Ventura Beaches of the California Coast

Emma Wood State Beach - Although this is primarily a camping beach, day use is permitted. This narrow ocean-side beach offers excellent views of the islands on clear days and is a favorite among surfers. This is an interesting beach and campground. It is a very narrow stretch of road and single file camping sites. The beach is close enough to touch.
Moderate ocean temperature at Emma Wood State Beach makes the area a great place for swimming, surfing and fishing. A freshwater marsh at the southwest end of the beach attracts raccoons, songbirds and red-tailed hawks. The beach also features the crumbling ruins of a World War II coastal artillery site.

Location:
The main beach is reached via Highway 101. Northbound exit at "State Beaches" exit and Southbound exit at Main Street, bearing left at the bottom of the ramp. Once back on the highway, take the first exit and turn left at the bottom of the ramp.

The group camp's entrance is at the west end of Main Street in Ventura, which you can reach from Southbound 101 via the Main Street exit. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right and make the immediate right into the campgrounds. Northbound 101 take the Ventura exit. Turn left onto Main Street and turn left into the entrance to group campground, which is right before you get back on the highway.

Harbor Cove Beach - Protected from the strong waves by the harbor's breakwaters, this is a wonderful swimming beach. It is very close to entertainment and restaurants, as well, so it makes a great beginning (or middle or end) of an adventurous day. This beach is a favorite among families with young children because the shelter of the Harbor's breakwaters provides safety from the harsh currents. The kids will also enjoy watching the boats come and go through the Harbor mouth. In addition, the dunes provide an illusion of isolation. After all, the Marina Village is right across the street so you're actually smack dab in the middle of everything, but, it doesn't seem that way from the beach. If you were planning on making a day of it, Channel Islands Visitor Center is also across the street, as is many restaurants and an arcade. Lifeguards, restrooms and foot showers, but limited parking on summer weekends.

Location: From the 101 take the Seaward exit and turn towards the ocean. Turn left onto Harbor Blvd and follow this road as it curves around the edge the Marina. When you get to Spinnaker Drive (the main entrance to the Marina) turn right. Drive until you reach the end of Spinnaker. The parking lot for the beach is on the left.

Marina Park - A wonderful park + beach + picnic facilities + children's play area. It also has a great view of the harbor. It's common to see sailing lessons in the inlet.
This wonderful park does double duty as an even more wonderful beach and provides some magnificent views of the Marina, plus picnic tables and grills, and kids playground. One of the most unique features of this park is a cement and wooden ship called the San Salvador . While it may not get far out to sea, it does provide a fabulous theatre for active imaginations!

Sailing lessons are offered nearby in the marina and fishermen can drop a line from the park's fishing dock. There are also sand volleyball courts, a hand-launch boat dock, and restrooms.

Location:
From the 101 take the Seaward Avenue exit and turn towards the ocean. Drive until you reach Pierpont Avenue. Turn left and drive until you reach the end of the road.

Rincon Beach - This superb surfing beach is technically in Santa Barbara but right on the very, tippy edge of Santa Barbara. Enough of the surfers end up landing on Ventura shores to make it worth mentioning. Rated as one of the top five surfing spots in the world this beach is too close to ignore.

San Buenaventura Beach - In the heart of Ventura, this 2-mile long stretch of sand and sun includes a pier, restaurant, snack bar, surfing, swimming, camping, volleyball and biking. The park stretches almost to Seaward and there are two areas to park.

A great deal of Ventura's coastline is dedicated to the State Park, which is a great thing for those who love Southern California beaches. There is so much to do and see at this beach, but if you get bored, the heart of Main Street is just three blocks inland.

This beach features swimming, surfing and picnicking. The beach has two miles of sandy beach, sand dunes, picnic sites, a parking lot, a snack bar and a beach-equipment rental shop. Bike trails connect other nearby beaches. A 1,700-foot pier has a snack bar, restaurant and bait shop.

