The Best of Grover Beach – Small in scale, but large in possibilities, the unique coastal community of Grover Beach offers some serious outdoor recreational possibilities. This family-friendly beach destination is known for its sand dunes, and offers a chance to drive right onto the beach, hike the dunes, take a horseback ride, fish or search for clams. Each year the area also hosts thousands of Monarch Butterflies for the winter, setting the scene for some stunning photographs you likely won’t get anywhere else in the world.
Enjoy the many wonderful beaches of Grover Beach, and the Central California coast (you’ll find a list here), then come enjoy. Our Grover Beach CA travel guide has all your answers to start planning your beach vacation. Just keep reading.
Grover Beach Weather – When to Visit
During the summer months from June thru August, the weather is comfortable cool and also the busiest time to visit Grover Beach. In August you will find hotel rates to be at their highest. Low season (September thru November) averages between 70°F and 83°F.
The Best of Grover Beach Area Beaches
Pismo State Beach
Pismo State Beach offers all kinds of attractions: hiking, swimming, surf fishing, and digging for the famous Pismo clam. There are tree-lined dunes and the beach is popular with bird watchers. The park has the largest over-wintering colony of monarch butterflies in the U.S.
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Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area
Oceano Dunes Preserve is one of the most expansive coastal dunes left in California. The Preserve offers rare opportunities for on-the-sand activities—you can camp, go horseback riding, and drive right on the beach in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). In fact, it’s the only California State Park that allows vehicles to do so (four-or all-wheel drive recommended). Thrill-seekers: Don’t miss the opportunity to fly up and down the massive mounds of sand in a Hummer or your own ATV or dune buggy.
Pismo Preserve
At over 900 acres, the Pismo Preserve offers truly exceptional and diverse recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors will enjoy over 10 miles of existing ranch roads and trails that meander throughout the property offering ready-to-use routes ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. These trails traverse serene oak woodlands and coastal ridgelines with stunning panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean stretching from the Irish Hills to Point Sal.
Eldwayen Ocean Park
Eldwayen Ocean ParkEldwayen Ocean Park is a grassy park that offers access to a strip of beach. The park has picnic tables, other seating and a set of stairs that leads down to the nearby beach. This beach is a popular spot to kayak from, as it offers relatively quick ocean access to nearby beaches that can’t be accessed from land due to erosion.
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Grover Beach
Grover Beach is a wide flat sandy beach that is typically packed firm enough for even passenger cars to drive onto. It’s still recommended to have four-wheel-drive to avoid getting stuck in the sand. Near the Grover Beach entrance is a day-use plaza with a wooden boardwalk that leads to a platform between the dunes that looks out over the beach. Another boardwalk starts from the plaza and leads north through the dunes next to the Pismo Beach Golf Course.
The Best of Grover Beach Restaurants
The Spoon Trade $11 – 30
The Spoon Trade is a gathering place in the heart of the five cities in Grover Beach. You can trust the food and drink to be sourced and prepared with care and creativity. The owners celebrate the diverse bounty of California and continue to rotate offerings with the seasons. Alongside the food will be an eclectic drink list, featuring craft beer and small production wine. Brooke Town will source producers that keep sustainability and natural processes at the forefront. Telephone: 805-904-6773 Web: The Spoon Trade.
Rib Line by the Beach $11 – 30
There’s nothing like eating barbeque at the beach. Tender, juicy ribs and chicken with award-winning sauce and Rib Line baked beans are just what your palate is craving. Telephone: 805-543-7427 Web: Rib Line By The Beach.
Lil’ Bits Café $11 – 30
Hidden off the main street of Grand Avenue, but worth the time to find. The staff is very friendly and attentive. It is not much to look at from the outside and appears small, but it is larger than it loos and the food is worth it! Telephone: 805-489-8615 Web: Lil’ Bits Cafe
Ember $11 – 30
Ember Restaurant in Arroyo Grande is all about serving authentic hand-crafted food cooked by a wood fire. They aim to create the ideal environment to experience Central Coast food and wine. Telephone: 805-474-7700 Web: Ember.
