Happened to be down in Pismo Beach in early October and on a whim, brought my family, including three kids. The weather was perfect for a nice stroll outside through the grove. Like others have said, its not a HUGE habitat, but it’s not exactly small either. In early October we we’re definitely able to see plenty of Monarchs floating around without having to look hard. They flew about normally as if we weren’t even there, so that was nice. My kids enjoyed it, ages 9, 7, and 4. I will say there is street parking on a fairly busy roadway, so you’ll need to cross a road with no crosswalks. If you have kids, keep them close as you cross. Also, you can access Pismo State beach by going through the grove, although with the tides and such, I doubt the pathway to the water will be the same all the time. Nonetheless, a great little spot to visit for a quick break!

This was a nice surprise. We walked here from our hotel in Pismo, it was a pleasant walk near the ocean. At first you don't notice the Monarchs, until you stand still and see them in the trees. It was a quick visit but nice to see the beautiful butterflies and learn more about their migration journey. I guess they are mostly there November - March, but we did see lots in mid-October.

What a wonderful experience. We were on a LA to San Francisco drive and staying the night at Pismo Beach. My daughter found information that it was worth stopping here. We pulled off into the parking lot and had a beautiful walk to the butterfly grove. It was amazing to see all these butterflies together in their natural habitat. Completely free and well worth the stop.