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Submission
The SVRA offers primitive beach and dune camping with no designated campsites. Facilities include vault and chemical toilets. All camping reservations must be made through Reserve California. Reservations are available up to six months in advance from your arrival date. Beach camping is recommended for 4- wheel drive vehicles only. A fee based dump station is available to campers and it is located on Le Sage Drive, 1/10 miles North of Grand Avenue.
Inventory at Oceano Dunes SVRA has been increased to 250 camping units.
Camping will be monitored and may incrementally be increased back to 500 units as park operations allow.
North Park Entrance:End of Grand Avenue Grover Beach, CA; South Park Entrance: End of Pier Avenue Oceano, CA .
While this beach is known for being an OFF ROAD paradise, I was really surprised to find out how good the sand is for sand castles. I do wonders of the world in sand and my normal beach in Cayucos was swamped by winter storms so I tried this beach and I was ASTONISHED how well the sand holds together. I didn't need any water!! I'll be back to build here again for sure!
The beach itself is famous for allowing access for vehicles to drive on the beach and there is a dune area for off road vehicles to get crazy jumping over the dunes. Dont get stuck out there!! There is a marginal fee for day use, and overnight camping is allowed all year round. Be sure to bring a tall flag for safety if you venture out into the dunes
I think this is the only beach on the California coast where you can buy a pass and drive a vehicle upon it. I would advise 4WD if you plan on venturing far. The 15MPH speed limit makes it difficult to stay ahead of sinking on the sand and it seems like 80% of what was once open dunes is now restricted to vehicles. Way back in the 1980’s you used to be able to zoom across the dunes @ your own pace. Now I can’t quite understand if it’s still allowed. You definitely can’t go exploring and find deep dunes with giant bowls to ride around anymore it seems. Guess that’s partially because California is far more crowded these days but, OHV license fees were used to procure land that is now off-limits to the people that funded it’s acquisition. It’s nice that you can get a permit for overnight camping on the beach and there are bathrooms available
We enjoy dunes and beach.
Dunes are really good and on the beach is one of a kind in nature.
Really picturesque location and you may spend the whole day there.
