For over 23 years, Arnie’s ATV Rentals has been the trusted gateway to Pismo’s sweeping coastal dunes—the only stretch of California shoreline where you can drive on the beach. Their welcoming crew pairs every guest with a clean, ...
Arnie's delivers a solid ATV experience with genuinely helpful staff who get riders out on the dunes quickly and efficiently. People consistently praise team members like Kathryn, Hunter, and Manny for being patient, professional, and accommodating. The check-in process is typically smooth, and the shuttle service gets you to the beach without hassle. Riders love the scenic dunes with ocean views, and many families mention having a blast on their outings. There's a notable split in experiences when it comes to equipment issues and damage disputes. While some guests report staff being incredibly understanding about rollovers and mechanical problems, others describe aggressive, disrespectful responses from ownership when ATVs malfunction or accidents occur. A handful of reviewers mention older equipment that breaks down on the dunes. The contrast is stark enough to suggest your experience may depend significantly on which staff members you interact with and how smoothly your ride goes. Most people have great adventures here, but it's worth knowing that problem resolution appears inconsistent.
I was walking down the beach with time to kill (bumped flight) and came across the ATV rental places, thought it’d be a great way to occupy an hour. Arnie’s seemed pretty good so I spoke to them. They got me out and on an ATV pretty quick, and it was certainly a blast. Managed to roll the ATV stupidly in a dune and they were super chill about it, were more worried about if I was alright. Luckily there wasn’t really damage on the ATV, so they just charged me the “rollover fee” of $50 which I found super reasonable as the flag had broken off and there was some sort of oil spill or something in the air filter (can’t say I know very much about ATVs!). Anyway, they were helpful, it was fun, and I would definitely rent again from them if I’m in the area.
Zach White
6 months ago
I was walking down the beach with time to kill (bumped flight) and came across the ATV rental places, thought it’d be a great way to occupy an hour. Arnie’s seemed pretty good so I spoke to them. They got me out and on an ATV pretty quick, and it was certainly a blast. Managed to roll the ATV stupidly in a dune and they were super chill about it, were more worried about if I was alright. Luckily there wasn’t really damage on the ATV, so they just charged me the “rollover fee” of $50 which I found super reasonable as the flag had broken off and there was some sort of oil spill or something in the air filter (can’t say I know very much about ATVs!). Anyway, they were helpful, it was fun, and I would definitely rent again from them if I’m in the area.
Zach White
6 months ago
