Expert: Steve Summers - 6/10/2002

Question
Hello Steve,
    Me and four buddies of mine have been trying to find good campsites around southern california. "Good" meaning you can put up the tent, but still have bathroom facilities. The more available activites(water stuff, hiking trails, horseback riding, bicycling etc.,) the better. We are coming from Long Beach, anything within an hour to an hour and a half is a what we are aiming for. So please help, your expert advise would be very much appreciated.

Answer
There are a number of good beach campgrounds close to LB. Doheney, San Clemente, San Elijo, and South Carlsbad State Beaches are all in the good to very good range. San Onofre is only fair, and on my list of least favorite places to stay. You can pitch a tent, but you are right next to the freeway, the INS checkpoint, the RR tracks, and the nuclear power plant. I stayed there once, and when I got up in the middle of the night to do some business, my urine glowed in the dark. Just kidding! If you head north along the coast, I believe Leo Carillo State Beach falls within the 90 minute range. Check them out at www.reserveamerica.com.

In the mountains, you have some federal campgrounds (which can also be reserved at reserveamerica.com. North Shore, which is on the North Shore of Lake Arrowhead, Dogwood, which is 3 miles from Arrowhead, and Serrano, which is on the North Shore of Big Bear Lake. Avoid Green Valley, as they just had a large fire.

Have fun,

Steve