Where to Stay Nearby
When Avila is booked up, Shell Beach, Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo are close by.
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- Closest towns
- Shell Beach, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo
- Best for the beach
- Shell Beach and Pismo Beach
- Most hotel choice
- San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach
- Free trolley
- Pismo Outlets to Avila, Fri to Sun, May to early Sept
Avila has only a handful of hotels, and on summer weekends they fill up. Several towns are a short drive away, and in summer a free trolley links Pismo Beach to Avila. Here's how to pick a base nearby and still spend your days here.
Shell Beach
Shell Beach is a neighborhood of Pismo Beach and the closest place to stay going south from Avila. It's a good pick if you want to be near the ocean and plan to come to Avila every day. Search it along with Pismo on Experience Pismo Beach, Pismo's tourism site.
Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach is a bigger beach town just down the coast, with its own pier and many more places to stay than Avila. In summer you can leave the car at the Pismo Premium Outlets and take the free trolley to Avila (see below). Pismo makes sense for larger groups or when Avila is booked.
San Luis Obispo
The city of San Luis Obispo is inland from Avila, with the widest choice of hotels in the area and a busy downtown. From there, you can drive to Avila in a few minutes or park at the Bob Jones Trail trailhead on Ontario Road and walk or bike the rest of the way.
The Avila Valley
Avila's own valley is easy to overlook. Avila Village Inn and Sycamore Mineral Springs sit along the Bob Jones Trail, and Avila Hot Springs has camping. You're a few minutes from the sand without staying downtown.
Getting to Avila from nearby
The free trolley. The Avila-Pismo Beach Trolley, run by SLO Regional Transit Authority, is free. In 2026 it ran from May 1 to September 6 on Friday afternoons and weekends: Fridays 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It starts at the Pismo Premium Outlets and stops at Avila Hot Springs, the Bob Jones Trail trailhead, downtown Avila, Babe Lane and Port San Luis near Fat Cats Cafe. Check slorta.org for next season's dates.
Driving. Parking in Avila fills up on busy days, so arrive early. See Parking.
Biking or walking. The Bob Jones Trail runs from the trailhead on Ontario Road into Avila.
For more, see Getting Here & Getting Around and our Itineraries.
Local tips
- If Avila is full on a summer weekend, look in Shell Beach first. It's the next town down the coast.
- Staying in Pismo in summer? Park at the Pismo Premium Outlets and ride the free trolley to Avila.
- From San Luis Obispo, park at the Bob Jones Trail trailhead on Ontario Road and walk or bike into Avila.
Frequently asked questions
What towns are close to Avila Beach?
Shell Beach and Pismo Beach are just down the coast, and San Luis Obispo is inland. All three make a good base for day trips to Avila.
Is there a shuttle from Pismo Beach to Avila?
Yes, in summer. The free Avila-Pismo Beach Trolley runs from the Pismo Premium Outlets to Avila and Port San Luis on Friday afternoons and weekends. In 2026 it ran May 1 to September 6.
Is Shell Beach part of Pismo Beach?
Yes. Shell Beach is a neighborhood of Pismo Beach, on the side closest to Avila.
