Oceano, CA--Unique among its
peers, Pier Street next to Grover Beach in Oceano is the gateway known as Post 1 for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. This is where cars can pay a
small fee ($5-15) and drive on the beach. While passenger cars can drive on
a small portion of the beach, camping and off roading in vehicles set low to
the road with big tires customized for the sand dune terrain are best
accessed with 4-wheel drive vehicles. There are two entrances to the
beach and Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area
(SVRA), Pier and Grand Avenue, with a restaurant at the Grand Avenue
entrance. Both entrances are a few miles south of Pismo Beach off Highway 1.
One mile south of the Pier Avenue beach ramp (the southernmost access point)
is Post 2, one of eight posts on the beach. 2 through 7 are included in the
5.5-mile driving areas for off-highway vehicles.
When the dust settles in
nearby Grover Beach
on Mondays, it looks like a dust storm has blown through. This is not the
place to go if you need to maintain your squeaky clean image, fine clothing
and luxury car interiors. It's an exciting place to partake of a sport that
sees thousands of people on weekend getaways. Reading the license plates,
they come from around the US, but the most common places seem to include
Bakersfield, Barstow and Los Angeles. Weekdays are generally a bit
milder and less trafficked, and that's when Grover Beach residents get their
town back to clean up the dust for the next round of excitement.
Dogs can walk, horses can run and
people can even build bonfires on these beaches, nestled between Pismo Beach
and the protected Oceano Sand Dunes. There is beach camping but it's quite
popular and you have to plan ahead.
We go to these beaches for their easy
access and great location to dining, shopping in Arroyo Grande and Pismo
Beach and rugged, laid back attitude. Almost like an airport where the
planes constantly come and go, you have to watch your front and backside on
this beach where cars will pass you much like a freeway without any signs or
roads. For those of us who stay in local hotels and go to watch, we have to
remind ourselves to keep our eyes on the cars. For more info:
parks.ca.gov
