Vacation to the Beaches of Oxnard. Just sixty miles northwest of Los Angeles, you’ll find the casual, seaside city of Oxnard where oceanfront recreation, fabulous festivals, sweet strawberries, exceptional weather, and miles of uncrowded beaches await your discovery. Home to the California Strawberry Festival, and neighbor to the breathtaking Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Oxnard is a welcomed retreat any time of year. visit Oxnard, stay for a while, and savor the sweet and spicy international flavors in Oxnard — Elevate your senses.
Oxnard is steeped in a rich California history. Visit the Henry T. Oxnard National Historic District and Heritage Square for a peek into early-20th century homes. In addition to its rich cultural history, the city of Oxnard has the most beautiful beaches in California. The beauty of their beaches is credited to their remote location from freeways and big cities. As a matter of fact, these beaches have priceless views of the Channel Islands. Enjoy the many wonderful beaches of Oxnard, and start planning your trip….read on with our Oxnard Travel Guide!
Oxnard Weather – When to Visit
The best time to visit Oxnard 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 Oxnard Beaches
Hueneme Beach Park
Hueneme Beach Park is found just south of the harbor in Point Hueneme, immediately south of Oxnard. This delightful beach is a favorite spot of local residents to relax on summer days. The beach usually offers moderate surf for those who like to swim or play in the waves, but at times the surf can be rough. Lifeguards are on duty during summer months.
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Silverstrand Beach
Silver Strand Beach is by far the most popular beach to visit in Oxnard. Located at the end of South Victoria Road, 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. Silver Strand Beach is a favorite among Oxnard Locals and beach savvy tourists. The Silver Strand beach area also has nearby restaurants, hotels, and local attractions at the Channel Islands Harbor.
Channel Islands Harbor
The sparkling Channel Islands Harbor — gateway to the Channel Islands National Park is a hub for boating, sport fishing, kayaking and whale-watching excursions. The harbor is also home to the Ventura County Maritime Museum, fresh seafood restaurants, a Sunday Farmers Markets, tall ship visits and year-round events.
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Mandalay Beach
Mandalay State Beach is a protected area of beach, dunes, and wetlands between a power generation plant and the Oxnard Shores neighborhood of Oxnard, CA. This is a popular place for birding. Some of the beach is fenced off to protect nesting areas of the Least Tern and Snowy Plover.
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Oxnard Beach Park
Oxnard Beach Park is a family friendly beach located in-between the Oxnard Shores neighborhood and the Embassy Suites Resort. This gorgeous stretch of beach features rolling lawns, free public barbecue areas, volleyball courts, kids play area, skating and jogging paths. This white sandy beach has spectacular views of the Channel Island National Park and Marine Sanctuary. Most of all this gorgeous beach is perfect for sunbathing, kayaking, fishing, body boarding and surfing. The rolling lawns of Oxnard Beach Park make it a perfect place for flying a kite or picnicking. The large children’s playground features a pirate ship jungle gym, with plenty of room for everyone.
Best Oxnard Restaurants
Anaba $11 – 30
Anaba is a popular venue specializing in sushi and other Japanese delights. Open for lunch and dinner every day of the week, this place is packed on any given day. It is easy to understand why as the menu is brimming with a variety of delicious options, all colorful and beautifully plated. Some favorite dishes among customers include the salmon lover roll, Hawaiian volcano roll and crunchy tiger hidden dragon roll. Other good pics include the Alaska roll, and asparagus in a kimono, to name but a few. Telephone: 805-382-1230 Web: Anaba.
Cabo Seafood Grill and Cantina $11 – 30
The festive interior, which is often enhanced by a live Mariachi band, complements the zesty fare perfectly. This is a place the entire family will enjoy. With something for everyone, the menu has a host of options. The choices range from appetizers to seafood dishes to house specialties and more. Meanwhile the drinks menu features refreshing margaritas and more. Food highlights include the chile verde, which is tender pork in a flavorful in tomatillo sauce or the pechuga de pollo adobada a la parilla,. Other good picks include the chicken breast marinated in roasted guajillo chile; and the whole fried red snapper. Telephone: 805-487-6933 Web: Cabo Seafood Grill and Cantina.
