San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo is a city in San Luis Obispo County in the Central Coast region of California.

Understand
About half way between Los Angeles (200 miles / 320 km to the south) and San Francisco (230 miles / 370 km to the north), nine small but impressive volcanic peaks march down a valley of the Santa Lucia range to the Pacific Ocean. Nestled around two of these peaks is San Luis Obispo ("SLO", "slow", or "San Luis" to locals), a small college town that also is one of California's oldest communities. San Luis and its neighboring communities boast extraordinary resources for hiking, mountain biking, sea kayaking, swimming and surfing; outstanding natural beauty; a carefully preserved and thriving 19th-century downtown centered around a meticulously restored 18th-century mission; a small but thriving art gallery scene; and a large and growing collection of top-quality wineries.

Getting Oriented
San Luis Obispo is bounded by the imposing line of Cuesta Ridge to the northeast, the Irish Hills to the southwest, dramatic Bishop Peak to the northwest and Islay Hill to the southeast. The town clusters around the feet of the 1,000-foot (300-meter) Cerro San Luis, notably marked with a big white "M" (for Mission High School). Both locals and visitors frequently refer to Cerro San Luis as "Madonna Mountain" and a common misconception is that the "M" represents the surname "Madonna;" the famous Madonna Inn sits at the foot of the mountain and the city of San Luis Obispo negotiated public access to the peak with the Madonna family. Cal Poly sits hard against Cuesta Ridge (with its big white "P") and the downtown area runs from Cerro San Luis roughly toward campus around two parallel streets, Higuera and Monterey. Most restaurants, bars and shops are located on Higuera Street, nearer the Mission and Cerro San Luis; hotels are mostly located on Monterey Street, nearer the university but still within a mile (2 km) of the central downtown. A few restaurants are located in the charming Railroad District, about 5 blocks east of Higuera via Santa Rosa Street, near the train station and youth hostel.



By plane
San Luis Obispo has a one-terminal airport,

Central Coast Shuttle has 7 trips a day between the Los Angeles/LAX and Santa Maria Airport, about 35 miles south. This is a limited option, an Uber or ride from a friend must be procured, but may work in your situation.

Air Charter or air taxi is another alternative, where you can catch flights to San Diego for the weekend, or to any large or small airport. Air charters and air taxis fly point-to-point, at the departure time, departure airport, and arrival airport of the passengers' choosing. Prices start around $150 for a seat on flights that might already be going to your destination, or go from $1,000 to $10,000 or more for a custom-chartered flight where you hire the aircraft to fly you directly to your destination, any time you want to go. On-demand flights, and seats on flights already chartered to/from San Luis Obispo are offered by Pacific Air Taxi. Air taxi flights have a much shorter check-in time (typically just 15 minutes) than larger airlines, so you can just arrive and go. Travel time for an air taxi flight is usually 80 minutes from SLO to Sacramento.

By train

 * Routes stopping in San Luis Obispo:
 * Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. Northbound and southbound trains meet in San Luis Obispo at about 3:30PM each day. The Coast Starlight offers particular treats to travellers from both north and south. Those coming from San Francisco will penetrate the Santa Lucia range through the eight tunnels of the Cuesta Grade, the longest railroad grade west of the Rockies, just before disembarking at San Luis Osbispo. From Los Angeles, the route traverses the wild coastline of Vandenburg Air Force Base, which is otherwise inaccessible to civilians. During the winter,  Coast Starlight travelers should enjoy great sunset views after departing San Luis Osbispo southbound.
 * Pacific Surfliner operates daily between San Luis Obispo and San Diego via Los Angeles.
 * Pacific Surfliner operates daily between San Luis Obispo and San Diego via Los Angeles.

By bus

 * Amtrak offers its Thruway bus service to San Luis Obispo from areas statewide including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and the Central Valley.
 * Flixbus offers bus routes into SLO from Los Angeles and San Francisco.
 * San Luis Obispo County's Regional Transit Authority provides countywide bus transportation from as far south as Santa Maria up to Morro Bay/San Simeon and Paso Robles/San Miguel in the north.
 * Greyhound stops in Santa Maria, about 30 miles south.

By car
Since San Luis Obispo is home to the first ever motel (The Milestone Mo-Tel) it is definitely a car town. Both Highway 101 and Highway 1 run through town, with the two overlapping from San Luis Obispo until they split again further south in Pismo Beach. San Luis Obispo is the south end of dramatic Big Sur stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway (California Highway 1), inasmuch as the PCH rejoins Highway 101 in town. Highway 101 turns inland from San Luis, traversing the historic Cuesta Grade over the Santa Lucia Range to Atascadero and Paso Robles, then onward through the Salinas Valley to the San Francisco Bay Area. Travellers opting for the very worthwhile scenery of Big Sur via the PCH should be aware that driving times are much longer than by the 101.

Get around
Car is the easiest way to get around town and the larger region, but many locals opt to travel by bike or to walk within the city.

