Primitive Camping on the Pacific Coast?

August 31, 2006 10:45 PM

I'm looking for a charming campsite on the Pacific Coast Between San Luis Obispo and San Francisco.

While I'm not adverse to state parks, I'd much rather find a primitive campground on or very near the beach on Highway 1 that isn't technically a campground.

posted by bryanzera to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

Arroyo Laguna used to be a great place when it was Hearst property and you could sneak in, but I think the state owns it now and patrols the area.

Ventana in Big Sur has been one of my favorite real camogrounds since the early 70s.
posted by buggzzee23 at 11:10 PM on August 31, 2006

Hmm, these are "official" but excellent: Andrew Molera State Park and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 11:31 PM on August 31, 2006

I have found some places(near big logs) the first three miles of Los Burros Rd. near Gorda in southern Monterey Co. FAQ
posted by hortense at 12:05 AM on September 1, 2006

I've heard that Julia Pfeiffer is excellent and I've stayed at Andrew Molera many times. I'd said that Molera is easy and convent but I wouldn't call it great, especially if you're looking to get away from people.
posted by charm at 5:15 AM on September 1, 2006

Camped here a few times. The ocean is a 5 minute walk.
San Simeon State Park
posted by cwarmy at 9:25 AM on September 1, 2006

If by "between" you mean "just barely by San Luis Obispo", Montana de Oro is beautiful.
posted by weston at 10:10 AM on September 1, 2006

Just got back from a 5 day stay at the Ventana campground buggzzee23 mentioned and it was wonderful! Unfortunately, it's not on the beach and is a real campground, so it doesn't really meet your criteria, but if you give it a try I don't think you'll be disappointed!
posted by platinum at 12:40 PM on September 2, 2006