Getting Here & Getting Around

Avila Beach is a few minutes off US 101 in San Luis Obispo County, so getting here is simple. Getting around once you arrive is even easier: the town, the beaches and Harford Pier all sit along one road by the water.

Driving to Avila Beach

From either direction on US 101, take the Avila Beach Drive exit and head toward the ocean. In September 2025, the county finished a new roundabout where Avila Beach Drive meets Shell Beach Road and the southbound 101 ramps, with bike lanes and a shared path around it.

Approximate drive times:

• Los Angeles: about 3 hours 15 minutes, 184 miles, north on US 101
• San Francisco: about 4 hours, 241 miles, south on US 101
• San Diego: about 5 hours 10 minutes, 306 miles, I-5 north to US 101
• Bakersfield: about 2 hours 25 minutes, 145 miles, via CA 46 and US 101
• Fresno: about 2 hours 30 minutes, 148 miles

Once you're off the freeway, see our parking guide for where to leave the car.

Flying in

San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) is at 975 Airport Drive in San Luis Obispo, the closest commercial airport to Avila. The airport lists these airlines and nonstops:

• Alaska Airlines: Portland, San Diego, Seattle (Alaska has also flown a seasonal Las Vegas route)
• American Airlines: Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix
• United Airlines: Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Routes change with the seasons, so check the airline page before you book.

From the airport, you can rent a car (Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National are on site), take a rideshare or book a taxi in advance. The airport doesn't run its own shuttle. Details are on the airport's ground transportation page.

Taking the train

The Amtrak station in San Luis Obispo at 1011 Railroad Avenue is served by two routes. The Coast Starlight runs once a day each way between Los Angeles and Seattle. The Pacific Surfliner runs between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, which is its northern end. From the station, you'll need a rental car, rideshare or taxi to reach Avila.

The free Avila Trolley

The Avila-Pismo Beach Trolley, run by SLO Regional Transit Authority, is free and runs in summer only. The 2026 season ran May 1 to September 6, with service on:

• Friday, 4 to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The route starts at the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets and stops at Avila Hot Springs, the Bob Jones Trail at Ontario Road, Avila Beach Drive at 1st Street in town, the San Luis Bay Inn, Babe Lane and Port San Luis near Fat Cats Cafe. It also serves Avila Valley Barn and both Flying Flags campgrounds. A one-way trip takes about 50 minutes, and there's a midday break in the weekend schedule. At the outlets, you can transfer to South County Transit Routes 21 and 24 and RTA Route 10. Check the RTA site each spring for the new season's dates.

Getting around Avila

• On foot: Downtown is a few blocks long, and the promenade runs the length of the main beach.
• By bike: Avila Beach Drive connects town to Port San Luis, and the Bob Jones Trail runs from the Ontario Road staging area in Avila Valley down to the beach. See biking and e-bikes for rentals.
• By car: Driving between town, Harford Pier and the hot springs takes a few minutes. Parking at each stop is the hard part on a summer weekend.
• Rideshare: The airport says Uber and Lyft run in the area but are more limited in the evening and at night. If you're out for dinner, plan your ride home early.
• To the lighthouse: Point San Luis Lighthouse is reached by guided hike or tour, not by car. See the lighthouse page.