Pack up the tent, swimsuits and sunscreen for a beach safari in California where inexpensive camping is available on or near a wealth of public beaches. Sixty percent of California's shoreline is publicly owned and encompasses state and and federal beach parks. Opportunities for overnight stays include car and backcountry camping.
Accessing Information About State and Federal Parks
Both the National Park Service and California State Parks have extensive websites that offer "find-a-park" pages allowing users to access parks by name, location and activities. The websites provide information such as state maps showing park locations, campsite fees and reservations, local attractions, handicapped accessibility and local weather.
Northern Coast
Morning and evening fog frame the days at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, which is a preserve for old growth redwood trees situated between Eureka and Crescent City. Similar to three other redwood preserves in the northernmost part of California, Prairie Creek is managed cooperatively by the state parks department and NPS. The park has six campgrounds, including one on 10-mile-long Gold Bluff Beach. Wildlife viewing --- including whale watching --- hiking and beachcombing are popular pastimes.
Near San Francisco
Wild, crashing waves and year-round backcountry camping on Drakes Bay are among the attractions at Point Reyes National Seashore. A colony of elephant seals can be viewed from an overlook just above the bay. Because of the park's proximity to San Francisco, its campsites are in demand. NPS recommends reservations, which can be arranged up to three months in advance.
Central Coast
A walk-in campground with 24 tent sites is available on a first-come, first-served basis at Andrew Molera State Park, located on the central coast in the wild beauty of the Big Sur area. You might want to make time for a tour of the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium nearby. Another favorite tourist spot is the village of Carmel, which offers fine dining for those weary of campfire meals.
Near San Simeon
Further down the central coast, campers at Hearst San Simeon State Park might want to tour newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst's famed San Simeon "castle" 5 miles away. With its vast wetlands, the park is a fine place for birdwatching. It is also a wintering ground for monarch butterflies. The beach is a short stroll away from San Simeon Creek Campground, which offers 115 sites for tents or RVs.
South Coast
Boat-in, primitive camping is allowed year-round on all five islands in Channel Islands National Park, which is off the coast of Santa Barbara. Necessary equipment includes trash bags for hauling out any refuse. Pit toilets are available at all the campsites. However, visitors to Anacapa, Santa Barbara and San Miguel islands must bring their own water. NPS recommends one gallon per person per day. Boat transportation is available through private contractors.
Near San Diego
A combination of coast and canyon lands, the 3,000-acre San Onofre State Park, near San Diego, is popular with swimmers and surfers. Camping is available at two sites off the beach. Hikes from the campgrounds to the beach vary from one-quarter mile to 1 1/2 miles.
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