Santa Cruz to Morro Bay

[usa448]

I'd appreciate hearing about good experiences (State Parks especially) between Santa Cruz and the San Luis Obispo area. This'll be our first trip in our new 28' and it would appear that I've waited too late to find space in the hot spots like Seacliff State Beach. Our week off is in a month and I'd like to spend part of the time near Santa Cruz (hopefully beach oriented) and then go as far south as Pismo Beach. Thanks in advance for the ideas!

[Johnco]

I would recommend Morro Bay State Park. There are 30 pull thru hook-up sites, beautiful location nestled between a small harbor and the golf course. Great little cafe in the harbor parking lot across the street called the Bayside Cafe, very popular with the locals. Local nature museum is a short walk from the campground.

[janetb]

Hi usa448. Sounds like a great trip in a beautiful part of the world. Two places I would recommend would be New Brighton State Beach in Santa Cruz county (very close to Seacliff and on a bluff above the beach) and Kirk Creek, which is a forest service campground on the Big Sur Coast, just below the tiny town of Lucia (abt. an hour S. of Carmel). Some sites can be reserved, but most are "first come". Our favorites are 21 and 22. You'd fit into both. (My profile pic is 21).
Other options in the Santa Cruz area would be Sunset Beach or the KOA in Watsonville, both south of town but close to beaches. Coastanoa is a few miles north, but very pretty, with some good hikes, including paths to the beach.
Best of luck and happy trails!

[VIKING]

I don't have much to add to what Janetb said, except that some of the parks in the Big Sur area are closed now due to the fires last year and the potential for mud and rock slides. We stayed at Fernwood resort over New Years and it was nice, not great. There is a small store and a restaurant right there, and proximity to LOTS of hiking trails and a few beaches. It's only about 25 miles from Carmel, which is a great place to visit and have a nice dinner out. It's well worth spending a day just walking around town.
Happy trails to you....
Rich

[TinShack]

I agree with some of the previous posts. Kirk Creek (also Plaskett Creek right down the road) and Morro Bay State Park are some of my favorites.

San Simeon State Park is nice too. Right across the highway from the beach, close to Hearst Castle, the elephant seal beach is right up the road, and the quaint town of Cambria is just down the road. No hook ups though.

[silverpeanut]

Henry Cowell Redwoods which is up in Felton a few miles inland from Santa Cruz is beautiful and the little town is cute too. Just watch out.... they say Big Foot lives in those woods!

[VIKING]

I thought of another campground on the eastern side of Big Sur called Arroyo Seco. We went on a day trip there a couple of years ago and it was nice. The Arroyo Seco River comes down out of Big Sur and runs through the camping area. You can hike up the river and there are awesome swimming holes along it as you go. We only went for a day trip though, so I don't know if there are sites for rv camping but it's a nice campground and the eastern side of Big Sur is really a beautiful place.
It's located about 1/2 hour south of Salinas.
Happy camping, Rich

Here's the Felton Bigfoot Museum Link http://bigfootdiscoveryproject.com/