The Oyster Loft $31 – 60
More than a restaurant, Oyster Loft is an experience, where excellent service rivals the taste and aesthetics of presentation. Oyster Loft boasts a menu rich with fresh fish and thoughtfully executed dishes. Their raw bar features a variety of oysters shucked on the half shell from both the east coast and the west. The menu also includes refined fish dishes, shellfish preparations and a selection of meat to round out the pervasive offerings. Telephone: 805-295-5104 Web: The Oyster Loft.
The Best of Grover Beach Bars
Harry’s Nightclub & Beach Bar
Harry’s is known as the local beach bar. A favorite of bikers, surfers, smokers, and anyone looking to dance to the eighties on Friday nights. The bar is large and has two pool tables. They serve the basic beers and well drinks but nothing too high end. Telephone: 805-773-1010 Web: Harry’s Nightclub & Beach Bar
The Rooftop
The Rooftop at Inn at the Pier is the bar to visit in Pismo Beach, with elevated views of the Pacific coastline and effortless West Coast style. Bask in the sunshine poolside, or keep it cool under an umbrella. Choose from seasonally-inspired small plates at our Pismo Beach restaurant, perfectly complemented by signature cocktails and the best of local craft brews. Grab the girls for the ultimate Sunday brunch – did we mention the Build Your Own Bellini Bar? Or share a breathtaking sunset with that certain someone. At The Rooftop, every occasion is special. Telephone: 805-295-5565 Web: The Rooftop.
Mongo’s Saloon
Mongo’s Sports Bar & Restaurant of Grover Beach, CA features great food, cold drinks and entertainment every day of the week. Stop by for great food, cocktails, cold beer, live music and meet the friendly staff and local customers. Try their award winning Bloody Mary’s, 1/2 lb Burgers, fabulous Fish & Chips, and homemade Clam Chowder!! Watch your favorite sport on our 9 HD TVs and for special events a 14 ft projector screen. Happy hour is daily from 3 – 7 p.m. Telephone: 805-489-3639 Web: Mongo’s Saloon.
The Oyster Loft
More than a restaurant, Oyster Loft is an experience, where excellent service rivals the taste and aesthetics of presentation. The upscale cuisine and regional seafood dishes are prepared with the utmost attention to detail. Happy hour is Monday – Thursday from 4:00pm – 5:00pm. Telephone: 805-295-5104 Web: The Oyster Loft.
AJ Spurs Saloon
They have a full service bar that is elevated over the parking lot with a view of the ocean. It is a nice relaxing bar with occasional live entertainment. This rustic bar takes you back in time to the old west with a more “parlour” like atmosphere and great open views. Telephone: 805-489-7770 Web: AJ Spurs Saloon
The Best of Grover Beach Hotels
I loved the video. Grover beach must be one of the widest beaches found anywhere. The video showed it was hugh. Mongo’s sounds like the bar/restaurant to go to there. Lots to do, makes for a good vacation spot.
It is a wide beach, that is for sure. Much more so than what you will find here in Florida. Thanks for reading Mick.
Makes me want to book my vacation right now! What a wonderful resource. I am so glad you put this together – I’ve never seen such detail for a place that sounds so wonderful to visit. I want to come during the winter so I can see the Monarch butterflies!
The monarch butterflies are definitely worth seeing Heather! You will love the area. Thanks for reading!
I love the structure of you site and the content of the California beach attractions. So many to pick from to see.
I like the way you have the post organized with:
– When to go for the best weather.
– What the area attractions are
– What to do when you are there
– You have rated the places to eat
– Where the best bars or nightlife is
– You have shown the best hotels to stay at.
All of this is great help when planning your next trip. I would see a Sun Buggy rental on my trip there.
Thanks
Good Don, I am glad you enjoyed reading my post. Yes, a Sun Buggy rental is something everyone needs to do! Thanks for reading!
