Expert: Ernest Tufft - 9/9/2006

Question
I grew up in ths southland, but have been gone for about 13 years now. I am looking to take my family out and want to know if There are any beaches people are allowed to camp over night on. If not are there any places left in Southern California where you can camp with out paying for a camp site? Thanks

Answer
There are few beaches where camping is allowed at all, and none that I'm aware of which allow free camping.  The best free beach camping is across the border in Mexico, either along the Pacific side of Baja, below Ensenada, where it may take a couple hours of driving over a washboard gravel road.  These are the best places to camp.  Also, I understand that camping near San Felipe and along the east side of Baja on the Sea of Cortez offers some of the world's best beach camping.  Again, the time it takes to reach these places will be in hours, but can be done on a weekend from San Diego or LA if one starts early in the morning.  These beaches are secluded, and other than the water, dangers should be few.  A four wheel drive vehicle is an advantage here, although I've camped from a subcompact car in my college days.  Try this link for state parks and other beach camping areas in Southern California.  You don't need to use their reservation system.  After you find the place you are interested in, go directly to the government website for the park and make your reservations there.  Prices are nominal useage fees in most cases.
http://www.totalescape.com/active/campstuff/campcoast.html