A-frames near Avila Beach with a private bathroom

Overlooking San Luis Obispo Bay on California's Central Coast, Avila Beach is a pretty coastal town offering three scenic piers (one of which is used for commercial fishing), plus a sandy beach. There's a smattering of local attractions, including the Point San Luis Lighthouse and the Central Coast Aquarium. While quite a few camping spots dot the Central Coast region, both inland and right on the beach, many campers simply use this area as a jumping-off point to explore other spots nearby, such as Los Padres National Forest and the Big Sur Coast.

Avila Beach has a temperate climate, and as it's hemmed in by coastal headlands, the weather tends to be a little warmer than elsewhere on the Central Coast. Late spring through early autumn is the most pleasant time to visit, with temperatures in the 70s from May through October, though winters—while rainy—rarely see temperatures drop below the mid-40s.