Help with California Itinerary
 

We are travelling from Toronto to California leaving April 3 and will spend 3 weeks (21) days in California State. We have a trailer and love hiking, National Parks, sightseeing urban and natural. Here is our plan arriving around April 8:

- 3 nights (Joshua Tree National Park/Palm Springs)
- 3 nights San Diego area
- 4 nights Los Angeles
- 3 nights Monterey/Big Sur area
- 4 nights San Francisco
- 3 nights Yosemite

Not sure if San Diego area is worth 3 nights or if we'd be better to tack on more time in another area or substitute another area altogether. Not going north of San Francisco this trip - that will be another. Any suggestions?

Your plan sounds fine, depending on what you are interested in doing. If you don't have lodging in Yosemite you should try for that asap. If you are flexible, Yosemite could be after Monterey/Big Sur, and San Francisco at the end.

Are you planning on flying to the Palm Springs area and renting a car then flying out of San Francisco or are you driving from Toronto and then driving back? If you are renting a car, expect a hefty drop off fee.

>>Are you planning on flying to the Palm Springs area and renting a car then flying out of San Francisco or are you driving from Toronto and then driving back? If you are renting a car, expect a hefty drop off fee.<<

It sounds like they are driving down from Canada . . . >>We have a trailer <<. They are starting out April 3 and plan on being in California by the 8th.

This will be a fairly hectic itinerary towing a trailer. April can still be wintery in Yosemite. Plus there are not hookups/water/electricity in Yosemite.

Joshua Tree would be great, as would San Diego. San Francisco is better then it used to be since the Candlestick Park RV site opened.

We would arrive in Yosemite - very end of April. Hmm - don't like the sound of "wintery". I'll check out elevations, etc. and weather. Is San Diego worth a visit or would we be better to add more time in Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur area?

The weather in April in Yosemite is always a crapshoot. You could stick with your original plan for Yosemite at the end of the trip, but have a back up plan if the weather is foul.

Have you looked into where you would stay in the trailer in LA and SF? I would stick with nature and forget the cities since you're camping. Also, Candlestick RV Park is in an isolated location, in a bad neighborhood, and gets horrible reviews. I would never stay there.

You asked if 3 days in San Diego is worthwhile. I would say yes, definitely. Much better than 3 (or 4) days in LA, in my opinion. You have a nice plan. If Yosemite falls through because of the weather, take a look at some of the California state parks--https://www.parks.ca.gov/

There aren't many options in San Francisco. There is a residential park w/ a few short stay spaces in South San Francisco. Neither location is 'camping' - but basically parking spaces in a MAJOR metropolitan area. Candlestick is a lousy park in a marvelous location. What ya gonna do??

Then places like Yosemite Pines RV resort are nearly 90 minutes from Yosemite Valley

Truth is - this sort of trip is much easier car/hotels than car/trailer.

Very much agree, so much easier, which is why I suggested more nature than cities. We have a small RV van but never take it when we visit SF.

Thanks everyone. I will stick with San Diego. Can't change the trailer - that's our accommodation. We'll do the best we can with the urban areas. I have some good reference camping books and RV sites to get recommendations. We may have to camp outskirts or small town and drive to public transportation. We'll watch the weather for Yosemite - and have a backup plan. We've roughed it many times in the past with a tent so a trailer will seem luxurious although somewhat cumbersome. We're older now so we'll just take it slow and easy and enjoy.

I've not stayed in RV parks in the City, but Marin appears to have some decent ones. I can't vouch for any of them as I've never stayed in an RV/trailer, but you might check these out and see if they work for you.

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=rvp...n+County%2C+CA

Thanks so much - Marin County - hmmm - looks good. I'm still struggling with the reservations "down south" but will get to SF eventually.

Just a heads up that if you're planning on camping in Joshua Tree Nat'l Park, I'm not sure that you'll be able to secure a site unless you've already done so. People book months in advance.

However I'm sure there are other campgrounds around that area if JT is booked up. Either way, a trip into the park is a must do.

Boots

I would recommend San Diego. Check out Torrey Pines State Park near Del Mar. Also the underwater reserve in La Jolla (you can do a kayak tour and see the sea life such as sea lions, seals, leopard sharks (harmless) and on rare occasion a whale or dolphin up close.
I would do one day less in San Francisco and Los Angeles and that way you could add in Carmel, Monterey, or some other towns.

Well this time around we're not camping in a tent so with our new trailer we want full hook-ups, etc. So we've booked outside the park.

All sounds good - I'll check these out.

Most state parks in Oregon have hook-ups and showers and are dirt cheap. California state parks usually don't have hook-ups. If your trip takes you to Morro Bay, there are some sites at Morro Bay State Park that do have hook-ups. The state parks are always a better place to stay (IMO) than privately-owned RV parks. When you have your itinerary set, let us know and we can recommend campgrounds.

