Trouble getting a campsite on the coast?

[sdsurfer]

I’m trying to plan a trip for the family to go camping someone along the coast this year and it seems everything I look at is booked solid for 6 months, but that is also the limit as to how far ahead you can make a reservation. Maybe it’s just the places I checked, but I checked quite a few.

any tips on getting a reservation or good spots along the coast that might have availability? I guess there are always cancellations and we could stay local and go for a night or so last minute, but would like to plan a little road trip through Central California along the coast. One website says I can book 6 months ahead at midnight, but I’m never up at midnight anymore or I’d be useless the next day at work.

I also find it ironic that there is sometimes talk of closing state parks, but I can’t even get a spot in one of them so they must be pretty busy?

Why don’t they just increase the rates if they need money since it seems plenty of people want to pay the current rates.

Thanks for any insight you would like to share !

[sdduuuude]

Tomorrow morning. 8 am. reserveamerica.com
BE THERE !

It’s the only way to get spots at places like San Elijo, Carlsbad, Doheny (which I like, even though its a drive).

They open up a new month of reservations on the first of every month. So, tomorrow you will be able to reserve anything in September, I think.

Make sure you get a login and scope out the place using the campground maps, google satellite maps, the website for the campground, and I like checking the cool california coast aerial photo site. Here is Doheny: http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=201003305&mode=sequential&flags=0&year=2010

Do this so you know which sites or sites to reserve because if you start looking for a spot at 8 am, you’ll be late. If possible, have multiple people on the computer ready to click “reserve.” at 1 second past 8. If you need multiple sites, have multiple people so you don’t waste time clicking two things.

I have tried, on and off, to reserve one of the Crystal Beach Cottages. They always sell out in about 30 seconds. But, that is the extreme. You can get a beachfront Doheny location if you do it right.

Non beach-front sites are usually available longer. I have booked these an hour later.

Beachfront at San Elijo are way above the water. Same for Capistrano. Beachfront at Doheny is on the sand.

[sdduuuude]

Ya. You’re late for the Summer.
Dec 1 -> June
Jan 1 -> July
Feb 1 -> Aug
Mar 1 -> Sept

Also, don’t be afraid to use the campgrounds that don’t allow reservations. So many people want to count on there being a site nowadays that they don’t bother camping unless they have a reservation.

Well, that just means you can usually pop-in to a reservation-less campground and get a spot. I think the National Forest campgrounds are the ones that don’t take reservations.

It is pretty easy to get decent spots if you arrive on a weekday. Friday night and Saturday a.m. are the worst, though. Reserve a spot for those days or plan on hotelling it, then just “pop-in” on the weekdays.

The state campground at Pismo is kind of cool, too.

[dumbrenter]

The campsites by the coast go fast in summer. Forget 8am, if you are not ready by 1am, to the day 6 months before you go camping, all good sites are gone.

You have two options:
1. Many of these sites set aside some campsites for those that drive up there on a first come first serve basis. These are not part of the reservation pool. You can take your chances and try that. But it helps to have a backup plan if the campsite is not available.
2. Try only those campgrounds that do not take reservation or try the private campgrounds, these will be expensive but not as sought after.

Happy camping.

[desmond]

Try this place north of Santa Barbara:
http://www.elcapitancanyon.com/?gclid=CLu4xeao2rUCFQLhQgodVgUA2w

This is more upscale than camping but really is beautiful. And there is a beach campsite right next to it but again that one might be full it is through the parks system.

http://www.santabarbara.com/activities/camping/elcapitan/

The only downside is that you won’t be able to cross the tracks and make a midnight run to VG’s for some fresh donuts…..those cinamon twists-perfection in a donut……….

[XBoxBoy]

Are you only looking at state parks? If you’re willing to go to commercial campgrounds I’m sure you can find some openings.

For instance, my wife and I have stayed at Treebones Resort in the Yurts, but they have camp sites too. Very nice place. Their reservations page indicates plenty of openings.

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[paramount]

[quote=XBoxBoy]Are you only looking at state parks? If you’re willing to go to commercial campgrounds I’m sure you can find some openings.

[/quote]

As an experienced camper I wouldn’t hesitate to go the commercial route.

Also, don’t forget about San Onofre.

I used to head up to Pismo every year, but of course the water is colder. But…it’s not an issue to get a good site either, and the beaches are very nice.

[mike92104]

Silver strand never looks too busy.

[NotCranky]

Dupe

[NotCranky]

Did you try Leo Carrillo? It’s between Ventura and Malibu. I like it because it’s easy to make neat day trips to Malibu,, Santa Monica, LA county beach cities and Ventura . Only a 4 hour drive from San Diego.

[sdsurfer]

Thanks so much for everyone chiming in!

We might have to look into Pismo one of these days. The wife and I love central California, but we always drove past that place.

We actually stayed at El Capitan canyon once. She loved it, but I’m not sure I classify that as “camping”…ha! I think their prices guarantee availability though.

In exchange from all the help everyone has provided I must mention we spent part of our honeymoon camping at Limekiln which is one of the southernmost spots in Big Sur and a really amazing place. You can actually have a campsite there that enables you to hear the river running by as well as waves crashing. It’s a really special place if you are in the area and also one of the ones on the list to close if that ever happens. They do not take reservations and if you show up midweek you tend to get a spot.

Sorry if I was kind of busy and did not contribute to the string as much, but it’s been busy at work and taking care of the baby.

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