In addition to its built-in amenities, the Promenade (a long walking and biking trail that hugs the coastline) is the site of many festivals and special events.

Location:
Take the 101 to Seaward Avenue. At the bottom of the ramp turn right onto Harbor Blvd. There are two entrances to the beach - there will be one directly on your left (swimming, camping) and one about a half mile up on the left (swimming, pier, restaurant).

A great deal of Ventura's coastline is dedicated to the State Park, which is a great thing for those of us who love Southern California beaches. There is so much to do and see at this beach, but if you get bored, the heart of Main Street is just three blocks inland.

This beach features swimming, surfing and picnicking. The beach has two miles of sandy beach, sand dunes, picnic sites, a parking lot, a snack bar and a beach-equipment rental shop. Bike trails connect other nearby beaches. A 1,700-foot pier has a snack bar, restaurant and bait shop.

In addition to its built-in amenities, the Promenade (a long walking and biking trail that hugs the coastline) is the site of many festivals and special events.

Location:
Take the 101 to Seaward Avenue. At the bottom of the ramp turn right onto Harbor Blvd. There are two entrances to the beach - there will be one directly on your left (swimming, camping) and one about a half mile up on the left (swimming, pier, restaurant).

Seaward Avenue Beach - This wonderful beach is difficult to access because there isn't a great deal of parking in the neighborhood (which, by the way, is delightfully Californian in nature and a great place to pick up lunch).The Seaward Avenue Beach district is a small area, yes, but it is one of the more charming places in all of Ventura. If offers the ambience of a classic Southern California beach town, access to the beach and some very nice eateries.
The beach itself is gorgeous and is fairly well protected by the breakwaters. Jetties serve to keep the sand in place.

Location:
Northbound: From the 101, take the Seaward Avenue exit and turn towards the ocean. Follow the street to the end. There is some parking at the end of the road for the beach, but not a lot. Most of the parking is on the street - and it is fairly precious. If you can carpool you'll be better off in the long run.

Southbound: From the 101, take the Seaward exit. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left. Turn right turn onto Seaward Avenue.

Surfers Knoll Beach - While not a swimming beach because of dangerous undertows and surf conditions, this is a wonderful lounging beach. Miles of glorious sand and the pounding surf are made particularly special by the illusion of privacy. The strong gusts from the open ocean tend to make this a good beach to fly a kite, as well. This is a great beach for lounging, lingering and watching the incredible waves. The winds tend to be strong so this is also a great beach for flying your kite. The beach stretches a long distance. There are restrooms and foot showers, though you swim at your own risk. Posted signs warn of riptides. The parking is limited.

Location: From the 101 take the Seaward exit and turn towards the ocean. Turn left onto Harbor Blvd and follow this road as it curves around the edge the Marina. When you get to Spinnaker Drive (the main entrance to the Marina) turn right. Drive until you reach the end of Spinnaker. The parking lot for the beach is on the left.

Surfers Point At Seaside Park - Also not a swimming beach, but not because of rid tides. Ventura has some of the best surfing in all of Southern California. This point is well known for the consistent, excellent waves. This isn't a swimming beach but it may be one of the busiest beaches in town. The day we were there taking pictures, surf school was on. Literally hundreds of people - most of them teenagers - were paddling their surf boards vying for the best waves.

Since the Point borders the north end of San Buenaventura State Beach and the south end of the Seaside Wilderness Park there is a fair amount of access to the narrow rocky beach. The waves here are large and consistent.

Location:

Northbound: From the 101 take the Seaward Ave. exit or the California Street exit. Turn left towards the ocean to Harbor Blvd., turn right on Harbor and continue until you reach Seaside Park at the corner of Harbor and Figueroa. Turn left and the free parking is directly ahead. If you bear to the right there is also paid parking.

Southbound: From the 101, take the Seaward Ave. exit, make an immediate right on Harbor Blvd. and proceed to Seaside Park. Turn left and the free parking is directly ahead. If you bear to the right there is also paid parking.