Expert: Steve Summers - 3/10/2008

Question
I plan to camp in Southern CA (between LA and San Diego) for a week( May 28-June 4) and then proceed to Kauai. I am a solo camper and my plane will be landing in LA. I live in NJ. Can you recommmend any particular state/county parks. I am looking for one that is relatively safe as I will be camping alone. I noticed that most of them, if not all of them, are already full for May 30 &31 (Fri and Sat) nite. One (San Onofre spelling?) may have space available for the 30 and 31, however, I read a negative review on it. I am very famaliar with camping on Kauai/Maui since I have been there many times but never been to CA. Also, I like to drive around and see the sites. Could you recommend any places in particular that may interest me? Thanks.

Answer
Hi Mike,

I don't know how early you have to reserve campgrounds in HI, but here in SoCal you have to reserve 6-7 months in advance. EVERYBODY likes to camp on the beach, and we have people from all over the country coming here to camp. May is ESPECIALLY popular, since all the locals want to hit the beach.

San Onofre is not my favorite beach. It's cool if you're a surfer that likes to surf all day and party all night. And if you don't mind camping 10 feet from railroad tracks (main line), 20 feet from I-5, and next to the nuclear power plant.  Oh, the beach? Almost a half mile walk. My favorite spot is right by the immigration checkpoint, with it's bright lights and cars lined up all night. So, I don't camp there.

The and most popular beaches in the system are Carpinteria, San Elijo, El Capitan, Refugio, and Doheny. Leo Carillo and Doheney are the closest beaches to LA. I would say your only chance at one of the state beaches is to find a cancellation.

You might also check around at some private campgrounds. There's the Fairplex KOA in Pomona, right by the fairgrounds. There's a nice, but expensive, camprgound called Newport Dunes in Newport Beach. Further south, by San Diego, you have Campland on the Bay.

It might be difficult to get a camping spot for that weekend, but with persistence and luck, you might be able to do it. Good luck.