San Buenaventura State Beach

Located along the Ventura waterfront, San Buenaventura State Beach is a two-mile-long state-protected beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. This large beach is one of the most popular beaches in the city of Ventura. It is important to note that some of the southern parts of San Buenaventura State Beach have recently become rocky and pebbly as the sand here has been blown away by frequent winter storms. Multiple rock jetties are also present along the beach shoreline. A grassy park is also present near this beach. San Buenaventura State Beach also has a 1,600 feet long pier named the Ventura Pier. 

San Buenaventura State Beach has many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, picnic tables, barbeques, volleyball courts, a children’s playground, and a biking path. Watersports equipment rental facilities are also present near this beach. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

San Buenaventura State Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, wildlife watching, volleyball, biking, skating, picnicking, swimming, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, boating, jet skiing, and surf skiing. If you are planning to go into the water near San Buenaventura State Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here has rip currents. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near San Buenaventura State Beach including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating whales. You can view many kinds of birds and animals around San Buenaventura State Beach including beach-hoppers, silvery legless lizards, killdeer, willets, and whimbrels. It is important to note that parts of the beach may be seasonally closed off to public access as the beach is used as a nesting ground by the Western snowy plover, which is classified as endangered according to the 1973 federal Endangered Species Act. San Buenaventura State Beach has one of the largest picnic areas in Southern California which is owned by a state park. Many exciting events are also organized in San Buenaventura State Beach throughout the year including the Annual Pirate Festival and the Seaside Invitational Cross Country Meet.

A major landmark on this beach is the Ventura Pier (formerly known as the Ventura Wharf) which was built in 1872 and has gone through many damages and reconstructions over the years. The pier offers magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean, the Channel Islands, and the city of Ventura. Ventura Pier is a great fishing spot - you can catch a variety of fish here including croaker, halibut, bass, and butterfish and the final end of the pier is especially known for being an ideal place to catch sharks including thresher sharks and soupfin sharks. However, if you are planning to fish from the Ventura Pier or any other spot in San Buenaventura State Beach, please make sure that you follow the local regulations. The Ventura Pier also has informative panels highlighting the history of the city of Ventura, a snack bar, sitting areas, a seafood restaurant, and a gift shop. As an interesting fact, the pier has also featured in a variety of television series, movies, and novels including the 1990s TV Show Melrose Place, the 2006 movie Little Miss Sunshine and the 2014 novel Pier Rats by Bruce Greif. The Omer Rains Bike Trail is also present near San Buenaventura State Beach. This biking trail offers a fun biking session along the Ventura coastline. Bike rental shops are available around the pier every day during summers and on weekends during winters.

There are multiple ways to access San Buenaventura State Beach - the main paid parking lot for the beach is situated near the intersection between Pierpont Boulevard and San Pedro Street. Another paid parking lot is accessible via East Harbor Boulevard. There is another access point for San Buenaventura State Beach near the intersection between South Seaward Avenue and Zephyr Court, where street parking is available along with a free parking lot.

There are many attractions near San Buenaventura State Beach. The Museum of Ventura County offers interesting historical exhibits, art galleries, and cultural displays from all over Ventura County and the Channel Islands. Mission Basilica San Buenaventura is a Catholic mission and historical landmark featuring a museum and a gift shop that also offers interesting tours around the mission premises, giving a unique insight into the early history of Southern California. If you are looking for another attraction near San Buenaventura State Beach, Grant Park is a grassy park offering memorable views of the city of Ventura and the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, the park also has a cross which was planted in 1782 by the Franciscan priest Junípero Serra, who had also previously established Mission San Buenaventura. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near San Buenaventura State Beach. Prime Steakhouse is an upscale restaurant that offers excellent steaks and seafood dishes. Himalaya Restaurant Ventura offers a range of delicious Indian and Nepalese dishes including newari choila,chicken tandoori, samosas, lamb curry, and naan. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near San Buenaventura State Beach, Golden Egg Cafe offers delectable breakfast dishes including eggs, pancakes, hash browns, and banana bread.

If you are looking for a hotel near San Buenaventura State Beach, there are many great nearby options. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star Ojai Valley Inn is a 25-minute drive away and offers many amenities including a spa, a golf course, multiple restaurants, multiple bars, a tennis court, a golf course, and access to a fitness center. As another upscale option, the 4-Star Best Western Plus Carpinteria Inn is 27 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bar, a pool, a hot tub, an exercise room, and a garden. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach offers many amenities including a gym, a restaurant, a bar, a pool, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near San Buenaventura State Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Best Western Plus Inn of Ventura is located conveniently close to some of the most popular attractions of the city of Ventura and offers a pool and complimentary breakfast.