Where can I camp on the beach in Central California?

[BigMike]

Hey guys

This weekend my wife and I want to go camping on the beach. I have only done this one time when I was in middle school, and it was at a private beach (Seventh Day Adventist church property) near Watsonville, CA between Manresa State Beach and Sunset State Beach.

So where is a good place to camp right on the beach? I'm talking tent atop beach sand. Do they even allow this anymore?

My range would be anywhere inbetween Morro Bay and maybe as far north as Bodega Bay. I really dislike Pismo/Grover beach, so that's out of the question hahaha

I searched around and came up with a bunch of places that are atop sea cliffs or "near the beach". So I am not even sure if I can even camp "on" the beach here in Commifornia, so I am looking for some suggestions!

Thanks
Mike

[axled89]

watch out for the tsunami.   ha ha ha.

[86rustbucket]

i have nuthin to add, but sounds fun Mike

[yota pu/runner]

I think you are pretty limited to where you are going to be able to camp.  I know a buddy of mine from high school used to go up north somewhere and ride the dunes for a week but I don't remeber where it was he went.  I'll see if I can find out.  But don't hold your breathe I haven't talked to him in over a year.

[86rustbucket]

hey mike im sure your a better google searcher than me so you probably found this already but maybe it will help
http://www.examiner.com/x-9046-World-Beach-Examiner~y2009m7d8-Top-ten-California-beach-camping-sites

[BigMike]

Thanks for the help guys

86rb: That is a nice site and those places up near Eureka look great, but that's a 16 hour round-trip drive for me EGAD

Hmmmm.......

[BigMike]

I didn't see the other pages

Check out this picture and read it's caption:

This photo from Pismo Beach might explain why "on the beach" camping is so rare in California

X 50

[jimbo74]

when did mike get married?!

[BigMike]

Ok, we are reconsidering our plans now

[BigMike]

when did mike get married?!

Back in 2006

[jimbo74]

Back in 2006

really?! where have i een? i thought she was still your fiance!

[Snacktime]

You could pitch a tent in the soils lab on campus, sand and salty water. Its located in engineering east so you need to head 200-300ft east of engineering west and your there.

If that doesn't work, I have been camping on the Delta this summer and its been great! Kind of a mix of coastal weather and valley weather. Lots of places to camp in the sand have a good view of half naked chicks.

I stay here, http://www.windmillcove.com/ they have a few choices. There are a few other places and a great night life for us party people.

[b-radhutch]

just pitch a tent after the sun has gone down just dont start a fire......but than again whats camping without the fire. if u cant find a place to camp on the beach try morro bay SB camp ground i believe thats what its called its not much of a camp ground but u have literaly u park your truck next to the campsite and set up a tent and behind your campsite will be a row of bushes u go threw those and your right at the beach.

[yota pu/runner]

There is a camp ground in San Simeon that has a tent camping area.  I have camped there before, it is on the dirt/sand, you still have ammenities of a camp site though.  I can't remember the place of it but it is the first camping place on the right as you come into San Simeon if you are heading north on the 1.  it is called San Simeon Beach State Park, you can type it into Google and it will come up.

[BigMike]

AWESOME replies!! Since I spend so much of my life in Engineering East, it will feel just like home

Gonna look into all the suggestions, thank you very, very much!!

Mike

[4RunnerChevy]

New Brighton State Beach and a few others near Santa Cruz.

[Wermz84]

Up Highway 1 north of Davenport.  there are some beautiful places to hike down a cliff and set up camp. 

[BirdDog]

Mike, I like the Jade Cove area. Take 198 east to King City then Jolon Rd I think & you go into & through Fort Hunter Liggett all the way to the coast. You will come out on Highway 1 real close to Jade Cove.
Call me if you need more info,

John.

[Wermz84]

O and if your in Santa Cruz and have any time, call me.  I owe you a dinner. 

[kneedownnate]

when did mike get married?!

That's what I thought when I first read that too, no idea he'd been married for 3 years.  That poor girl 

[*** YELLER ***]

Mike look into the KOA http://koa.com/where/ca/  one in Monterey and the one in Santa Cruz dont know if ya can camp on da beach but it might get ya close

[86rustbucket]

wherever you go take blankets damn it got cold quick

[BLACKDOG]

Check out Dillon beach. You can't camp right on the beach pretty dang close, just over a row of dunes.

  http://www.lawsonslanding.com/

it's not a great place to camp, but it's not horrible.  Lawsons landing is the only place I've camped, there may be other options in the same vicinity.

[starrunner]

i really dont think they let you down there i have looked they do in nor cal humbolt area for sure

state parks are your best bet but even at that not on the beach directly in morro bay they have a state park its on the road to the rock off to the right,

camp sites are full quick too so get there early, good luck on the find let me know if you find any.

check out www.parks.ca.gov

[BigMike]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I did find out that Morro Strand Beach (in Morro Bay) allows on-the-beach camping. I will take a look at all the options later this afternoon

[BUDDERS]

really?! where have i een? i thought she was still your fiance!

I haven't even met Mike yet and I knew this.  Marlin spilled the beans when I picked up my trailflex kit from him back in '06.  I remember him saying something about a cerimony in Japan.  He seemed pretty excited for Mike.  So how do you like the married life Mike?

[BigMike]

Of course I love it. I wasn't gonna let this one get away!

[BUDDERS]

I hear ya on that Mike.    I feel the same about my wife.  It's gonna be 2 years on Nov 3rd for me. 

[*FFC*]

Check out Dillon beach. You can't camp right on the beach pretty dang close, just over a row of dunes.

  http://www.lawsonslanding.com/

it's not a great place to camp, but it's not horrible.  Lawsons landing is the only place I've camped, there may be other options in the same vicinity.

That's what I was going to say. You still set up on sand, but it's a dune away from the beach.

[Dooner]

Moro Strand State Beach Camp Ground is a great place to go. They are the only SB around that you wont need to get a reservation months in advance. Its probably a good idea to reserve a spot for yourselves on Reserve America just to be sure.

The camp ground is more or less a long paved parking lot with camping along the sides. The camp sites are first come first serve, meaning you pick your spot when you arrive and then go back and tell the Mr Ranger Surfer Dude which one you will be staying in.

The inland side is basically grass covered dirt but the beach side does have small areas of sand here and there that tents like to set up on.

They have a couple of restrooms with running water but no showers. There are no hookups, but there are water spigots (with momentary valves) that you can fill up water cans with.

Each inland site has a fire ring and a picnic table, not sure about the beach side though..
There are several access areas to the beach that cut through the vegetation, small dunes and seasonal closure areas for the Western Tern and Snowy Plover protected birds.

The beach itself is spectacular! This is part of a huge bay that is one wide, open beach that winds along the coastline. Cayucos is close by and if you have a chance you oughta go out there and check out the main street, kinda by the firehouse. They have some pretty good restaurants with upstairs outdoor dining.

There are actually Two Morro Strand State Beaches.. the one you camp at is just north of the City of Morro Bay about 4 miles south of Cayucos. The other one is further north and is just for day use.

One note: Do Not Under Any Circumstances Leave Any Food Out Unattended.. The Seagulls are highly trained and will reenact several scenes from Alfred Hitchcocks movie "The Birds". The Squirrels are very friendly here and will darn near climb up onto your lap to share a sandwich with you!

- Have fun 8)