By bus
SLO Transit Services are reliable and cover most points of interest, but end at 11PM on weekdays and 8PM on the weekends. A trolley links some of the hotels on Monterey Street to the downtown area. Click here for more information

Regional Transit Authority The county bus system. Mainly intended for travel to neighboring cities, with limited service inside SLO, but check if the stops and schedules work for you.

By foot
Walking is a great way to get around, especially if you're staying close to downtown.

By bike
SLO keeps improving its bike infrastructure every year. Several bike shops offer rentals and some hotels have bike available for use by guests.

By pedicab
SLO Pedicab San Luis Obispo now has pedicab service.

By taxi
Taxi service is available from 234 Taxi (805-234-TAXI) but you certainly won't be able to hail a cab from a street corner; call for pick-up.

See



 * Take some time to walk around the downtown area. It's changed rapidly over the past decade with the introduction of new developments and larger chain restaurants/stores, but still maintains a wonderful small town feel with the addition of pedestrian corridors between streets where you'll find locals hanging out.
 * Take a look at Bubble Gum Alley and leave some of your own chewed gum behind. Located on the south side of Higuera Street between Broad St. and Garden St.
 * Depending on the season, college basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, and football games can be seen at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), in the hills on the northern end of town. Games are generally $5 for non-Cal Poly students.
 * Check out the eclectic Madonna Inn to see the Pink Room and the famous men's bathroom's waterfall (the women's bathroom next door in the hotel's basement is equally flamboyant and at least as pink as the Pink Room). Located just south of downtown, it can be reached either by the Madonna Rd. exit off the 101 or by taking Higuera Rd south and turning right onto Madonna Rd.
 * Take a look at Bubble Gum Alley and leave some of your own chewed gum behind. Located on the south side of Higuera Street between Broad St. and Garden St.
 * Depending on the season, college basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, and football games can be seen at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), in the hills on the northern end of town. Games are generally $5 for non-Cal Poly students.
 * Check out the eclectic Madonna Inn to see the Pink Room and the famous men's bathroom's waterfall (the women's bathroom next door in the hotel's basement is equally flamboyant and at least as pink as the Pink Room). Located just south of downtown, it can be reached either by the Madonna Rd. exit off the 101 or by taking Higuera Rd south and turning right onto Madonna Rd.

Do



 * There are many places to hike and mountain bike in San Luis Obispo. The Santa Lucia mountains and the "Nine Sisters" offer many beautiful views of the city and the countryside. The two most popular hikes are Bishop Peak (no bikes allowed) and Cerro San Luis (multiple biking trails). If you're interested in other mountain biking trails around the county check out the list at CCCMB, a volunteer organization that creates and maintains trails countywide.
 * Visit Montana de Oro State Park. Take Los Osos Valley Road 10 miles west of town to a park named one of the state's best-kept secrets by the L.A. Times a few years back, and with good reason; it's filled with an abundance of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails both along the ocean along the bluffs and inland into the coastal peaks; a dramatic cove with caves that kids and adults love; and miles of sandy beach and tidal pools. Trails range from casual ambles along the bluffs to the steep climbs up Valencia and Oats Peaks. Oats is the longer hike (about 5.5 miles / 9 km) but more rewarding, as it offers views of Valencia against the Pacific, as well as northward and eastward to the Nine Sisters and Cuesta Ridge; the trail also is less steep. A terrific nine-mile (14-km) loop can be made by continuing over the summit to the Coon Creek trail, then crossing back in front of the range along Rattlesnake Flats Trail. Take water! The "Mountain of Gold" also reigns as a popular out-and-back destination for the many road cyclists in the county, but cyclists ride westward early as strong winds pick up through Los Osos Valley in the early afternoon.
 * Walk or bike to Poly Canyon. Located on the north east side of the Cal Poly campus. Poly Canyon is a hilly, open, grassy area where many Cal Poly engineering and architecture students have constructed senior projects. The road up can be reached by taking the main road towards the Poly Canyon Village housing complex and taking a right before the road dips down the hill on a smaller road with a gate that quickly turns to dirt/gravel. Public vehicles are not allowed to drive on it, though be alert for university vehicles travelling up and down on occasion and student runners/cyclists.
 * Kayaks and other outdoor gear can be rented at reasonable prices by students and the public from Poly Escapes on the Cal Poly campus. Kayaking is possible in many places in the county, but the most exciting place to kayak is between Shell Beach and Pismo Beach where there are sea caves you can explore. There are guided tours of the so-called "Dinosaur Caves" available from several kayak rental shops in Pismo Beach.
 * See a movie downtown at the Fremont Theatre or The Palm Theater. The Fremont is located downtown on Monterey St and has become an instantly recognizable landmark with its vivid neon signage. The beautiful classic main theatre room is used primarily for the largest movie being screened while the rest are shown in smaller modern theaters built in a hidden addition. The Palm Theatre is a local movie theatre that instead showcases the very best of independent, foreign, art house, and mainstream cinema. Located downtown on the corner of Palm and Broad, it is an easy walk and located next to two of the main parking garage facilities. The theater also boasts being one of the first fully solar-powered and plays host the annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.
 * See a movie downtown at the Fremont Theatre or The Palm Theater. The Fremont is located downtown on Monterey St and has become an instantly recognizable landmark with its vivid neon signage. The beautiful classic main theatre room is used primarily for the largest movie being screened while the rest are shown in smaller modern theaters built in a hidden addition. The Palm Theatre is a local movie theatre that instead showcases the very best of independent, foreign, art house, and mainstream cinema. Located downtown on the corner of Palm and Broad, it is an easy walk and located next to two of the main parking garage facilities. The theater also boasts being one of the first fully solar-powered and plays host the annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.
 * See a movie downtown at the Fremont Theatre or The Palm Theater. The Fremont is located downtown on Monterey St and has become an instantly recognizable landmark with its vivid neon signage. The beautiful classic main theatre room is used primarily for the largest movie being screened while the rest are shown in smaller modern theaters built in a hidden addition. The Palm Theatre is a local movie theatre that instead showcases the very best of independent, foreign, art house, and mainstream cinema. Located downtown on the corner of Palm and Broad, it is an easy walk and located next to two of the main parking garage facilities. The theater also boasts being one of the first fully solar-powered and plays host the annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.

