Looking for beach camping recommendations in SoCal...

there's a way to get cancellations, I've never tried but have friends that know how to do it, they're always at on of the beach campgrounds on a weekend.

You have to book San Elijo and So. Carlsbad on the 1st of the month 6 months before you want to go at 8:00am (going to Carlsbad next month, 6 families each had 2 computers trying to get sites, not all of us got one). Both of those are better than all the other state beaches mentioned, Emma Woods is cool though.

You could try a couple private ones on the bay by sea world.

Headed north from San Diego there are several beach or near beach campground/RV Parks.

State Beaches:
San Onofre
Dana Point
Bolsa Chica
Crystal Cove
San Clemente
Dockweiler near LAX
Emma Woods Ventura

Private:
Oceanside
Newport Dunes
Malibu RV Park on east side of PCH
Ventura RV Resort

County of Ventura:
Rincon Parkway... first come first to get a site. Best way to get a site is to show up Monday through Wednesday in the morning. Thursday thru Sunday tough to get a site.
Also Faria and Hobson but tough to get a big rig in

Several State beach campgrounds in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo areas

Doheny