I have had 2 nice experiences at the City Campground in Monterey.  It's actually pretty nice!  And right in the middle of the city believe it or not.  On top of a hill; adjacent to some military thing so recorded revele trumpet at 6 am and taps at dark.  No problem.  Hot showers.  

Next day, head south and explore Big Sur.  

But I concurr with the other guy's comments about those choice campgrounds like Kirk Creek or Plaskett Creek being FULL; remember, people now from all over the country travel across many states just to have the experience of camping on Hiway 1 in California during the summertime.  Virtually impossible.
That Nacimiento-Fergusson Road (just at the Kirk Creek Campground) is a suberb option.  For a Vanagon.  Free.  Above the fog.  Just travel til you find a pull off you like.  National Forest land.

Further south, the places around Morro Rock are also full.  But usually you can get a spot at Morro Strand.  Just a piece of asphalt and a picnic table and a fire ring, and too expensive.  But does the job.
GoWesty is about 10 miles away; worth a visit.
Rich
San Diego

      From: Jeffrey Vickers <jeffrey@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
 To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
 Sent: Monday, July 18, 2016 4:24 PM
 Subject: Re: Big Sur CA Camping
   
If you want to wing it/stealth camp, head up the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and look for a spot up on the ridge. You can get up there high enough to be above the fog. Ocean-level campgrounds will be full and possibly also fogged in.

Go to thesamba.com and search "Nacimiento-Fergusson Road” and you’ll see a thread about the Lost Burritos. They are a Vanagon camping group that camps up there frequently and will have ideas about good camping spots and access. There’s also a video of driving the NFR on the 1st page of that thread if you want to see what the conditions look like. Pretty mellow roads up there.

Happy Camping,
Jeff

> On Jul 18, 2016, at 12:42 PM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote:
> 
> Date:    Mon, 18 Jul 2016 08:51:27 -0700
> From:    "Markus M." <markusmumper@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Big Sur CA Camping
> 
> Oof - Tough time of year for Big Sur camping, check reserveamerica.com for
> camping availability.
> 
> Sam Simeon State Park at the south end of Big Sur usually has availability
> but it's not the nicest place. It is fun to set up camp there, go to
> Cambria for a nice dinner and then back to camp to snooze.
> 
> Not much off the grid casual camping, it's pretty well policed by the
> locals who live there.
> 
> One place, sort of secret, is Lion's Den campground:
> 
> https://goo.gl/maps/ArtWC4LJAr32
> 
> You drive up the easy dirt road and then walk in, about a mile or so of
> walking [I don't think you can legally camp at the trail head].
> 
> Not much poison oak and great views. Only two campsites are available,
> first come first serve. Pretty reliable availability during the week in the
> off season, not sure about this time of year.