CA coast south from Bay Area to San Diego

Hwy 1 is so much fun.

Pogoil.

It's all about your comfort level driving. Last large RV area is in Marina, CA. If you're OK with the windy road your next campground is right across the highway from Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Dry camping but great ocean/bay views.

A couple (maybe 5) miles south is Cambria with another dry camping state park. !5 miles later is Cayucos and Morro Bay. Several full hook up private campgrounds and the Atascadero State Beach campground just put in about 20 full hookup sites.

Second the Hwy. 1 through Pismo Beach and the rest on the way down if not in a hurry. Otherwise 101 south is an easy drive. At the hwy 154 exit follow that to Lake Cachuma where full hook ups are available. Dur to the water issue the campground is usually nearly vacant except on holiday weekends. At Buelton if you bypass Hwy 154 is flying flags RV park.

Further south on 101 just after the Gaviota tunnel is a high priced park on the east side of the highway. Then not much until Ventura. Nice park at the north end just as you enter the city.

If eligible Pt. Magoo.Port Huenumme has a nice campground on the beach. Must be active/retired or otherwise allowed to use military installations. Several more dry and partial hook up parks along the way.

In Malibu there is another high priced campground on the east side of 101 with great views. Then not much until San Diego/Chula Vista.

Venture Beach
Jalma Beach
Morro Dunes
Moss Landing

For Heaven's sake don't miss seeing Hearst Castle if you have an opportunity. Plenty of RV parking, by the way.

Your coach is a 29'. I would jump all over Hwy 1 outside of Daly City and just follow it south to Morro Bay. From there, continue SE to San Luis Obispo where you can pick up US 101 south. Pick up Hwy 1 again at Pismo Beach and follow it all the way to Gaviota State Beach Park. You'll be missing some of the most scenic views the State of California has to offer if you miss Hwy 1. I've done is several times in a 40' both southbound and northbound. Southbound is much nicer and more beautiful. Once at Gaviota, you will have several choices, Hwy 101 continues south to Ventura/Oxnard where you can take Ca126 to I-5, continue south to Thousand Oaks and take Ca118 to I-5 or simply continue south on US101 to I-405 which is my preferred route. I-405 will pull you west of the City but not by much. It hooks up with I-5 at the El Toro "Y".

Best of luck...enjoy the trip...you'll have zero troubles with your rig on the above route. Tons of campgrounds and things to see and do along Hwy 1. Don't miss it.....Dennis

Let me first commend you on your wisdom of avoiding the troublesome portions of 1 in an RV. To answer your question, so much depends on how far you want to go each day, the duration of your trip, etc. Not to mention your rig. Focusing on state facilities means you will be largely doing without hook-ups. If you are familiar with the campground at Silver Strand, you will encounter facilities like that along the coast (on a relatively RV friendly portion of 1 in the general area of Long Beach). I would suggest you use the following to check out campground along your route. campendium.com, rvparkreviews.com, Tripadvisor, & Yelp. There is an app for the very handy rvparky.

SuGar Shack wrote:
We have driven north from San Diego on the PCH in a car but not in RV and wouldn't, due to curves, mountains, etc although there are some stretches that are great, Mora Bay for example. Do any of you good people who have traveled that route have recommendations for state parks, beaches, campgrounds, etc.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

1. take freeway of your choice to Hwy. 126 off I-5 , go west to Ventura to Hwy. 101.
2. From Ventura take hwy 101 all the north as far as you want to go. Personally I would go around San Francisco to avoid traffic and congestion, not all that RV friendly. Yes you can stay on 101 through S.F. and go over the Golden Gate bridge, just not my choice when towing.
3. Santa Barbara has 3 state parks right on the ocean, Pismo has 2 state parks, Morrow Bay has a number of Private RV parks. Go to Good Sam RV parks web site to find all the RV parks you might need.