San Luis Obispo, California (Population 45,595) is located nearly midway between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area. With urban sprawl kept to a minimum and almost ideal weather this town is a great place to live!
San Luis Obispo is located about 240 miles from San Francisco and about 200 miles to Los Angeles. Driving the scenic route along Highway 1 to San Francisco is about 260 miles. Highway 1 is certainly slower then Highway 101 but excellent views of the ocean are guaranteed.
San Luis Obispo offers a perfect weekend getaway by car from either the Los Angeles area or San Francisco Bay Area. San Luis Obispo is known for its college town atmosphere (California Polytechnic State University) but the town and region offers a diversity of other attractions and activities including a wide variety of hiking and biking trails, ocean related activities including beaches and the area’s wine country.
Downtown SLO
Bishop Peak
San Luis Obispo is a small city so that it is fairly easy to find your way around. The downtown is compact and very pedestrian friendly. With the recent expansions of the downtown parking garages, the demand for downtown parking has been somewhat lessened although it can still be a challenge to find parking (especially later in the day).
The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) is located just south of town off of Broad Street. This airport is currently served by two airlines, American and United. Destinations are limited to Los Angeles and San Francisco (with other non stop flights including Phoenix and Seattle). In 2016 a much needed new Terminal was under construction – this opened on November 1, 2017. The new terminal is dramatically larger, features an always open TSA checkpoint during the day, some 56,000 indoor square feet and an outdoor space passengers can enjoy after going through security (all airports in warm weather environs like SLO, should have post security outdoor spaces).
Also note the Spirit of San Luis restaurant is located on site (good place to hang out for a drink or two). For more information visit: www.sloairport.com
New Terminal
Old Terminal
Tons of hiking to be done in SLO too! Bishop’s peak hike. Madonna mountain. Trailheads can be found everywhere-and then if you want to get to the beach you just drive 12 minutes to Shell Beach, or you can head out 30 minutes in other direction to Montana de Oro for stunning rock formations and coastal views, hiking/biking trails and a nice beach 🙂
This part of Central Cali is like a slice of heaven and with sooo few crowds compared to NorCal and SoCal popular destinations
Yes, 4 years of college at SLO. One of the best periods of my life. Still have friends in town – and some good friends live right next to Montana de Oro. I get up here as much as possible still. The college landscape has changed dramatically. Weather is great to. Beautiful part of the state!
San Luis Obispo looks like a fun place to travel to – the church building is very nice!
And the Fremont building looks cool to
I think you are referring to the History Museum, it is a beautiful building 🙂