Jalama Beach/central Calif. camping recommendations?

scottmandue · 07-02-2016, 11:24 AM

I'm going to have three/four days on my own in September (wife is flying up north to visit daughter) and rather than do the unhealthy thing and just lay around watching TV I was thinking outside the box and maybe go camping.

Found this little jewel of a park on the ocean near Lompoc that I have never visited.

Looking at reserving a spot online but the campground map of Jalama is pretty cryptic.

Seems to me someone here posted pictures from the park, if whoever that was catches this post could you tell me what/were are the good/bad campsite in that park? About half are already reserved.

Considering Lake Cachuma, Gaviota... haven't camped out in decades so not looking for anything too rustic... activities planed are short hikes, drinking wine, reading...

TIA

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Cachuma was more of a puddle than a lake last time I drove by (last year for Rennsport). Casitas was way down too. Not sure how Nacimiento is faring.

scottmandue · 07-02-2016, 12:24 PM

Yep, looking more for a beach location... Cachuma just happened to come up in a search of state and county parks.

tabs · 07-02-2016, 12:30 PM

Dad used to work at Vandyland AFB as a civie DOD employee...down in da bunker at night to watch the launches of the Minute Man. Anyway he lived in Lompoc and I used to walk on the beach out at Jalma...windy... and lots of driftwood. Also Point Sal on the N side of Vandyland AFB is interesting.

El Captain, Refugio and Gaviota are nice...take a look see.

I wouldn't mind doing that myself...

Craig T · 07-02-2016, 01:12 PM

There's no need to drive all the way to Jalama. It's pretty, but often windy. You should consider Carpinteria State Beach or Leo Carrillo State Beach. Both have very nice camp grounds, and you won't have to deal with Santa Barbara traffic. Getting back through Santa Barbara on a Sunday is the worst bumper-to-bumper traffic in the state.

Carpinteria SB

Leo Carrillo SP

scottmandue · 07-02-2016, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig T

There's no need to drive all the way to Jalama. It's pretty, but often windy. You should consider Carpinteria State Beach or Leo Carrillo State Beach. Both have very nice camp grounds, and you won't have to deal with Santa Barbara traffic. Getting back through Santa Barbara on a Sunday is the worst bumper-to-bumper traffic in the state.

Carpinteria SB

Leo Carrillo SP

Yep, been hanging out at the central coast since... well... lets not talk about that

and Sunday travel is out. (this is Sept 6-9, Monday is Labor day so it is out as a travel day also, thus a Tues-Thurs camping plan).

I'm familiar with the winds (Morro bay is a favorite hang out) but I usually get a hotel and hike in the morning and afternoons just kick in the room with a book and a glass of wine in the afternoon when the wind kicks up... probably not so cool on a camping trip.

Carrillo looks interesting, driven by a a dozen times... but at $60 a night that is approaching cheap hotel prices.

Carpenteria is famous for their beach... however it so popular it is already practically booked up.

Dunno... could just do a staycation and upgrade to a nicer bottle(s) of wine... but trying to get away from the house so I don't just veg out.

tabs · 07-02-2016, 03:19 PM

I raced my 912 with an AF Lieuie in a 914 up through Gaviota Pass and on down Route 1 into Lompoc back in the day...He was 6 ft behind me the whole way.

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Montana de Oro?

ossiblue · 07-02-2016, 06:30 PM

My guess would be that any beach camping from Jalama south to Leo Carillo, will be booked already for the dates you have in mind. The only possibilities to get in will be the first come, first served sites that most parks set aside for last minute campers and can't be reserved. Never hurts to call, however, and by-pass the on line reserve system. You'll have better luck if you're tent camping and don't need a site with amenities.

nvr2mny · nvr2mny's Garage

Lived in "the big L" (google it, dumbest piece of ad promo for a city EVER) for 25yrs and spent many days camping at Jalama. Beautiful area but usually VERY windy. Like CraigT said, Carp or Leo Carrillo is nice. So is El Capitan, Refugio or Gaviota. Being in Sept weather will be awesome and if later in the month the weekdays fairly empty.

aigel · aigel's Garage

On ReserveAmerica you can get notification when a site becomes available in your desired time frame. Put in an email request for everything from Leo Carillo up and see what you get.

I know Jalama as an RV campground - I have never been. I stay away from RVs. They usually make a ton of noise (generators, music etc.) compared to tents.

G

bmcuscgr94 · bmcuscgr94's Garage

Check out the Yurts at Jalama or Cachuma. Rancho Oso off of Hwy 154 too. Now that the fire is almost contained El Capitan Canyon campground might have some openings.

rusnak · 07-03-2016, 05:02 PM

This thread covers a huge geographical area.

Since you mentioned Morro Bay, I'd say if you want to get a quiet place on the beach to read a book, try Cambria. The beach side, after the 4th. I'd say late July or August, you should be good to go. Avila is just ridiculously expensive. Morro Bay is very quiet, much more so than San Luis Obispo, although the best pizza I ever had was in SLO. A wooden fire, brick oven pizza. Yummy.