Expert: Steve Summers - 7/16/2008

Question
My family is planning a trip to Napa. We are driving up from Orange County on a Friday afternoon. We were hoping to stop along the way and camp Friday evening. I was thinking of a beach, but we'll go with whatever we can get. We don't use a camper, we'll be using a tent and a car.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Dean

Answer
Hi Dean,

Tricky question, this one. If you go straight up I5, you can get there in 424 miles, in about 6 hours. Stopping in the San Joaquin Valley is not a great option, since it's so blasted hot this time of year. However, if you go to the coast, you're adding 75 miles or more to the trip. So the coast is nice, but it adds time.

Keep in mind that beach camping sites are reserved MONTHS in advance. Here are a few options:

Carpinteria State Beach. Great beach, you'll find details in a number of my posts here. Only about 120 miles up the coast.

Pismo State Beach. Great little beach town, woth a trip in its own right.

San Simeon State Beach. I love this section of the central coast. Plus, Hearst Castle is next door. Atascadero State Beach/Morro Strand is also down the coast.

Big Sur. Normally I would recommend this, but there are big fires in the area at this time.

New Brighton State Beach. On the coast, north of Santa Cruz. However, now your're about 6+ hours from OC, quite a long way to go on Friday night.

All of these can be reserved on the State Parks Reservation system, www.reserveamerica.com.

Have fun!