For the Bay Area--we know about two independent parks in Half Moon Bay. It would be on your way up from Monterey. A bit of a trek to get into the city, but not undoable. We stayed at the property next to the Ritz. I am afraid I forgot the name as I wasn't the one who rented it. Not a particularly scenic park but right outside the campground is the lovely walking path and views of the beach.

In addition to state parks, also look at the private chains--KOA and Thousand Trails. Thousand Trails is not as strong by the Bay Area. They have a couple near San Diego though.

Regarding San Diego, yes — you could easily justify spending 9 days there (never mind 3) depending on your interest. I was there for 9 days and filled them with stuff to see and do.

And you’ll have no trouble finding things to do in LA and San Francisco. I spent almost two weeks visiting the former and a little over a week visiting the latter when I did so.

Following up on 5alive’s post, if you enter “RV parks near half moon bay, ca” in google maps, 5 come up. Maybe one of them is the one 5alive referred to.

Thanks everyone for suggestions. I'm now researching RV campsites near Los Angeles, in Los Angeles or near public transportation to L.A. Anyone have any suggestions? Any areas of L.A. to completely avoid - every city has them? We plan to stay 4/5 nights - so convenience, safety, cleanliness is what we require. Of course, we'll leave the trailer at the park and use our truck to get to L.A. or even better drive to public transportation.

I don't think you will find many campgrounds near Los Angeles. Land is too expensive. I did a very quick Google map search and the KOA in Pomona might be your best bet. What other sites did you find?

Also the place we stayed in Half Moon Bay was Pelican Point. One thing to know about it is that they insist on you arriving at a specific time and they guide you into your spot. So you have to arrange an arrival time. And it's true that some of the spots need it. The managers are kind of sticklers. At the same time, the park was clean and neat. Google map it. Really is by the ocean.

I looked through my LA camping bookmarks and Malibu Beach RV Park is the best of the lot. I’ve always wanted to stay at Crystal Cove State Park too.

i generally really like California state parks and I would echo that I’d focus on nature. Save SF for another time. Maybe focus on Southern California and/or teven the Southwest this trip. But there’s seriously a lot of great nature in CA and I think I’d save the cities for when you fly into them.

Thanks I'm working my way up the coast with campsite reservations. Currently looking at the San Luis Obispo area for 3 nights. Then on to the Monterey/Big Sur area. And finally San Francisco. So I'll keep your recommendation in mind for SF.

Thanks we decided on Dockweiler RV Park, Playa del Rey for our LA base. We've decided another trip we'll do Yosemite, Sequoia, Redwoods when it's warmer - most likely September.

About 50 miles south of San Francisco, you might want to know about Ben Ries campground in Butano State Park. It is in a grove of huge Coast Redwoods. Nearby is the Pigeon Point lighthouse which also has a HI hostel.
On the ocean side of US 101 you also have Ano Nuevo Park.

Are you looking to camp on the Monterey Peninsula or Big Sur? The state parks around here don't have hookups so you'll need to look at private campgrounds in Big Sur. Near the peninsula, Laguna Seca has the least expensive sites with water and electricity and is about 15 minutes to Monterey/Carmel Monterey County, CA : Camping although unless you've changed your schedule, you'll be here right in the middle of Sea Otter Classic so there won't be availability then.

In the Carmel area I recommend Carmel River RV Park. Leave the trailer there and spend all day exploring. It's easy to drive into Big Sur and then go back to the park later that day or evening.

Morro Bay State Park has some sites with hookups. There are also some private RV parks near the rock. Do note that they are next to the wastewater treatment plant. I really like the state park the best. I would stay in just one place in the SLO area as it's really easy to get around. You can visit Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, SLO, Cayucos, Cambria and San Simeon easily if you base yourself in Morro Bay.

In the San Diego area, do go over to Coronado Island, and explore the northern 'burbs of LaJolla (notably LaJ Shores), DelMar, and especially Encinitas & Carlsbad where there are great RV beachfront spots (Ponto Beach for one in Carlsbad). Believe there are RV parks around Mission Bay, a good base from which to explore downtown SD.

South Carlsbad State Beach, Carlsbad

(Tent & RV Camping) This linear campground is on the bluff in North County about 30 minutes from downtown San Diego. With 223 camp spots South Carlsbad is your best best for getting space if you didn’t reserve one. The beach here is narrow and might be all wet in some places at high tide. At both ends of the campground there is more sand at North Ponto and South Ponto beaches.

San Elijo State Beach, Encinitas

(Tent & RV Camping) This large campground is on the bluff in the Cardiff area of Encinitas. It has 171 camp spots that are all just steps away from stairways leading to the beach. Just north of San Elijo State Beach is Swami’s a popular surf spot and to the south is Cardiff State Beach which has several excellent restaurants.

Campland on Mission Bay in San Diego

(Tent & RV Camping) Campland is a privately-owned campground on the northern shore of Mission Bay in San Diego. It’s great for families as the kids can play in the water without fear of big waves and rip currents. It also means there are more water-based activities for everyone to enjoy.

You might want to check these areas out as well.