Calling something San Luis Obispo County’s prettiest beach is a big claim, but Oceano Sand Dunes is a spot that definitely lives up to that expectation. These gorgeous sand dunes are officially part of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SRVA), but as I’ll explain later in this post, are significantly different from the off-roading portion of the park.
How to Access Oceano Sand Dunes
Assuming you intend to hike on the actual dunes, rather than go ATV riding on the beach below, the following directions will help you access Oceano Sand Dunes. It’s a little confusing to locate the access at first, so I’ve included a map (courtesy of Pacific Dunes Ranch RV Resort) to help.
To get yourself to the general area the access is located in, follow directions from your current location to Pacific Dunes Ranch RV Resort. You will end up on some bumpy country roads that make you question whether you’re going the right direction, but just continue on. Eventually, you will see a ranch with horses in the field and a yellow building that is the general store and registration for the RV resort.
Next to the building are two small parking lots, both of which are free and open to the public. I’ve circled them on the map below for clarity. You can park in either lot, and from there you have to walk to the dune access.
As you can see on the map, the streets are one-way, so follow Bakersfield up to the dune access and Fresno when you return to the parking lot. When you reach the access, you’ll see a small gate which you can freely enter.
While on the Dunes
Once you’ve arrived at the gate, you are free to take any path up the dunes. We hiked in shoes, but a majority of people left their shoes at the gate and went barefoot. I wouldn’t say it makes a difference to the difficulty of the hike, so it’s just personal preference.
I chose to walk straight up the dunes, and it was a relatively straightforward path. I was able to run it and made it to the top in around 10 minutes with stops for photos, but you have to be in pretty good fitness to do that. The dunes are quite steep in places. However, by taking a roundabout route, it should be accessible for a majority of people.
Once you reach the top, you have the option of going down the other side to the beach. As I wanted to get to Pismo Beach for sunset, we didn’t do this, but it would’ve been fun. Instead, we opted to spend a little while at the top, taking in the gorgeous views.
Views from the top of Oceano Sand Dunes 
Views from the top of Oceano Sand Dunes 
Views from the top of Oceano Sand Dunes 
Views from the top of Oceano Sand Dunes 
Views from the top of Oceano Sand Dunes 
Views from the top of Oceano Sand Dunes 
Views from the top of Oceano Sand Dunes 
Views from the top of Oceano Sand Dunes
When to Visit Oceano Sand Dunes
Oceano Sand Dunes is somewhere that can really be visited anytime and still be beautiful. Our trip was right in the middle of off-season (late December), yet the dunes were still fun to visit. As we were walking up the access road, it started to drizzle, and I was worried that we’d have to turn around. Thankfully, as we started ascending the dunes, it cleared out, and by the time I’d reached the top, it was nice and sunny, albeit a little windy.
Regarding time of day, we visited in the late afternoon, and found the temperature of the dunes to be perfect. I’d imagine that at least on warmer days, the sand can get very hot around noon. The lighting was also great for taking pictures at the time we went. I would generally recommend visiting either early morning or late afternoon, but sunset would also be pretty.
ATV Riding on Oceano Sand Dunes
As I mentioned earlier in this post, there’s also an option to go ATV riding on the beach below the sand dunes. We didn’t do this as we had limited time and were travelling with grandparents, but it looks like a lot of fun.
To access this portion of the park, put in directions to Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. There, you will find a public parking lot as well as multiple options for renting an ATV. Obviously I can’t speak from experience, but I have heard multiple good things about Steve’s ATV Rentals and they have good ratings across several sites.
Additionally, there are companies – Pacific Adventure Tours is the one I’ve heard of – that will take you on an off-roading tour with a driver/guide. This is a good choice if you don’t feel comfortable being in control of an ATV yourself.
Final Thoughts
Hiking Oceano Sand Dunes was probably my favourite thing I did throughout my entire trip to San Luis Obispo County. Running up the dunes is fun and the views from the top are stunning. On a return trip, I’d love to try ATV riding on the beach. If you’re in the area, I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary – it’ll definitely be worth it.