San Buenaventura State Beach — Attraction in Ventura

We use an annual state park pass and drive through the gate here to find plenty of parking in the lot, otherwise it's $10 per vehicle as of December, 2023.

You can access the beach from multiple points, driving or walking, with a pass or without, and it's free if you walk or ride a bike, etc in.

There are always walkers, runners, bikers, roller skaters/bladers, people pedaling the 4-plus person bicycle rentals and more. It's a very dog friendly (on leash) beach.

The beach itself is lovely, and there's lots of it, so plenty of room for the many people that often visit. It is kept very clean. The sunrise and sunset views are unparalleled.

There are several good to great restaurants on the pier itself, including a taco spot as well as a burger joint and brewery. Further west you can find a couple of others with ocean view seating. There are public restrooms that close when the beach does, which is at sunset each day.

We've seen spectacular weddings take place on the shore.

If you follow the promenade West past Surfer's Point you'll end up at an estuary with many beautiful birds possible to see.

The Pier

It is typical to have vendors selling jewelry or crafts and playing music near the pier (along the promenade) which as of this writing (12/3/2023) has been closed for almost a year due to damage incurred during a storm. Work continues on the pier so hopefully it will reopen soon.

Professional photography sessions often occur beneath the pier on the waterline at sunset because the lighting is perfect for such pictures.

This is a fantastic beach for relaxing or...

Right at the beach, lots of fun for all shapes and sizes within walking distance. Fun for all ages. Fun for all skill levels. Grounds are clean, the bike/jogger path is always busy during the day, but a ghost town at night. It was only one other person I passed at my late walk through. The area is populated heavily with homeless, most of whom are good people, some I know, and there are a few that are operating on a different software which is that version where one argues with the self. Just don't feed the wildlife. The birds will take your food, your baggie of drugs, because a Ziploc bag despite it's contents is a Target for seagulls. If a gull gets your cannabis, at least he won't be able to get off the ground for a bit. If one gets into the cocaine, that bird is apex predator until it blows up mid air. Hang on to toddlers as I've seen these unassuming "scavengers" get tired of your McDonald's trash and take it out on the small...

THE ONLY THING POSITIVE IS THE LIFEGUARDS ARE VERY HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY!!!

FOR THE BAD....Arrived beach 10$so I expected nice clean tissue avail but nooo get to get in bathrooms nasty no toilet paper pee and poop everywhere spiders all on walls no washing hands cause sinks didn't work no shower they don't turned on called over and over left messages trying to get a reservation for beach wheelchair this is NOT A HANDICAP FRIENDLY PLACE took me 45 minutes to walk with my hurt foot to beach by the time I got their I was in pain said handicap friendly that sure is a lie the sand is too soft you just sink and its far from parking especially coming in a big group can't walk on sand by water cause its filled with rocks rocks and more rocks! No BBQ on beach and tables are far from beach you either will picnic BBQ or you will beach picnic no BBQ . Our group spent 60$ there...