Be prepared for sticker shock at all the California State Park Campgrounds (the state needs the money); those beach ones (Gaviota, El Capitan, Refugio) are $35 a night!!� Add more $$ for reservation, and then your trip becomes less flexible. � IF you can get in!!� Forgetaboutit on a summer weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but you might have a chance mid-week.

I like to enjoy the beaches during the day, and then maybe some good old fashioned Vanagon stealth camping at night; or, in the Santa Barbara area I head inland, up to the Lake Cachuma area.� Here's an all time favorite from my UCSB college days:� http://www.rockymountainrec.com/camp/padres/upperoso.htm� Upper Oso Campground.� Red Rocks is a great swimming hole site a couple miles from the campground, jumping off the side of a cliff into a refreshing pool, that sort of thing.� Again, mid-week is your best chance; weekends become iffy, either stealth camp or Motel 6.

Another secret spot is Jalama County park; awesome, right on a great beach.� North of Gaviota off Hiway 1, then a 14 mile road to the beach.� Very nice.� Midweek.

Rich
San Diego

--- On Fri, 6/10/11, Rob <becida@COMCAST.NET> wrote:

From: Rob <becida@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: SoCal beach camping?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, June 10, 2011, 10:35 AM

At� 6/10/2011 12:31 AM, Paul wrote:
>There are a couple of
>beaches north of Santa Barbara that are much nicer. Gaviota Beach and
>Refugio Beach are so much better places to stay and even Carpinteria State
>Beach isn't bad.

Gaviota state park is my 'default' place when I go thru there, I like
it in spite of the wind thru the gap.� Got in late on night and we
'parked' on the frontage road somewhere down in that area with no problems.

Someone in this thread mentioned Santa Barbara beach parks that you
can stay at over night, is this written down or is it one of those
things you have to just go and see for yourself? Be nice to have
options in mind the next time I'm in that area and just want a place
to sleep and not get hassled (or go find I stopped in a tow away area).

Rob

becida@comcast.net
Western Washington State, USA