Your articles are ALWAYS AMAZING! So many details, so many places to visit, I even can’t decide where I want to go, because all these places are simply awesome with your reviews! 🙂
And Grover Beach coastal community sounds perfect, as well!
Just keep going, I like your work.
Cheers
Thank you Mario, and I am really glad you are enjoying visiting my site. I appreciate you taking the time to leave me some comments. Thanks again!
Oh i may be headed to california later this year. That butterfly grove might certainly be a nice addition to the trip! The beaches are a given!
Yes, the beaches are always a given 🙂 The butterflies are something to see, so many of them! Thanks for reading about Grover Beach Vacations!
Flying on the beach or dunes in an ATV or Hummer sounds great to me. Looks like several choices for rentals.
Why do you say that feburary is the busiest month for visitors, is if when the butterflies leave.
John
You are going to find February to be the driest and sunniest month, without the fog. That is why this is one of the busiest months. Yes, so many fun things to do here for sure. Thanks for reading.
Wow what an amazing post took me a while a lot of information. I like the beach been a long time since I’ve been there. I really like the looks of Pismo beach with hiking and surf fishing sounds like something I would like to try. I sure would like to eat barbeque at the beach as you explained in Rib Line by the Beach restaurant. AJ Spur Saloon would be a place sit back and relax in the old western times.
You would enjoy it all Fred! Surf fishing is a blast too! We do that here at home on Clearwater Beach 🙂 Thanks for stopping by BeachTravelDestinations.com.
Awesome article! I love going to the beach. My family trip to the beach is coming up soon! All the attractions you list seem awesome! It is very helpful that you list all of them. Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by Ben, and I am glad you enjoyed reading!
Grover Beach sounds like a place from sesame street. Even the butterflies I can picture as talking to you. There was one thing that caught my attention and that is surf fishing. Does the picture in my mind of a guy with a fishing pole riding a wave ring true? And what is this famous Pismo Clam?
Surf fishing is basically surfing off of the beach into the surf 😀 The Pismo Clam is a large edible clam that is found in Pismo Beach. They are delicious! Glad you enjoyed reading Grover Beach Vacations.
Oh! Awesome information. Great stuff to read. Love it! I have been planning a vacation to the Central Coast of California, so this information is very helpful. I can now decide what area to stay in and what I want to do. The Oceano Dunes look amazing!
Glad the Grover Beach Vacations guide was of help to you. You are right, that there are a lot of choices for things to do, and what area to stay in. It’s all beautiful.
I’ve NEVER heard of this place before – EVER! …and that surprises me… It’s like a little hidden gem! So Grover Beach is in central California? Does it get the smog that some other places get in May/June?
It’s on the Central coast, close to Santa Barbara and it does not get the smog 🙂 It is a wonderful coastal community 🙂 Thanks for reading about Grover Beach Vacations.
I look at your latest article and found it to be so well presented to the reader, it has all the details to attract visitors and encourage them to take a vacation. Pismo State Beach seems to offer all kinds of attractions all the significant benefits to have a wonderful time, and what about those thousands of Monarch Butterflies? seems to me like a dream.
Thank you for your outstanding article.
Jacqueline.
I would agree Jacqueline, there is so much to see in Grover Beach for sure. Thanks for visiting!
Hi Leahrae!
Wow, what a great post and site. So many great places, destinations, and offers.
I really don’t know where to start to search.
The places you are promoting are beautiful. I could jump through the post straight in any of these.
Great California Coast Drone Flight over the Oceano Dunes! It must be a fantastic experience.
Lovely site.
Thanks Igor! Glad you enjoyed reading about Grover Beach, California 🙂
This is simply Awesome, This great article would not have come at a better time than this, I am in a process of shopping for my summer vacation, My family loves beaches and we had a list of several of them but your article has given as the final destination this Summer! thank you so much
Thank you for visiting Grover Beach Vacations Mercy. I am glad I can help. Please let me know if you need any additional information.