Ventura County’s coast runs from the cobblestone points of the north to the wide sands of the Oxnard Plain and the wild wetlands of Point Mugu. Whether you want to surf, camp, tide-pool, or just find an easy stretch of sand, here’s a guide to the county’s beaches, north to south.
The northern points: Rincon and Emma Wood
Rincon and Emma Wood State Beach are cobblestone-and-sand beaches best known for surfing and beachfront camping, where the mountains come almost down to the water.
Ventura’s town beaches
San Buenaventura State Beach, the Ventura Pier and Surfers’ Point give the city a long, walkable, bike-path-lined shoreline right off downtown — the everyday beach for most Venturans. Marina Park by the harbor is a calm, kid-friendly favorite, and McGrath State Beach to the south pairs dunes with the Santa Clara River estuary and its birdlife.
The Oxnard sands
Oxnard has the county’s widest beaches: Mandalay Beach and Oxnard Shores, the residential Hollywood Beach and Silver Strand, all broad, flat and great for long walks. Ormond Beach at the south end is a rare undeveloped coastal wetland and a birding hotspot.
Port Hueneme and Point Mugu
Hueneme Beach Park centers on its fishing pier and promenade, and at the county’s southern tip, Point Mugu State Park combines beach, lagoon, and the trailheads into the Santa Monica Mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best beach in Ventura County?
It depends what you want: San Buenaventura State Beach for an easy in-town day, Mandalay and Silver Strand in Oxnard for wide sand, Emma Wood or Rincon for surfing and camping, and Marina Park for families.
Which Ventura County beaches allow camping?
Emma Wood State Beach and, to the south, McGrath State Beach and Point Mugu State Park offer state-park camping near the sand (check current availability and closures before you go).
Where are the best beaches for families in Ventura County?
Marina Park in Ventura and the wide, gentle sands of Hollywood Beach and Silver Strand in Oxnard are popular calm-water, easy-access choices.
Dreaming of a place near the sand? See our Coastal Ventura County market guide.
