Pismo Beach named best U.S. small coastal town — and another local city was No. 3
For the second year in a row, Pismo Beach was named the best small coastal town in America by USA TODAY — and Morro Bay, another San Luis Obispo County city, came in at third.
Pismo Beach’s top ranking made it the first back-to-back champion since the ranking started in 2015, according to a news release from USA TODAY.
Neighboring Monterey County’s Carmel-by-the-Sea also made the top 10 list at No. 9.
The top 10 small coastal towns were announced Wednesday morning, with nominations curated by a panel of USA TODAY 10Best editors and subject matter experts, according to the news release.
Here are USA TODAY’s top 10 small coastal towns in America:
- Pismo Beach, California
- Stuart, Florida
- Morro Bay, California
- Avalon, California
- Castine, Maine
- Cape May, New Jersey
- Gulf Shores, Alabama
- Beaufort, North Carolina
- Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
- Cedar Key, Florida
Pismo Beach has consistently ranked in the top 10, placing fifth in 2023, second in 2018 and first in 2025.
“This recognition means the world to our community and winning it twice in a row tells us that what makes Pismo Beach special isn’t a trend, it’s who we are,” Pismo Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau executive director Gordon Jackson said in the release. “There’s only one place where you can taste the world’s best clam chowder, wine taste in the afternoon, and catch the sunset over the pier, and the whole country just voted for it. Again.”
In a Facebook post, Visit Pismo Beach thanked residents for their contributions to Pismo Beach’s vibe.
“From golden sunsets over the pier to classic beach days, fresh coastal eats, and that feeling you can’t quite put into words … Pismo really is a special place,” the post read. “And this win? It belongs to all of you, our locals, our visitors, our loyal fans who show up, vote, and keep the Pismo magic alive year after year.”
This story was originally published April 8, 2026 at 12:04 PM.
