Shell Beach is located in San Luis Obispo County on California's Central Coast.  While it is considered a community of the popular Pismo Beach, it has its own geographic region north of Pismo Beach. The small town runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean and is sandwiched between the ocean and the I-101, the primary highway connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco in the coast region. The city streets are mostly located in grid map formation, though the coast curves and changes the configuration slightly.  Due to a small mountain range that ends at the highway and coast, most of the building has occurred on the coastal side of the road. Shell Beach has a few restaurants, convenience stores and kayak rentals, plus several beach hotels.  Nearly equal distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco (around 250 miles each way,) Shell Beach, like much of the Central Coast is poised for growth.