Buy
San Luis Obispo has a wide range of both local and chain stores at which to shop. In general the majority of local stores can be found downtown mixed in with smaller chains, while the larger box stores can be found in the two sprawling developments near the corner of Madonna Rd and Los Osos Valley Rd.


 * Downtown San Luis Obispo has many chain stores located along the main Higuera St and the pedestrian developments that branch off including The Gap, Pottery Barn, Victoria's Secret, The Apple Store, Sephora, Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Banana Republic.

Eat
Due in large part to the dearth of affordable ethnic eateries (SLO is a very white town), dining in town will set you back a few dollars. None of the local restaurants stands out with a consistently good menu (with the possible exception of the pricey Koberl) although several have some great dishes. Consequently, a fun and satisfying way to explore downtown is to have an itinerant dinner, sampling appetizers, salads, and a main course or two at a variety of eateries.

Drink

 * Bars The downtown area has many bars along Higuera street south of Santa Rosa ave, owing to the large student population. They are all an easy walk (or stumble) from one another. These start to become active around 10PM and on weekends will generally be quite busy up until 2AM. Options range from Martini lounge to Irish pub to wannabe LA nightclub.
 * Wine Tasting There are several award-winning wineries in SLO county, many of which offer free wine tasting. Brochures to guide you through the area are available all over town, but they are actually unnecessary. Drive on 101 into Paso Robles and turn on Highway 46 (either direction). There will be wineries on either side of the road. There are also a number of wine tasting bars in downtown SLO.

Sleep
Hotels along the entire California coast get booked up every weekend during the summer. Be sure to make reservations if you intend to stay in San Luis Obispo on a weekend in the summer.

Go next

 * Avila Beach - Avila Beach is a small coastal community 10 miles (16 km) southwest of San Luis Obispo that offers a number of quaint inns, spas and resorts. Point San Luis, accessible via a scenic docent-led hike or by trolley, is home to a lighthouse that dates back to 1890 and is the only surviving Prairie Victorian on the West Coast. Visitors looking for relaxation can soak in nearby mineral hot springs or lounge on the sandy beach that gives the town its name.
 * Carrizo Plain National Monument - 75 miles (120 km) east of San Luis Obispo, this remote national monument is home to the largest remaining native grassland in California. During wet years it boasts spectacular wildflowers in the spring, and Soda Lake is an important wintering area for waterfowl when precipitation is sufficient to flood the seasonal lakebed. The park is also home to Painted Rock, a Native American site that has been adorned with pictographs over thousands of years. Services are extremely limited, with just a small visitor center, two primitive campgrounds, and a handful of marked trails available.
 * Los Osos - gateway to Montana Del Oro State Park.
 * Morro Bay - 13 miles (21 km) northwest of San Luis Obispo, this coastal town is best known for the massive 581-foot (177 m) volcanic rock that dominates its harbor, but is also a great spot to see marine mammals and is home to one of California's oldest fine art and craft shows.
 * Paso Robles - Paso Robles is a historical resort town known for its hot springs that is 31 miles (50 km) north of San Luis Obispo. This city's major industry is wine production, with vineyards located throughout the surrounding area.
 * Pismo Beach - This tourism-focused coastal town is located 13 miles (21 km) south of San Luis Obispo. It has more than 65 restaurants and 30 lodging options, and draws visitors with its beautiful coastline, annual clam festival, and the thousands of monarch butterflies that gather to spend the winter in a grove at the edge of town.
 * San Simeon - 42 miles (68 km) northwest of San Luis Obispo, San Simeon is home to Hearst Castle, the impressive residence of the former media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, now managed as a state park with tours available daily. A massive colony of more than 20,000 elephant seals can be viewed onshore just north of town every winter.