Dominick’s Italian Restaurant $11 – 30
A family-owned and operated restaurant since 1949, Dominick’s delights the taste buds of diners with its amazing array of Italian delicacies. This place offers everything from comforting pasta dishes to entrées to customizable New York-style pizza. The menu is sure to have something to satisfy anyone’s hunger, whether they’re meat lovers or vegetarians. Must-try dishes include the classic lasagna with meat or the vegetarian version loaded with fresh vegetables. Another good option is the build-your-own pizza with a variety of toppings, such as meatballs, BBQ sauce, bell peppers, and zucchini to name but a few. Open every day, Dominick’s also offers a selection of wine and cocktails to complement the meals. Telephone: 805-483-7933 Web: Dominick’s Italian Restaurant.
Tierra Sur $31 – 60
Located inside the Herzog Wine Cellars, Tierra Sur is one of the best restaurants in South California. It featured the highest ZAGAT rating in 2014 within Ventura County. This fine-dining gem’s new American cuisine is made with nothing but the best seasonal ingredients sourced from local purveyors. This guarantees delicious fresh fare. Within a beautiful setting, discerning diners can savor dishes such as the handmade linguini with puttanesca sauce, seared fennel-crusted tuna, and a fried egg. Or, try the oven-roasted chicken leg stuffed with garlic black rice, mixed squash salad, and pomegranate-molasses glaze. To complement the meal, wine and beer are available. Telephone: 805-983-1560 Web: Tierra Sur.
Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine $11 – 30
If you’re looking to delight your palate with the incredible flavors of Brazil, then be sure to give Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine a try. Specializing in Capixaba fare from the southeast state of Espirito Santo in Brazil, the place is named after the famous dish from the area — moqueca. This dish is seafood and vegetables cooked in clay pot. Within a warm, inviting interior space, this venue allows guests to savor a variety of moquecas. They are made from fish or seafood along with one vegetarian option. The menu also features meaty dishes. These include the picanha grelhada, or Brazilian steak with rice, black beans, and fried yucca. Also be sure to try the caipirinha — the national drink of Brazil — made in a variety of flavors. Telephone: 805-981-7979 Web: Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine.
Best Oxnard Nightlife
Beachcomber Tavern
The famous Beachcomber Tavern has been a staple of daily life for sailors, surfers, and sunbathers in the Silver Strand neighborhood since 1938. Telephone: 805-832-4223 Web: Beachcomber Tavern.
The Thirsty Ox
This is a neighborhood bar loved by locals and visitors alike. Theyhave pool, karaoke, live music and more. Telephone: 805-307-4142 Web: The Thirsty Ox.
Gasolina
Borrowing from European motorcycle culture for much of its aesthetic, as well as possessing the atmosphere of a traditional tapas bar, visitors will become immediately aware that they are in for something new when they come to GASOLINA. Offering a carefully picked local and Spanish selection of wine and beer. Telephone: 805-225-7210 Web: Gasolina.
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. Great sunsets, sea breezes, volleyball, and the best cocktails right on the beach. Telephone: 805-985-6096 Web: Rudder Room.
Q Club
The Q Club Oxnard is a full-service billiards, bar-and-grill, sports lounge, that has been a staple in Oxnard and the Ventura County area for many, many years. A friendly place where ALL are welcome to catch their favorite games, fights, or any other sporting event on TV, and have a drink, play a little bit of billiards. You have to visit and experience it for yourself! Telephone: 805-278-1231 Web: Q Club.
Oxnard sounds like a great alternative to some of the busier California beach spots, especially with those wide, uncrowded beaches. I like that it still has plenty to do with the harbor and nearby Channel Islands. Would you recommend it more for a relaxed beach trip or is there enough going on for a full vacation?
It really works well for both, which is what makes Oxnard such a great spot. You can absolutely treat it as a laid-back beach escape with quiet shores like Mandalay or Silver Strand.
At the same time, there’s enough to fill a full trip with the harbor activities, whale watching, day trips to the Channel Islands, plus good food and local events. It’s one of those places where you can stay as relaxed or as active as you want.
Pingback: Jeffrey
I’m so glad you enjoyed the guide, and you’re absolutely right—Oxnard is often overlooked, yet it offers a wonderful balance of natural beauty, history, and local flavor. Its distance from major freeways really helps preserve that laid-back beach atmosphere, while the Channel Islands backdrop adds something truly special. Pairing peaceful beaches with great food, festivals, and easy access to outdoor activities makes Oxnard an ideal destination for travelers who want California coastal charm without the crowds.