West Coast Road Trip with Camping
March 26, 2022 8:02 AM Subscribe
I'm planning a road trip down the west coast (Seattle to San Diego) the first two weeks of May, and looking for places to pitch our tent for the night.
We don't mind if the camping is very rustic, as long as we can drive a car to it. I know that all the very fancy National Parks will be booked up already, so I'd love to hear about your favorite spots that are more out of the way. I'm also open to privately owned campsites like you'd find on hipcamp. We haven't set a route at all yet, so anywhere is fine, we'd just like to see a bit of ocean or maybe a beautiful river. Weather advice & advice about stuff we might need is also very welcome! I've done some camping, but not a trip as long as this before. Thanks!
We don't mind if the camping is very rustic, as long as we can drive a car to it. I know that all the very fancy National Parks will be booked up already, so I'd love to hear about your favorite spots that are more out of the way. I'm also open to privately owned campsites like you'd find on hipcamp. We haven't set a route at all yet, so anywhere is fine, we'd just like to see a bit of ocean or maybe a beautiful river. Weather advice & advice about stuff we might need is also very welcome! I've done some camping, but not a trip as long as this before. Thanks!
In San Diego county, the Paso Picacho Campground is nice. The trailhead for Stonewall Peak is just across the road and it's a pretty nice hike.
posted by SPrintF at 8:47 AM on March 26, 2022
posted by SPrintF at 8:47 AM on March 26, 2022
Depending on your tolerance for uncertainty, you can look for first- come- first- served camping. Olympic National Park has a lot of it... we camped midweek in late June three years ago at one of the more out-of-the way campgrounds (Quinalt, I think) and had the whole place to ourselves. May have also been the pouring rain...
We also camped at del Norte Coast State Park (also in that area is Jedidiah Smith State Park) among the Redwoods, which may be booked up but was really beautiful.
posted by geegollygosh at 8:58 AM on March 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
We also camped at del Norte Coast State Park (also in that area is Jedidiah Smith State Park) among the Redwoods, which may be booked up but was really beautiful.
posted by geegollygosh at 8:58 AM on March 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
Expect there to be verrrry few options in LA, Riverside, and Orange counties (unless you want to go around the back of the San Bernardinos) so your last stop will probably need to be North of LA unless you're looking to camp in SD county (lots of options, and also check out the San Diego County/Regional Park campsites, I don't think they get super busy until school gets out). We were at William Heise in February and really liked it. You can still find open sites (not at the beaches) on weekdays at state/county campgrounds, it'll be the weekends that you'll probably need to go private.
As a little tip, a lot of campgrounds with "partial hookup sites" do allow tents, which means you can bring an extension cord and electric blanket. They cost more, but May is still cold-night season for camping.
I can personally recommend this host's four sites just outside Los Padres National Forest - we stayed there last May and you do have to be mindful that it's high desert, it froze enough overnight to ice over the surface of my washbowl. But a gorgeous quiet site, pleasant outhouse with a view, nice extra work table for cooking. No electricity at the sites, though. This lines you up for a nice drive through Los Padres and then a stop in Ojai on the other side.
You'll want to get these apps: iOverlander, AllStays, Campendium, The Dyrt, recreation.gov (National campgrounds), and Reserve America (state, county, private) for planning and also for finding backups if something falls through on the road.
Here is a guide to camping on BLM land.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:04 AM on March 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
As a little tip, a lot of campgrounds with "partial hookup sites" do allow tents, which means you can bring an extension cord and electric blanket. They cost more, but May is still cold-night season for camping.
I can personally recommend this host's four sites just outside Los Padres National Forest - we stayed there last May and you do have to be mindful that it's high desert, it froze enough overnight to ice over the surface of my washbowl. But a gorgeous quiet site, pleasant outhouse with a view, nice extra work table for cooking. No electricity at the sites, though. This lines you up for a nice drive through Los Padres and then a stop in Ojai on the other side.
You'll want to get these apps: iOverlander, AllStays, Campendium, The Dyrt, recreation.gov (National campgrounds), and Reserve America (state, county, private) for planning and also for finding backups if something falls through on the road.
