The Cambria center point is around 17 miles northwest of Morro Dunes and 17 miles northwest of Morro Rock.
Cambria's pleasant year-round conditions make it an outstanding place to visit, no matter what the season. While spring, early summer, and early fall arguably offer the best weather, your decision will probably depend on what you hope to see and do while you're in town.
Summer brings the bulk of tourists, so accommodations can become a little pricier around this time of year. Many feel it's worth paying extra to attend local events like the 4th of July Picnic in the Park and the Gene Cerise Memorial Country Coast Classic Bike Ride.
Nearby Hearst Castle only runs its evening tours during the fall months. Autumn is also the season for Pinedorado Days and the Scarecrow Festival.
Cambria isn't a city that closes down for winter, with the Festival of Trees, the Art & Wine Festival, and the Cambria Film Festival all happening in the year's coolest months.
The wildflowers bloom in spring, helping Cambria look its best from March to May. The local Chili Cook-Off, Car, and Motorcycle Show in April is also a big spring draw for rev-heads.
Cambria hotels help many travelers save with special discount offers for selected guests. These hotels offer some of the best discounts in the village.
Special packages help you save on accommodations and local attractions when you stay at Cambria Pines Lodge. These packages often include free hot buffet breakfasts and restaurant meals and a bottle of wine. Cambria Pines Lodge also emails special discount offers to members of its mailing list. Cambria Pines Lodge ensures that all guests feel special, with premium features like a day spa, outdoor heated pool, and Cambria Pines Lodge Restaurant on site. After a busy day sightseeing, enjoy happy hour specials and live music each night at the Fireside Lounge.
If you can take a midweek getaway, you'll save at Cambria Palms Motel. It offers special discounted rates on stays of two nights or more from Sunday through Thursday nights. Premium bedding, cable TV, tea- and coffee-making equipment, and free Wi-Fi help make each of the motel's recently renovated rooms feel like home. Some even have kitchenettes and private patio areas. Cambria Palms has just 18 rooms to ensure that guests get the personalized service they deserve.
Your money will go further at the following Cambria hotels, with their spacious, well-appointed rooms and no extra charges for the things you really need.
As its name suggests, Moonstone Landing is so close to Moonstone Beach that all rooms have full or partial ocean views. It also offers fireplaces, coffee makers, fridges, microwaves, and plush bedding. The oceanfront rooms even have Jacuzzis and private patios or balconies. Moonstone Landing keeps its prices affordable by not offering free breakfasts or pool facilities. But with so many great local restaurants and the beach steps away, you may never miss these features.
The coastal vibes of Cambria Beach Lodge will have you feeling calmer from the moment you check in. Its rooms are well-appointed, with signature touches you won't find anywhere else, such as wool Faribault blankets, Iron & Resin artworks, and Compagnie de Provence bath amenities. A small daily service fee covers your Wi-Fi, parking, continental breakfast, and use of Linus bicycles during your stay. When you consider how much you'd ordinarily spend on your morning meal and transport, it's a great value.
The unspoiled beaches and spacious parklands around Cambria will help you reconnect to nature. Moonstone Beach, Cambria's main beach, is ideal for swimming, surfing, or simply spending time on the sand soaking up the sun and ambiance. Keep your eyes peeled for whales, dolphins, sea otters, and small sea creatures living in the tide pools.
Santa Rosa Creek Beach, part of Santa Rosa Creek Natural Preserve, is a little off the beaten track, so it's perfect for avoiding summer crowds. Two observation decks provide impressive views of the ocean and the bird species that congregate here. Take the stairway down to the sand and wander among the driftwood that litters the beach.
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is an oceanfront park popular with hikers, horse riders, and mountain bikers. It's also a haven for local wildlife, with sea lions, elephant seals, and migrating whales often spotted in the area. Rocky terrain makes accessing the shore difficult, so stick to the trails that wind through protected forest and grassland. The preserve is especially beautiful during spring, when blooming wildflowers color the landscape.
Lampton Cliffs County Park is much smaller, but this park on Cambria's southern outskirts is worth exploring. Its loop trail winds through an open meadow. Stairs help you access the rocky beachfront. It's not great for swimming, but kids love watching the creatures in the tide pools. Watching the winter swells hit the large rocks is also a real treat.
Shamel Park, in Cambria's north, is another excellent choice for a family day out. This picturesque community park on the edge of a sandy beach has plenty of space for active visitors. Kick a ball around one of the grassy playing fields, enjoy a game of horseshoe, then make use of the picnic tables and grills for a leisurely lunch. Shamel Park also has a kids' play area and a swimming pool, which opens for residents and visitors during summer.
When you've had enough of the daily grind, Cambria is the perfect place for rest, recreation, and rejuvenation. Enjoy the easy access from California's biggest cities on your next road trip.
Below are reviews of the city of Cambria, CA from an actual visitor's perspective.
Cambria is one of the most relaxing places to visit. We visit every chance we get.
Loved the scarecrow festival, and the food at the restaurants we visited was delicious. Fantastic ocean view.
