Is it illegal to sleep / camp on the beach in California?

[UberDave]

I want to take a trip during the winter or so across country to california... but see I want it to be kind of solitude on the beach somewhere... plus i can't really afford a hotel room for the week i'd be staying. (i'm in college what do you expect? Plus a decent place would probably be an arm and a leg)- So is it legal to go somewhere and just camp out in front of the ocean somewhere that not many people go? (i'll keep in mind the tide, don't worry)

Where are some good places to go during winter in Cali for warm weather and nice beaches?

 

[PushHands]

I can't speak for beaches in general but I do know that Ocean Beach in San Francisco does not allow camp fires. But who's to say if no one knows If inexpensive housing is what you seek, look for hostals. There's a really nice one south of San Francisco. They even shot a scene from the movie Bandits there. How do I know? Well, watching the movie the scenery looked familiar and then the light house was a give away Good luck on your journey.

 

[IcemanJer]

that's all good and all, but SF ain't exactly the warmest place to visit during the winter.

 

[Tripleshot]

None of the beaches are warm in the winter. not on the left coast,for sure.



sheesh

 

[LaBang]

As a rule, most places you are not allowed to go and "squat" at. How long do you plan on camping in one spot? Do you want to hike in or camp by your car? There are state parks and private campgrounds where you can drive up and camp on/near the beach. At those you can only stay maybe a week. There are other lands where you have to backpack in and can stay maybe 3 nights. Most places however you are not allowed to sleep at period.

To the other poster, fires are allowed on Ocean Beach but there are restrictions. I think that they might only be allowed north of the Safeway or something. On a busy summer night however there will be large groups of people having bonfires all along the beach.

Do not expect winter in Northern California to be warm. You will be by the ocean, prepare for the weather. Some camping areas around the bay area where you can camp near or on the beach are: Kirby Cove (under the golden gate bridge but only in the summer), Steep Ravine (rustic cabins and camping near stinson beach), and Point Reyes (backpacking campgrounds). I also know there are lots of campgrounds on the north coast.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Tripleshot
None of the beaches are warm in the winter. not on the left coast,for sure.



sheesh

Especially north of Santa Barbara.

You do realize that even in California, it rains in the winter, right?

Camping is usually not allowed on beaches, however there are MANY state camprounds that are usually only a couple hundred yards from the beach. They cost about $10-15 per night, have bathrooms, fire pits, etc.

Also, most beaches do allow fires, just not camping.

I still wouldn't recommend camping in the winter though. I do it every summer, at certain campgrounds that are basically on the beach (well, at the top of a cliff, which has a beach at the bottom).

But, winter is cold!

 

[LaBang]

I think that camping in the winter is great! more solitude, better spots, less noise and more natural beauty. If you think of the wind and rain simply as weather, you learn that weather is not something to hate but rather respect and love. If you are warm and dry a storm is wonderfull.

 

[20_MuleTeam_Borax]

I've only lived in CA for 1.5 months, but I'm pretty sure you can camp at Pismo beach. Pismo might be the exception though.

 

[Stojakapimp]

Originally posted by: IcemanJer
that's all good and all, but SF ain't exactly the warmest place to visit during the winter.

As Mark Twaine once said. "The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco"

 

[goodoptics]

Originally posted by: Tripleshot
None of the beaches are warm in the winter. not on the left coast,for sure.



sheesh

Let alone they (nor cal beaches) rarely get above 70 degrees in the summer.

 

[Stojakapimp]

Originally posted by: goodoptics

Originally posted by: Tripleshot
None of the beaches are warm in the winter. not on the left coast,for sure.



sheesh

Let alone they (nor cal beaches) rarely get above 70 degrees in the summer.

So then are you saying that the east coast beaches are warmer? I hardly doubt that. You'd probably have to go do Hawaii to get warm beaches in the winter

 

[NutBucket]

There are beaches scattered up and down the coast that allow camping. I would just make sure you camp at one that allows it.

 

[Ameesh]

if you camp at san onefre beach at night you can see the waves glow because the water has photoelectric plankton and when the waves crash a bright green light gets emmited. Its vcery cool.

 

[vi edit]

Define "cold".

Cold to me is under 10 degrees F.

 

[Moonbeam]

The only advise I can offer you is that if you are making love on a blanket on the beach and you get hit by a wave and you are also riding a carbubetored motorcycle, don't throw the blanket on the gas tank. The sand laden water will freeze the throttle to whatever position you open it making it impossible to drive.

 

[Miramonti]

very moist and foggy/overcast and windy too. terrible conditions usually.