A few years ago we stayed at a resort in Avila Beach near San Luis Obispo. I noticed on our morning walk there were campers parked along the water.  These appeared to be campsites used for over night stays. Someone told us these campsites were all up and down the coast. Has anyone stayed at one of these places or know anything about them?

  Wayne

I haven't stayed at the spot near Avila. I have looked at it and plan to stay there at some point. Has a great view of the ocean, pier and fishing boats. There are several primitive campgrounds along the coast of California some are actual campgrounds others are more like parking spots. Several are first come first served, so unless you arrive on Wednesday before 3PM, it will be tough to get a spot for a weekend, during the summer and spring time. Going south from Avila, there is Oceano Dunes where you camp on the beach near Pismo Beach. Several state beach campgrounds, Gaviota, Refugio, El Capitan and Carpenteria are more established campgrounds along the coast. North of Ventura is Rincon Parkway, Faria and Hobson county facilities. At Rincon you park in spots along old Hwy 1 right at the beach. Faria, Hobson and further down is Emma Woods State beach are semi-primitive campgrounds with reservations. We prefer Rincon. In Oxnard is McGrath State beach. A campground protected from the ocean by a large sand dune. Before Malibu is Point Mugu another with parking like spots. Great ocean views, broad sandy beach. Near LAX is Dockweiler State Beach. It is a parking lot turned into a campground. It receives mixed reviews due to the noise from the jets leaving LAX and a nearby waste treatment plant smells. Good location, close to all that the LA area has to offer. Near Huntington Beach is Bolsa Chica State Beach. Another parking lot turned into campground. Good views and close to Disyneyland and Knott's Berry Farm At Dana Point is located Doheny State Beach a very nice campground on the beach. San Clemente State Beach is very nice and a true campground with hook ups. The campground is on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Great Whale viewing spot. San Onofre State Beach another parking lot type campground on a bluff. You can't see the ocean from the camping spots, but hike a short distance and you get a great view. And south through San Diego there are 8-9 state beaches located along the coast. Carlsbad and South Carlsbad are nice. Along with Silver Strand south of San Diego. All of these coastal campgrounds are very busy and crowded on the weekends throughout the year and busy during the week throughout the spring and summer months. If you plan to stay at one of the state beaches be sure to make reservations. The campgrounds with no reservation system, it's hit or miss whether you will get a spot, so have a backup location planned. When the crowds are gone these spots are very relaxing, you can stay there for a couple of days and it feels like you've been gone for a week. Here's the California State Beach website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex/default.asp?tab=1

Thanks Larry
 We've traveled the coast hywy from Monterey to LA by car and would love to make this one of our destinations when fulltiming.
  Sharon and I both love the ocean, her more than me. We lived in Charleston,SC while I was in the Navy for 9 years. She would take the kids to the beach almost everyday.
 Our dream for fulltiming is like most other folks is to see all 50 states and Canada.
Three years to go fulltiming.

  Wayne

reviving this old thread to ask if anyone knows of nice long term rv parks? we're thinking of parking for up to six months to explore northern coastal California.
inland is our second choice.

I would not camp long term where salt water vapor can damage the RV, it is very corrosive. You want to be back from the beach a couple hundred yards, if not half a mile.
This thread is all about southern coastal California, not the north or even central coast. California has hundreds of miles of coastline. Northern coastal California areas to look at would be Mendicino/Fort Bragg and the area from Fortuna north, including Eureka. We have not stayed long term in these areas, but have visited. Pomo in Fort Bragg is quite nice.