Arroyo Laguna Beach

Located to the north of the Hearst Castle, Arroyo Laguna Beach is a popular beach with light brown sand and pebbles. The beach is a part of a state park known as the Hearst San Simeon State Park. A vibrant meadow is present near this windy beach. Oak Knoll Creek (also known as Arroyo Laguna) flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. 

Arroyo Laguna Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs are not allowed on this beach. 

Arroyo Laguna Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, fishing, kitesurfing, surfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, swimming, jet skiing, and hiking. The water near this beach is popular among windsurfers and kitesurfers due to the beach’s windy nature - wind speeds have been known to reach around 40 miles per hour here. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals, otters, and migrating whales. You can catch many kinds of fish in the water near Arroyo Laguna Beach. However, if you are planning to fish here, please make sure that you follow the local fishing regulations. You can also hike around this beach and explore the vibrant coastal landscape present around Oak Knoll Creek. 

Getting to Arroyo Laguna Beach is easy - the free parking lot for this beach is present along Pacific Coast Highway / Cabrillo Highway around two miles north of the Hearst Castle. You can easily walk to this beach from the parking lot via an access trail. It is important to note that the beach is closed to the public between December 15 and April 30 as elephant seals use this beach as a rookery during this time. However, visitors can still access the water near this beach via a boat during this period for engaging in aquatic recreational activities.

There are many attractions near Arroyo Laguna Beach. The Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument is set in the palatial estate which was formerly the home of the famous newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst. The site features Hearst Castle (the businessman’s lavish mansion) and also has interesting art galleries, historical exhibitions, a theater, a visitor center, and a gift shop. Piedras Blancas Light Station is a local historical landmark. This light station has a lighthouse that was originally constructed in the 19th century. The light station premises can now be explored through guided tours. If you are looking for another attraction near Arroyo Laguna Beach, the Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay offers interesting exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the town of San Simeon and Central California.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Arroyo Laguna Beach.  Sea Chest Oyster Bar is an upscale restaurant that is set in an idyllic New England-style building and offers excellent seafood. The Cavalier Coastal Kitchen offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and serves excellent breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes. Big Sur Restaurant serves amazing breakfast dishes, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and seafood. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Arroyo Laguna Beach, Main Street Grill offers excellent seafood and barbecue dishes including hot dogs, burgers, barbecue pork sandwiches, and fish and chips.

If you are looking for a hotel near Arroyo Laguna Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Blue Dolphin Inn offers incredible oceanfront views and also offers complimentary breakfast. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Cavalier Oceanfront Resort that offers many amenities including a restaurant, a fitness center, a pool that offers views of the Pacific Ocean, and a hot tub. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Arroyo Laguna Beach, the 2-Star Silver Surf Motel offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a private lawn with picnic tables, and a rooftop sundeck.