Free Things to Do

A lot of the best things in Avila cost nothing. Here's how to fill a day, or a whole weekend, without spending more than you want to.

Beaches and piers

• Avila Beach and the promenade. Sand, small waves, people-watching and sunsets. There are picnic tables and district grills near the beach. See Avila Beach.
• Olde Port Beach and Fisherman's Beach. Quieter beaches on the road to Port San Luis. Olde Port is the off-leash dog beach. See Olde Port Beach.
• Harford Pier. Walk the working pier at Port San Luis, watch the boats and listen for sea lions. You can fish from it with no license. The Avila Beach Pier downtown is mostly closed for repairs. See Harford Pier and Port San Luis.
• Tide pools. Free at low tide. Check a tide chart first. See tide pools.

Trails

• Bob Jones Trail: about 5 miles round trip, flat and shaded.
• Pirate's Cove and Cave Landing: a short walk to bluff views and a rock tunnel.
• Sycamore Crest and Ontario Ridge: steep climbs with big views over the bay.
• Pecho Coast Trail to Point San Luis Lighthouse: free docent-led hikes on Wednesdays and Saturdays, reservation required through PG&E.

Distances and parking for each are on our hiking page.

Around town

• The pirate playground and courts. Avila Beach Park at the west end of Front Street has a pirate-ship playground, swings, a basketball court and picnic tables, and there are sand volleyball courts on the beach. All free.
• Avila Valley Barn. Parking and admission are always free. Wander the farm stand, see the animals and look at the fields. See Avila Valley Barn.
• The farmers market. Friday evenings on the promenade, May into fall. Free to walk and listen to the music. See farmers market.
• Lifeguard tower murals. Local artist Colleen Gnos painted the two lifeguard towers on the beach with scenes of Avila's past, present and future.
• Window shopping. Browse the galleries and beach shops on Front Street. See shopping.
• Whale watching from shore. When humpbacks feed in the bay, you can sometimes see spouts from Harford Pier. See whale watching.

Getting here for free

The free Avila-Pismo trolley runs Friday afternoons and weekends in summer (May 1 to September 6 in 2026) between the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets, the Bob Jones trailhead, downtown Avila and Port San Luis. Check the RTA trolley page for next year's dates, and see getting around and parking.