We love the quiet small town that is Cambria. We come every year for the scarecrow festival.
Moonstone Beach beautiful & weather perfect. Tru Earth Market was fantastic! Other than that, I don't think CAMBRIA HAS CHANGED since 60's/70's!
Enjoyed dinner at Sea Chest. Thought we could go over after the rush, but ended up with a 9:45 pm dinner! We Had a lovely sunset walk. And cool Coastal weather a great bonus coming from heat wave in Ojai.
Cambria is a charming town. Tons of thrift shops! The ocean is beautiful, the bluff hike loop is stunning. Eat at Bridges (so, so good!) Visit Hearst Castle. Check out Harmony pop. 18!
The town is lovely to walk around and the oceanside boardwalk is beautiful! Fiscalini Park is another hiking option along the coast that is great, and dog friendly. Beautiful area!
Great little getaway town. Highly recommend.
Beautiful,Quaint and charming.
Great beaches, Hearst castle, bucket list...
Great shops, good food, fun atmosphere.
Knitting store, Lynn's pies and cafe, dog friendly, Christmas market.
I really enjoyed the "small town" feel of Cambria as well as the friendly attitude of the people I met who were very courteous and easily engaged in conversation despite my being a visitor.
We love Cambria, we have come there for many years, Moonstone beach is beautiful, the boardwalk, the town, great restaurants etc. We know the town well and will return again and again.
Cambria is a fun small city to visit - the beach area is excellent and the hiking and walking paths are superb. Great place to visit to see Hearst and surrounding areas - definitely need to stop and see Harmony as you drive in!
Everything!
Quaint town friendly love the nursery n the little French bakery.
Restaurants and shops are good
Much to do. The town is cute. Went to Moonstone Beach and Hearst Castle. Walked the boardwalk, the Elephant Seal watch and much more.
Restaurants and shopping
Loved the shops and the vibe in the town of Cambria!
Cambria is charming!
Cambria has been our "go-to" escape from the San Joaquin Valley for many years. We enjoy the walk along Moonstone Beach and the ambiance of the East and West Villages.
We enjoy the little shops and Robins restaurant for nice meals.
Cambria is a quiet town that is next to the ocean, the air is cool and fresh, with the sound of gulls and crashing waves. It is a great place to relax!
Fun shops and restaurants in Cambria.
The boardwalk. Great for handicapped and older people.
Everything, the area is beautiful. The coastal views are amazing. We visited Hearst Castle and loved it even though we have been there many times before.
Great
Friendly and quiet place.
Cute relaxing small town!
Quaint little town
We loved Moonstone Beach! It was beautiful and we enjoyed taking walks on the walking path. We shopped downtown and it was wonderful. We especially loved the Sea Chest restaurant. So close to our hotel and the food was amazing. Cambria is a beautiful town, we loved it.
Very quiet and the locals are very friendly.
We loved Moonstone Beach! It was beautiful and we enjoyed taking walks on the walking path. We shopped downtown and it was wonderful. We especially loved the Sea Chest restaurant. So close to our hotel and the food was amazing. Cambria is a beautiful town, we loved it.
Slower pace and small town vibe.
Robin Restaurant was terrific. Easy walk.
The staff was pleasant and helpful. The facility was clean and comfortable. It was so friendly and welcoming.
Bed was comfortable, and room was clean
We love Cambria. A friendly town to visit. Shopkeepers, restaurant owners and help are really nice.
Cambria is our favorite place to go and we go as often as we can. We love the little shops and there are a lot of places with good food. Moonstone Beach is so relaxing, even when it is crowded it doesn't feel crowded. The traffic is never bad so it is easy to drive around. We have stayed at other beach cities but no where feels or looks like Cambria so now we don't bother to stay anywhere else.
Linn's Bin was a great place for dinner and dessert. The old town is quaint and an easy walking destination.
We loved having coffee, shopping, and having berry pie for dinner!
Great range of activities. Robins, as always, very good food and great service, close to the hotel.
Cambria is our favorite resort town. Beautiful and FRIENDLY!!
Quaint and full of fun shops!
Quaint and full of fun shops!
We love the ocean and the boardwalk and the Moonstone Beach grill!
Cambria is a lovely city. Linn's is a jewel and the nursery is a treasure. Highly recommend visiting Cambria.
Friendly staff, very clean, food was great, service was wonderful. 👍
Cozy
Cambria is charming! It's filled with fun restaurants and shops! Whether downtown, wandering through the hilly neighborhoods or having a drink while watching the sunset over the Pacific, Cambria is a perfect retreat - peaceful but with plenty to do.
Outstanding shops for my wife to find presents for our adult children and herself.
Moonstone Beach was fun! Also Cambria Lodge grill and Madeline's restaurant and wine.
At the end of Main Street. Quiet at the end of town. Can walk to food and drink.
Cambria has always been our "go to" town on the Central Coast because of all the services (restaurants/shops).
I love Cambria's old fashioned charm and great shopping and dining experiences We always shop small business
I love Cambria's old fashioned charm and great shopping and dining experiences . We always shop small businesses.