California Beachside (or close)

How about Gaviota SP or El Capitán SB or Refugio SB.

:C Carpinteria SB, some very close to the beach, none to far of a walk to the beach.

Emma Wood SB as some has suggested.

Jalama Beach County Park seems to be in a somewhat remote spot in County of Santa Barbara.

Jalama Beach is approximately an hour drive from Santa Barbara and a 45-minute drive from Lompoc. A sign 4.5 miles south of Lompoc off Highway 1 will direct you onto Jalama Road. Follow this scenic 14.5 mile road to the coast. The park entrance will be at the end of the road.

A Somewhat Remote Place with a Jalama Beach Store and Grill serving "World Famous Jalama Burgers" & an extended menu that includes homemade clam chowder, chile verde and "Aunt Ruth's Raw Apple Cake." With 109 campsites, all overlooking the ocean or beachfront. Each site has a picnic table and BBQ pit, with hot showers, restrooms and water nearby. 31 sites offer electrical hookups, and dump stations are available. Campsites reservations are available.
$$$$ :( Fees to Be Somewhat Remote

:C Rincon Parkway - Ventura, somewhat between Ventura and Carpinteria. This one someone has given already.

Or Thornehill Broome CG (which is somewhat simular to Rincon Parkway) one of the two CG at Point Mugu SP. It seems Sycamore Canyon CG is also open now from having wild fires burn some of it. The beach is 15 miles south of Oxnard on Highway One.

:h McGrath SB was a neat place, but one would have to walk some to get to the beach. Somewhat isolated beach. More than likely not what you are looking for.

A short walk or drive to the beach at Hearst San Simeon State Park: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=590 & near Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument (Hearst Castle): http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=591

Seacliff SP, I've looked into, never been. Might be a cool one to try. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=543

Not many were you can park on the sand, Carpinteria S Pk can get you close to the sand, if lucky.

As would Gaviota SP.

Seems like Pismo SB, I read about driving on the sand?

At Half Moon Bay SB camping is just over a dune from the beach. Near San Francisco.

Old Post

Places to Eat Moss Landing & others.

Back in the day, Moss Landing State Beach allowed overnights. Long time ago. '97.

:h Might look into Zuma (LA) County Beach near Point Dume SB in Malibu. Both are operated by LA County. Parking Lot Camping at Zuma, park by sand Point Dume. I had thought there was camping at one of them, but looking at the sites, they do not seem to have camping. Nice beaches however. Not far from Leo Carrillo, but not real close. Would have to drive.

Also near by, Leo Carrillo SP is really a nice place, but camping up a canyon, a little walk under PCH to beach. Very neat Tidepool there. Kind of rocky, but should have sand beach nearby. But had fires in there this past summer. Not sure of the damage done.

Bear and Winsor beat me with most of the info, I would add, most of the parks are real spendy, $60 to 70 for sites and no hook ups. We avoid the beach until Oct and stop about mid-May. There is a campground right across the canal from Campland on the Bay, San Diego. Both are really nice. Campland is a little noisy but if you can put up with the kids is pretty nice. Both have full hookups. I've got a whole list of spots at home that we wrote up last year, if you would like it PM me. The list covers a lot from San Diego to San Simion

There is the Rincon area along the coast .. Ventura California area.

See link: ---> Rincon RV camping.

Also, do not overlook San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego Beach Camping

There are many places to stay from San Diego all the way past Pismo to the north.

Go to www.rvparkreviews.com and search for rv parks near where you would like to go. The state parks are very nice and there are several great private RV Resorts.

Only problem will be getting in. Most fill up during the summer. You'll have better luck if your stay begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday.

We like Emma Wood, just north of Ventura.