$204+
View
SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2470 reviews)
$251+
View
Madonna Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2011 reviews)
$285+
View
Apple Farm Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1639 reviews)
$134+
View
Quality Suites Downtown San Luis Obispo
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1553 reviews)
$178+
View
Sandcastle Hotel On The Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1390 reviews)
$249+
View

Renting a car in Pismo Beach

Renting a car in Pismo Beach costs $56 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 30% cheaper than airport locations in Pismo Beach.

Expect to pay $3.41 per gallon in Pismo Beach (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Pismo Beach is Full-size (Volkswagen Jetta or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Pismo Beach costs $56 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 30% cheaper than airport locations in Pismo Beach.

Expect to pay $3.41 per gallon in Pismo Beach (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Pismo Beach is Full-size (Volkswagen Jetta or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Pismo Beach city guide for the best Pismo Beach travel tips. To help you organize your Pismo Beach trip ideas, this Pismo Beach visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.