Here is a guide to camping on BLM land.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:04 AM on March 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
I've had a few solid nights at Humbug Mountain near Port Orford, OR, and a wonderful time at Ruby Van Deventer in northern CA.
posted by curious nu at 9:13 AM on March 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by curious nu at 9:13 AM on March 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
I camped at North Santiam State Recreation Area near Salem, Oregon and enjoyed it. It looks like they're not doing reservations now, but they were went I went a few years ago. There's nothing fancy about it; it's just campsites and a nice river.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:15 AM on March 26, 2022
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:15 AM on March 26, 2022
Cape Lookout and Umpqua Lighthouse in Oregon are two of my favorite places I have ever camped.
posted by wats at 9:50 AM on March 26, 2022
posted by wats at 9:50 AM on March 26, 2022
I’ve had good luck with the yellow post sites up by Big Bear (East of LA)
posted by doctord at 10:08 AM on March 26, 2022
posted by doctord at 10:08 AM on March 26, 2022
For the Gorge:
You might not want to camp so close to Seattle, but if you have time to fit in a slight detour to the Gorge if you're not already familiar with it. There used to pretty much always, even during the summer, be tent site availability at the campground next to Bridgemart, right near where the Hood River Bridge meets SR 14.
Or, any of these campgrounds. They're not sorted for how developed they are, a couple are just tent sites, while others have nice restrooms and showers. Some are closer or farther from I-84. Wyeth, Eagle Creek, Laurence Lake, Sherwood, Nottingham, Ainsworth, Wahtum Lake, Moss Creek, Viento, Memaloose, Tucker and Tollbooth campgrounds for a base.
Mt. Hood National Forest will probably have some unimproved tent camping open by May, but it's a bit further, again, and it's so hard to guess this early what will be accessible when. And then there's always wildfire risk and damage. So while I gave you a link to a resource, that's the best I've got.
I deliberately didn't include Lost Lake. It's often packed to the gills with tourists these days... and as a local who spent my summers there as a child, I hate what's been done to it, and I can barely stand to recommend it for so much as a day trip anymore.
Or, there are places on the Washington side of the Gorge along SR 14 where dispersed camping is good for a night.
There are showers available (last I knew, coin-operated) at the Marina Park in Hood River.
On the Oregon Coast:
My favorite places to tent camp on the Oregon Coast are Devil's Lake and Beverly Beach. Both have tree cover and are somewhat protected from the weather, but see my tarp recommendation below.
Any of the coastal state park campgrounds are nice and generally have lovely showers. Tent sites are usually much easier to get, even last minute, than RV spots, but if it's the weekend or near a holiday, odds are much worse. I've only stayed at Nehalem Bay once, but it was (literally) 25 years ago, and while I had a complaint (very windy and no windbreaks) at the time, it appears that a lot has been done to alleviate that. (Either that, or I'm totally remembering the wrong location and can't find the right one.) So maybe I should stop avoiding it now, lol.
Some unsolicited advice that can help prevent miserable camping (given by someone who utterly HATES to be cold, wet, or both):
I'd REALLY recommend, no matter where you plan to camp in Oregon, but especially on the coast or in the Gorge, that you follow my tent/tarp advice. At least have the stuff in the vehicle, and use the parts you need. Even if it's supposed to be dry.
First, if at all possible, waterproof or re-waterproof your tent ahead of time. More than one layer is preferable. Do the rainfly, too. Just don't expect it to accomplish much.
Then, you need at least two tarps. One should be at least large enough to fit under the base of the tent with a few inches to spare on all sides. If it actually rains, a foot is better. If there's enough for that, and 2-5' extra on the side where the door is, for an "entry", even better. The second needs to be able to go OVER the entire tent and reach the ground on all sides, overlapping the bottom one.
(If you have a tent that's on the smaller side, you can totally get away with one HUGE (like RV) tarp. The warmest I've ever been camping, we totally had a little triangle pup tent, and wrapped it THREE TIMES with an RV tarp. It POURED for four days straight, and we were the only ones with dry clothes and bedding, and we stayed nice and warm. This was in May, at Little John snowpark, for an archery event... and we were literally the only ones aside from a couple of people with RVs that weren't soaked and freezing the entire time.)
