Forum Discussion

powerscol's avatar
powerscol
Explorer
May 02, 2016

South California Coast above Santa Barbara

Planning a trip to Joshua Tree, then bypass LA somehow and end up on the coast. Looking for a good State Park/National Forrest, etc with full hook up with easy beach access that takes reservations. Wife is slightly disabled and cant hike very far. Towns with good fishing charters nearby would be a plus. So looking for a good spot to sit for a week above Santa Barbara and below Monterey. Trip would start second week of June.

Thanks for any help.
  • 'Fishing charters' gives me pause. I don't think you'll find those in the area you desire until the Morro Bay Area. As previously stated, Cal is not big on FHU state parks. Most facilities are old, in desperate need of renovation, barely big enough for today's larger rigs with slides. Few that are available will likely be reserved already, especially on the weekends. Here are 3 additional suggestions. Avila Beach has a bay front facility with FHU's (double check, it might just be water & sewer, but I don't think so). (I would think charters are there but I don't remember any.). When you arrive, you dry camp until a FHU opens up. Second week of June you might beat the summer crowds, especially if you arrive on Mon or Tues. Maybe. In Morro, Morro Strand RV, a private park, is very nice with FHU's. It is probably you're best bet. Morro Strand State Park is ocean front with FHU's less than 2 years old. I seriously doubt if anything is available there.
  • you won't find many State Parks or National Forests with full hookups.

    less than 1 percent of California State Park campsites have ANY kind of hookups, most are water/electric only.

    the only one i know north of Santa Barbara, is Morro Bay State Park and Pismo State Beach.
    there's Carpenteria State Beach but that's south of SB.

    that's it, until you get to Northern California.

    don't know of ANY state forest campground with any hookups.
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    In case anyone wants to know (and it took me a day to figure this out) there is a back way up the hill at Jalama, much less steep.
  • How about Pismo the Oceano campground Electricity and water only, no sewer. One block from the beach
  • Naio wrote:
    Jalama beach!
    Love this beach however electric sites only and they are up a slight hill or on top of the hill.
  • Plaskett Creek Campground might suit your needs.
  • Subscribing. I lived in goleta when I was growing up and someday I'd like to make it back. I remember tent camping at lake cachuma and gaviota rings a bell. That was in the 70's and 80's though. I'll be interested to see what's available there.

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