California tent campers: Which do you prefer for atmosphere, proximity to viewing the ocean/tide pools/privacy: campgrounds at MacKerricher, Van Damme or Russian Gulch?

(car camping, not backpacking. One tent.)

All three are wonderful parks. Though last time I tent camped at any of them was years ago when I was 7 or 8 years old so can't really help you with which one is best from an adult's point of view. But I do spend a fair bit of time in the area and used to own property on the Point Cabrillo headland -- IF I had to pick one it would probably be Russian Gulch. But honestly you can't go wrong with any of the three

I don't know Russian Gulch, but the other two are on the east side of CA1, hence not on an ocean front. I do not remember which one, but one has camp sites along the creek and up on high grounds. Try to avoid the creekside campsites as there are more mosquitoes there. The official map of each park should have a layout of the campground.

" . . . but the other two are on the east side of CA1"

Maybe you are confusing some parks -- MacKerricher is most definitely on the west side of Hwy 1 - in fact the entire park is on the west side and the camp grounds are less than half a mile from the beach.

Van Damme is a very long/narrow park that is 99% east of hwy1 but it goes from a beach just below the highway at Little River about 6 miles deep into the hills/pygmy forest. While the campgrounds are east of the hwy there is a pedestrian underpass straight to the beach, which is also part of the park.

My suggestion is to pick whichever park you can get a reservation. It's crazy hard to get sites these days since everyone has decided to go camping.

Thanks all!

Would you consider coming farther north into Oregon? I like staying at Sunset Bay State Park SW of Coos Bay. Instead of tent camping I like to stay in a yurt. I have also stayed in a yurt at William Tugman SP which is very close to the Oregon Dunes NRA.

Not a state park but we stayed here last August and loved it. They have camping right on the beach.
https://www.westportbeachrvpark.com/home

Anyone had experiences with crime in the Lost Coast area? Everybody always says, rightly, “don’t leave valuables in your car.” Kind of hard to avoid when you are on a cross-country road trip and can’t carry every last item with you as you hike...

One should never leave valuables in the car if at all possible whether in the Lost coast or downtown San Diego. However there are almost no people in the Lost Coast (it is 'lost' after all )

My guess fewer than 1500 - 2000 people live in the entire (very large) area. It is very remote. Most of the population would be in and within a few miles of the only two 'towns' - Petrolia and Shelter Cove. If anything is stolen out of a car it would probably be by someone living rough way out in the boonies. I personally wouldn't worry too much.

The Gold Bluffs Beach Campground at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park offers tent camping on a secluded coastline, and the Mill Creek Campground at Del Norte Coast features plenty of space to RV camp next to some big trees