Always, always, always use the ground one. If you even think there's a chance it might precipitate, use both. If you're someplace like the coast, where it's higher humidity, and especially if you're in a campground with tree cover... use both. That way, you don't have to worry about "never touch the sides of the tent".
posted by stormyteal at 10:53 AM on March 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
You might not want to camp so close to Seattle, but if you have time to fit in a slight detour to the Gorge if you're not already familiar with it. There used to pretty much always, even during the summer, be tent site availability at the campground next to Bridgemart, right near where the Hood River Bridge meets SR 14.
Or, any of these campgrounds. They're not sorted for how developed they are, a couple are just tent sites, while others have nice restrooms and showers. Some are closer or farther from I-84. Wyeth, Eagle Creek, Laurence Lake, Sherwood, Nottingham, Ainsworth, Wahtum Lake, Moss Creek, Viento, Memaloose, Tucker and Tollbooth campgrounds for a base.
Mt. Hood National Forest will probably have some unimproved tent camping open by May, but it's a bit further, again, and it's so hard to guess this early what will be accessible when. And then there's always wildfire risk and damage. So while I gave you a link to a resource, that's the best I've got.
I deliberately didn't include Lost Lake. It's often packed to the gills with tourists these days... and as a local who spent my summers there as a child, I hate what's been done to it, and I can barely stand to recommend it for so much as a day trip anymore.
Or, there are places on the Washington side of the Gorge along SR 14 where dispersed camping is good for a night.
There are showers available (last I knew, coin-operated) at the Marina Park in Hood River.
On the Oregon Coast:
My favorite places to tent camp on the Oregon Coast are Devil's Lake and Beverly Beach. Both have tree cover and are somewhat protected from the weather, but see my tarp recommendation below.
Any of the coastal state park campgrounds are nice and generally have lovely showers. Tent sites are usually much easier to get, even last minute, than RV spots, but if it's the weekend or near a holiday, odds are much worse. I've only stayed at Nehalem Bay once, but it was (literally) 25 years ago, and while I had a complaint (very windy and no windbreaks) at the time, it appears that a lot has been done to alleviate that. (Either that, or I'm totally remembering the wrong location and can't find the right one.) So maybe I should stop avoiding it now, lol.
Some unsolicited advice that can help prevent miserable camping (given by someone who utterly HATES to be cold, wet, or both):
I'd REALLY recommend, no matter where you plan to camp in Oregon, but especially on the coast or in the Gorge, that you follow my tent/tarp advice. At least have the stuff in the vehicle, and use the parts you need. Even if it's supposed to be dry.
First, if at all possible, waterproof or re-waterproof your tent ahead of time. More than one layer is preferable. Do the rainfly, too. Just don't expect it to accomplish much.
Then, you need at least two tarps. One should be at least large enough to fit under the base of the tent with a few inches to spare on all sides. If it actually rains, a foot is better. If there's enough for that, and 2-5' extra on the side where the door is, for an "entry", even better. The second needs to be able to go OVER the entire tent and reach the ground on all sides, overlapping the bottom one.
(If you have a tent that's on the smaller side, you can totally get away with one HUGE (like RV) tarp. The warmest I've ever been camping, we totally had a little triangle pup tent, and wrapped it THREE TIMES with an RV tarp. It POURED for four days straight, and we were the only ones with dry clothes and bedding, and we stayed nice and warm. This was in May, at Little John snowpark, for an archery event... and we were literally the only ones aside from a couple of people with RVs that weren't soaked and freezing the entire time.)
Always, always, always use the ground one. If you even think there's a chance it might precipitate, use both. If you're someplace like the coast, where it's higher humidity, and especially if you're in a campground with tree cover... use both. That way, you don't have to worry about "never touch the sides of the tent".
posted by stormyteal at 10:53 AM on March 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Younger friends of mine just pulled over somewhere in Big Sur when it got dark and walked down to a secluded beach and pitched their tent with no issues but I'd be worried about (at a minimum) finding a ticket on my car, when I got back to it (they didn't) or being interrupted/apprehended/kicked out by a ranger.
posted by Rash at 12:16 PM on March 26, 2022
posted by Rash at 12:16 PM on March 26, 2022
I wouldn't make a special trip to go here, but if you're on the coast near Manchester State Park (Point Arena, CA) it's a lovely little place to spend a night by the ocean. When I was there in summer it was nearly empty, very foggy, and lovely atmospheric. Also there's a transatlantic cable landing there which is kinda cool for a few minutes' novelty.
