Oceano is a census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, California, on the Central Coast immediately south of Pismo Beach. Its name derives from the Spanish word for "ocean," a fitting designation for a community defined by its Pacific shoreline. With a population of about 7,200 residents, Oceano is the southernmost of the Five Cities communities—Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Shell Beach—that string together along this stretch of the coast. The community's most defining feature is the Oceano Dunes, one of the most extensive coastal dune systems in California. Managed as part of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area and adjacent Pismo State Beach, the dunes and shoreline support camping, surfing, kiteboarding, horseback riding, and off-highway vehicle recreation. This unique dune-and-beach environment draws visitors from across the state and anchors Oceano's identity as a recreation-oriented coastal town. Oceano developed as an unincorporated beach settlement and retains a modest, small-scale character distinct from its more resort-oriented neighbors. The historic Oceano Depot, a former railroad station, anchors the town's compact center and recalls the community's rail-era past. Students attend the Lucia Mar Unified School District, the largest in San Luis Obispo County, which serves the surrounding coastal communities and operates Oceano Elementary School in town. U.S. Highway 101 runs nearby, connecting Oceano to San Luis Obispo to the north and Santa Maria to the south. The community suits residents seeking direct beach and dune access, a small-town coastal atmosphere, and proximity to the services of the Five Cities area.