Visit the amazing beaches of Port Hueneme! Port Hueneme is a coastal city in Ventura County between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Counties. Port Hueneme overlooks the beautiful Channel Islands National Park, and the city includes a nice pier and green park at the beach that tourists can visit, stroll and enjoy. When walking along the beach near the pier, you will see the Hueneme Beach Sundial.
Next to the park is an entertainment venue featuring concerts, plays and events throughout the year. One special event focused on the city’s asset–its beach, is the annual celebration, Hueneme Beach Festival. It is usually held one weekend in August and includes a Sandcastle Contest, games, music, food vendor booths, and fun.
Home to the US Navy facilities in support of the naval air station at Point Mugu to the south and San Nicolas Island 60 miles offshore, Port Hueneme boasts the Construction Battalion, the Seabees, and one of 15 U.S. Navy museums, Seabee Museum. Visit the beautiful beaches of Port Hueneme and Central California here. Keep reading our Port Hueneme Travel guide 🙂
Port Hueneme Weather – When to Visit
The best time to visit Port Hueneme is from March to May or from September to November. Temperatures are fairly mild year-round, hovering in the 60s and 70s, but traveling in early spring or fall ensures you won’t be fighting crowds and rates will be less expensive. Summer welcomes most of the city’s annual events and it’s also peak season if you’re looking for a beach vacation, but you’ll have to contend with more crowds. If you’re traveling during the winter months, make sure to pack an umbrella because Santa Barbara sees most of its rainfall between December and February. No matter when you decide to visit, pack layers as the as morning and late evening temperatures tend to be much cooler than the daytime high.
Best Port Hueneme Beaches
Hueneme Beach Park
Hueneme Beach ParkHueneme Beach Park is the pride of Port Hueneme. This 50-acre park offers: numerous picnic tables and BBQ pits, walking paths, the Alaska Air Flight 261 memorial sundial, a 24-hour fishing pier, sand volleyball courts, Surfside Seafood Snack Bar, and lifeguard protection.
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McGrath State Beach (Oxnard)
McGrath State Beach (Oxnard)The state park and the adjacent Santa Clara Estuary Natural Preserve protect a large area of wetlands around the mouth of the Santa Clara River. Trails meander to the river’s edge for better viewing. At the south end of the state lands is another wetlands area behind the beach called McGrath Lake. The estuary and the lake are popular birding areas.
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Ormond Beach
Ormond BeachThis is a well-known birding area with trails that follow a canal and the restored wetlands. The beach has a remote feel and is great for beach combing or just for walking. Surfers have been coming to this off-the-beaten-path spot for many years.
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Oxnard Beach Park (Oxnard)
Oxnard Beach Park (Oxnard)At Oxnard Beach park is a large grassy park with palm trees, picnic tables, barbecues, walking paths, and a pirate-themed playground for kids. Paths lead out through dunes to the back of the beach where benches are provided for resting and enjoying the view out toward the Channel Islands. This facility is a great place for families with so much to do at the park and at the beach.
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Silver Strand Beach (Oxnard)
Silver Strand Beach (Oxnard)Silver Strand Beach offers beach goers world class surf, fishing, kayaking, long walks on white sandy beaches, cool to moderate water temperatures, and a family friendly atmosphere.
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Best Port Hueneme Restaurants
Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine $11 -30
Delicious Brazilian seafood specialties served in a clay pot. Absolutely delightful clay pots of seafood with tantalizing sauces. Service is friendly and the location overlooks the Channel Islands Harbor. Telephone: 805-204-0970 Web: Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine
Toppers Pizza $11 – 30
Toppers Pizza Place has been winner of Best Pizza Category for both East and West Ventura County Every Year this Century! If you’re in Ventura County or Santa Clarita Valley, they will give you a great pizza experience. Telephone: 805-385-4444 Web: Toppers Pizza
Anaba Sushi $11 – 30
Love this place! Fish is super fresh and the sushi chefs know their stuff. Try the Chiriashi bowl, its wonderful. Big menu and the service is friendly. Telephone: 805-382-1230 Web: Anaba Sushi
Cabo Seafood Grill & Cantina $11 – 30
All their dishes are delicious and very generous.Do not miss in their guacamole with hand made tortillas. The staff is super friendly. Very efficient. The coffee is really good too… have yours with a slice of the decadent chocolate cake. Telephone: 805-228-0912 Web: Cabo Seafood Grill & Cantina
Yolanda’s Mexican Cafe $11 – 30
Yolanda’s Mexican Café is your fun, festive, casual neighborhood Mexican restauran. Enjoy a friendly atmosphere and authentic Mexican food. Experience a taste of tradition and enjoy from a wide selection of Yolanda’s award winning margaritas! Telephone: 805-985-1340 Web: Yolanda’s Mexican Cafe
Best Port Hueneme Nightlife
Beachcomber Tavern
This place is warm, friendly, inviting, with great drink selections from beer to wine. Also great for watching sports. There are cute things to find all over the bar…you’ll have to find out. Telephone: 805-832-4223 Web: Beachcomber Bar.
Sea Rounder
It’s dark and cozy… and perfect if you’re on a date! The cocktails are well crafted and delicious… AND they let you bring in the famous French dip sandwiches from Coops (the front establishment). Telephone: 805-487-3720 Web: Sea Rounder.
