Central Coast Beaches Top “Best California Beaches” List

California’s Central Coast is earning national recognition as four of the top 10 spots are taken by beaches in the state’s most beloved coastal area.

Butterfly Beach, Ventura Beach, Pismo Beach, and Oxnard Beach ranked on USA TODAY’s 2025 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best California Beach list among six other beaches in the state. The list is based on reader votes, with expert nominations selected by USA TODAY’s editorial team.

Highlights

• Last month, USA Today 10BEST released its list of Best Beaches in California for the year.
• Butterfly Beach, Ventura Beach, Pismo Beach, and Oxnard Beach take significant ranks on the list.
• The list is created using a two-step process involving expert nominations, followed by reader’s choice voting.

Central Coast Beaches Take the Top Two Spots on USA TODAY 10Best List

The rankings for 2025 solidify Central Coast’s popularity among travelers and native beachgoers alike. While beaches in Southern California have always been popular amongst the general public, Pismo Beach and ‘olol’koy Beach Park (Oxnard Beach Park) claimed the top two spots. Additionally, Butterfly Beach and Ventura Beach have also been ranked on the list at number 8 and 5, respectively.

8. Butterfly Beach – Montecito California

Montecito is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in all of California, according to this poll. Butterfly beach, ranked eighth, offers scenic views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Channel Islands. Those looking for peace and calm can visit Butterfly beach for a walk along the Pacific shoreline, if the tide isn’t too high!

5. Ventura Beach – Ventura, California

Ventura Beach, ranked number five on the USA Today’s Best10 list, spans five miles of sand and sun, and is home to the Ventura Pier. The beach is an iconic central coast landmark that offers activities such as kitesurfing, kiteboarding, and surfing. Harbor Cove is a calm space away from the waves, while the surf points off California Street are one of the most beginner-friendly surfing breaks. To add to that, Ventura beach also offers free parking and several dining options at the adjacent harbor.

2. Pismo Beach – Pismo Beach, California

At number two, Pismo Beach offers one of the most breathtaking views of the shores, and a panoramic view of the coastal vistas. It is classic California, even offering many outdoor activities such as paddleboarding, surfing, and ATV rides, allowing visitors to explore the beach on their own terms. Pismo Beach also has stunning sand dunes that can be explored on the ATVs.

1. ‘Olol’koy Beach Park (Oxnard Beach Park) – Oxnard, California

Ranked number one, ‘Olol’koy Beach Park, once known as Oxnard Beach Park offers access to lush lawns, in addition to its white sand beaches. The space was renamed ‘Olol’koy, the word for dolphin is Chumash to honor the original residents of the beach. It has a skating and jogging path, volleyball courts, grill areas, and a children’s play area.

The USA TODAY 10Best ranking is compiled through a process where expert nominations and public voting are both taken into account. Furthermore, each beach is evaluated on a list of different criteria such as cleanliness, scenery, access to recreational facilities, and overall experience.

This year’s list highlights the fact that the Central Coast’s calmer shores are now fan favorites, and are no longer just hidden gems.

The other beaches on the list include Santa Cruz Main Beach at #10, Newport Municipal Beach at #9, Malibu Lagoon State Beach at #7, Crissy Beach in San Francisco at #6, Carlsbad State Beach at #4, and Huntington State Beach at #3.