Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes

Located in the city of Guadalupe, Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes has a long, wide, and remote beach surrounded by a huge dune structure near Oso Flaco Creek. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is a part of Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge that was created in 2000. This refuge acts as a habitat for brown pelicans, least terns, snowy plovers, peregrine falcons, frogs, salamanders, and 18 different species of rare plants. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes were featured in the 1923 film The Ten Commandments by Cecil B. DeMille that got famous for having the largest set at that time which included many Egyptian sphinxes.  Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is a well-known destination for birdwatching and wildlife watching.

Dunes are the only amenity offered at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes.

There are many fun activities at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes including birdwatching, wildlife watching, beachcombing, and beach walking. If you are looking for additional activities, you can drive three minutes south to The Dunes Center, a non-profit informative center with exhibits and artifacts from the sets of the 1923 film.

Getting to Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is easy – the beach is situated at the point where Highway 1 meets Oso Flaco Lake Road and there is a free parking lot at the refuge. After parking, you will need to walk a few minutes west to the beach.

If you are looking for nearby attractions, there are many within a 30-minute drive of Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes. The beachside Mustang Waterpark has an incredible stampede ride, two 600-foot-long waterslides, kiddie pools, three mini-slides, and bikes and karts. Monarch Butterfly Grove is a nature preserve center and home to thousands of monarch butterflies that visitors can see starting from late October to February. If you like photography, Swinging Bridge is a beautiful 171-feet-long bridge suspended 40-feet over Arroyo Grande Creek and is a great spot to take Instagram-worthy pictures. Another great attraction near Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is Price Historical Park, a four-acre landmark that incorporates history from the Chumash tribe.

If you get hungry, you can drive 10 minutes to many restaurants near Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes. The vegetarian-friendly restaurant Mason Bar & Kitchen was mentioned in "Highway 101: The Best Roadside Eats" by The Mercury News. If you like Mediterranean food, Jaffa Café serves shawarmas, kebabs, wraps, and gyros. Another great restaurant near Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is Village Café, a breakfast restaurant featuring pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, tacos, burgers, and homemade pies.

If you are looking for a hotel near Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, you can drive 20 minutes to the upscale 4-Star hotel The Casitas of Arroyo Grande, a Spanish-styled hotel that is spread across 7 acres and has a nice pool and courtyard with fountains. The Agrarian Hotel, Bw Signature Collection is a 3-Star pet-friendly hotel offering a pool, spa, and fitness center. If you are looking for an affordable hotel near Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, the 2-Star Beachway Inn Motel features a water park, restaurant, golf course, and hiking, fishing, and horseback riding tours.