Campgrounds in San Diego, LA & San Fran for Minivan Camping

You'd be better off stating one car/tent camper.
It's not a popup.
What issues are you having? Where are you paying $80? The only California State Parks campsites that cost that much, are state beach campsites with hookups.
Private RV parks may not allow your type of camping.
Take a look at San Diego County Parks.

Van would be a Class B. Maybe a Class B Hybrid. Good luck. CA is full or expensive or both.

In San Diego. Silver Strand Beach , Campland by the bay ( still open I think)

Oceanside area, San Onofre State Beach

Ventura area. There’s an rv Park in Ventura and just north is Rincon, beach side boondocking

Between Ventura and Monticieto is Hobson Beach campground , small and tight.

Santa Barbara area , sunrise rv Park , Earl Warren showgrounds ( a parking lot with full hookups) but not bad if passing thru.

North of Santa Barbara, Lake Cachuma campground. County facility similar to most state parks, we like it

San Mateo Campground in San Clemente

How 'bout Dockweiler RV Park. On the beach.
Probably could wave at airline passengers going to/from LAX though.
Never stayed there. Considered it for a moment though.

One of our favorite spots is Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park. It's an Orange County park about 10 miles inland from San Clemente.

Definitely not a resort type campground. Some sites have electric, and there is water and dump station available. It is a hiker's paradise. Best part for us is no pets of any kind allowed, to preserve the integrity of the ecological environment.

I realize now my biggest hindrance is that I am flying by the seat of my pants not having specific dates far enough out and so many of these places have told me that they are already booked, but to check back for cancellations.

FYI: Dockweilers would be ideal, but they only let you stay there if you have a vehicle that is designated as a recreational vehicle. My camper minivan does not qualify :-( Least I now know what the defining criteria is at the RV parks.

Thank you to all who responded. I am going motel.