Central Coast State Parks and Beaches

Copyright: California State Parks Morro Bay

Attractions - In this breathtaking region, redwoods march down to the sea while waterfalls and natural preserves scatter the landscape. This region features the Big Sur Coast and the Hearst Castle. It includes 11 state parks, 16 state beaches, six state historic parks, and two state reserves.

Recreation - Activities at the state park sites in this area include: camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking, swimming, surfing, wind surfing, horseback riding, biking, touring cultural and historic sites and viewing the spectacular coastal scenery.

Climate - Climate in the Central Coast varies greatly with elevation and the amount of coastal influence. Areas with more coastal influence experience moderate temperatures year round with fog likely from June through mid-August. Plan your coastal visit in the late summer or fall to ensure the best conditions for viewing the scenery. Also, occasional clear days between winter and spring storms are incomparable. Areas further inland experience greater temperature extremes, with relatively cooler winters and hot summers. Inland areas often receive frost on winter nights. As throughout most of California most of the precipitation comes in the winter months, with April through October normally very dry.

Location - The Central Coast Region stretches along the coast from about 60 miles north of Los Angeles to about 50 miles south of San Francisco. It includes the area from Ventura to Monterey Bay. The main highways accessing this region are Highways 1 and 101 running north/south.