1901 Speakeasy
Offering in house-made craft infused cocktails, great local draft beers, fine wines, full food menu, along with house barrel aged whiskey plus much more. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday nights, with some of the finest musicians.Telephone: 805-486-6878 Web: 1901 Speakeasy
Rick’s Restaurant & Sports Lounge
Rick’s is exactly what you’d expect in a lounge/restaurant. Food is good and so is the service for both pick up and dine in. AND, they have free live entertainment on some weekends. Don’t expect the best food in town, but drop in and not regret your experience. Telephone: 805-389-9919 Web: Rick’s Restaurant & Sports Lounge
Rudder Room
Nice dive bar on the beach with super cheap drinks. The people there are friendly and fun to hang out with. Very friendly people and fun atmosphere. Telephone: 805-985-6096 Web: Rudder Room.
Thank you so much for sharing! I go to the west coast all the time for work but actually have never heard of this area. I will definitely make a point to check out some of your recommendations next time I’m in town!
Great Will! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This is definitely one of those best kept secrets. I am planning on visiting california in the near future. How much time would it take me to get there from L.A. and what do you suggest as transportation? Thanks for sharing this one.
It is not far from Los Angeles. I would rent a car if you can, that way you can stop along the way and see all there is to see, not just in Port Hueneme, but along the coast 🙂 Please let me know if you have any questions!
Hi
What i have to say is that you have completely blended it well by providing with rich information’s & visuals .It is a well informative site described well and is unique which will the keep the visitors engaged and will lead to traffic. You have mentioned everything about hotels, things to do, helpline number which a visitor will find useful.
Great! Thanks for visiting BeachTravelDestinations.com!
Hey Leahrae, I really enjoyed reading your Port Hueneme Travel Guide. It looks freaking awesome out there. I’m planning at the moment my summer vacation with my girlfriend and we can’t decide where to go, but Port Hueneme really looks like it could be the spot to go. Plus I love museums and the Point Mugu Missile Park looks super interesting to me.
The missile park is interesting, plus it is a cool coastal community with great beaches. What is not to love? Thanks for reading!
Thanks for posting this extremely helpful overview of Port Hueneme! It looks like an ideal vacation spot, with opportunities for all kinds of fun, adventures and relaxation. It seems like whale-watching might be possible in the summer months here; is that true?
Yes, it is and whale watching is awesome. I have seen them in Mexico and on the other end in Alaska. I love watching the whales 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Hi, I am so glad I found your blog. It is packed with lots of information! I have never heard of Port Hueneme and I always try to look up new places to visit so thanks for writing this post. Port Hueneme, sure sounds like a fun place to be especially beteen June and August. I will definitely return to your site anytime I need to plan my travels.
Sounds great! I add information weekly, so just keep coming back 🙂
This looks like an awesome place to visit. I’ve visited plenty of tourist filled areas though. I guess the winter time is going to be the best time for me to visit.
It will definitely be cooler in the winter 🙂 And it is an awesome place to visit. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
This place looks marvelous! I will have to take my wife there for an anniversary one year. So much to do at every stage of the day. Thanks for the read!
You are welcome Gregory! Yes, great vacation destination and if your wife loves beaches, then perfect! Thanks fore visiting beachtraveldestinations.com
Wow this is a great post! Port Hueneme looks so appealing apealling and im glad to have read this post. Bookmarked and ready to plan! Thanks. And have a great day.
Thank you for visiting Raymond. Yes, great little coastal community with so much to offer. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Hey, this is great.
You always provide great information on traveling.
This sounds like a very interesting place to visit if you ask me, and anyone wanting to visit, should save this as a bookmark!!
Thank you for the travel guide!!
Glad you enjoyed Brandon, and that you find the information interesting and helpful 🙂 Please come back again!
WOW! im speachless, it looks lie a little piece of paradise. I’m hoping to visit the states this year, so i’ll definitely add this lovely place to my list. Do you know any nice hostels around Port Hueneme? For people who are on a budget.
You know I don’t know of any hostels. You will have to go a little up the road to Santa Barbara for a youth hostel. This one is the best in the area. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you for visiting.
This sounds like a very nice place to visit. I love the ocean and beaches and it sounds like there are plenty of things to do, museums to visit and nice places to dine and stay. Hopefully, I may get to see Port Hueneme one day. Your article certainly makes me want to. -Shirley
It is definitely worth a visit Shirley! If you love beaches and quaint little coastal communities, then you will love Port Hueneme. Thanks for reading!
This looks like a sweet travel destination. I would love to visit southern California. Are there any beaches there that you could recommend for someone that would like to learn to surf? Nothing crazy, kind of like the bunny hill for someone that is just learning. Thanks, I look forward to reading your reply.
Cheers,
Jeff
Hi Jeff, I would head to Mondos Beach. Mondos is a small, right point break located between Carpinteria and Ventura. It is a very soft wave, which is great for beginners. You could definitely give surfing a try here. Thanks for visiting!
Great post and very accurate. I have been to Hueneme many times, both when I was in the Navy and afterwards as a Navy contractor. It is a really nice place and the beaches are awesome. I love the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach. It is really nice and the whole area is very pretty. It can get cool up there in the evening so bring a sweater.
Thanks again for the information.
Yes, it can get chilly! For us warm blooded folks, I always have something to cover up with! And yes, great beaches and wonderful coastal community. Thanks for visiting my Port Hueneme Travel Guide.