There's a whole string of campgrounds like this along the Pacific Coast that are well-mapped by folks who bicycle down the coast on weeks-long trips. I don't have a link but there's a lot of guides for this. There's camping every 20-30 miles most of the way, informal and often available without reservations if you just want to pitch at tent.
posted by Nelson at 7:21 AM on March 27, 2022
There's a whole string of campgrounds like this along the Pacific Coast that are well-mapped by folks who bicycle down the coast on weeks-long trips. I don't have a link but there's a lot of guides for this. There's camping every 20-30 miles most of the way, informal and often available without reservations if you just want to pitch at tent.
posted by Nelson at 7:21 AM on March 27, 2022
I'm about to do a good portion of this route soon and here is what I thought looked good:
Fort Stevens State Park - Cool rusty old wreck run aground on the beach, you'll pass through Astoria which is an artsy coast town. This park is huge, I'd be surprised if it filled up in early May.
Beverly Beach State Park - Has a lot of sites, near Otter Rock which has the Devil's Punchbowl, nearby Newport and Waldport.
Florence Keller Park - Redwood forest park with cheap camping in Crescent City, no showers tho.
Humboldt County Fairgrounds - Hot showers and a tent site for $20 near the Avenue of the Giants, a most excellent scenic drive.
Pfeiffer Beach State Park - I know, it's the most popular park in Big Sur, but when I checked there were at least some sites still available mid week in May. If you can jump on it soon you might snag one! Either way check out nearby Pfeiffer Beach, which has purple sand and a cool waterfall. The entire Big Sur area is very beautiful but there is almost no "off the path" camping, especially if you are pitching a tent.
Avila Hot Springs Has camping or you can do a day pass to soak.
Solvang is a cute little Danish town outside of LA.
When I visited San Diego years ago I enjoyed Balboa Park, the botanical gardens were excellent for photography.
I found iOverlander helpful in my search, especially if you find yourself scrambling it may come in handy, though it's geared for folks in vans or RVs.
posted by Feyala at 6:16 AM on March 28, 2022
Fort Stevens State Park - Cool rusty old wreck run aground on the beach, you'll pass through Astoria which is an artsy coast town. This park is huge, I'd be surprised if it filled up in early May.
Beverly Beach State Park - Has a lot of sites, near Otter Rock which has the Devil's Punchbowl, nearby Newport and Waldport.
Florence Keller Park - Redwood forest park with cheap camping in Crescent City, no showers tho.
Humboldt County Fairgrounds - Hot showers and a tent site for $20 near the Avenue of the Giants, a most excellent scenic drive.
Pfeiffer Beach State Park - I know, it's the most popular park in Big Sur, but when I checked there were at least some sites still available mid week in May. If you can jump on it soon you might snag one! Either way check out nearby Pfeiffer Beach, which has purple sand and a cool waterfall. The entire Big Sur area is very beautiful but there is almost no "off the path" camping, especially if you are pitching a tent.
Avila Hot Springs Has camping or you can do a day pass to soak.
Solvang is a cute little Danish town outside of LA.
When I visited San Diego years ago I enjoyed Balboa Park, the botanical gardens were excellent for photography.
I found iOverlander helpful in my search, especially if you find yourself scrambling it may come in handy, though it's geared for folks in vans or RVs.
posted by Feyala at 6:16 AM on March 28, 2022
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- San Simeon State Park
Joshua tree is rad but not sure if you're wanting to go inland in May due to potential heat. Has BLM areas that won't get booked.
Big bear and surrounding areas has pine tree forests if you're looking for that. Also has some BLM areas outside the campgrounds, might be cold at night though.
posted by escher at 9:03 AM on March 28, 2022
- San Simeon State Park
Joshua tree is rad but not sure if you're wanting to go inland in May due to potential heat. Has BLM areas that won't get booked.
Big bear and surrounding areas has pine tree forests if you're looking for that. Also has some BLM areas outside the campgrounds, might be cold at night though.
posted by escher at 9:03 AM on March 28, 2022
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posted by hooray at 8:27 AM on March 26, 2022 [1 favorite]