What are some good camping places in Central and Southern California?

Big sur, morro bay, and there are a few up highway 41

Yosemite National Park- If you can only camp one place, this is it. Sequoia/Kings Canyon- Also very good Most of the campground are along the coast. Here are some I know of, going north to south: Julia Pfeiffer-Burns and Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Parks. Unbelievable coastline views San Simeon State Park: Near Hearst Castle, sweeping views. Morro Strand State Beach: Right on the sand, long stretches of beach. Jalama Beach: This is for those who like to get away from it all, and like to take risks. It is first-come, first-served, but if you DO get in, it’s incredible. www.jalamabeach.com. Refugio State Beach: North of Santa Barbara about 15 miles. This campground is right on the beach level, and has some spots just a few feet from the water. It’s a nice place, and it’s not too far from SB. However, one drawback it the freight trains: It is located at a bend in the RR tracks and the longer “piggyback” cars screech when they make the turn. It’s not a pleasant sound, but it only happens a couple times a day. El Capitan State Beach: Practically next door to Refugio, 2 miles south. El Cap is on the bluffs above the beach, with many trees around the campsites. However, the trains here are much less obtrusive, because there’s no crossing (so no blasts from the horn), and the train is slightly below ground level at this point, as the tracks are dug into the hillside. This is my second-favorite campground. Carpinteria State Beach: 12 miles south/east of Santa Barbara. My favorite beach is Carpinteria, which is rated at "The World's Safest Beach". There is plenty of beach for swimming or body surfing. There are some excellent tide pools on the south end of the beach, and some large natural tar seeps nearby, which is how the beach got its name (The Spaniards noticed that the local natives used the tar to make their canoes... the word Carpinteria basically means "wood shop"). Also, there are plenty of places to explore in the nice little town. There are fun local restaurants like the Spot (just look for the line of people on Linden Avenue), the Palms (where you cook your own steak), or Giovanni's Pizza (where they have excellent antipasto salad). There is even an old-fashioned candy store called Robitaille's (RO-bah-ties). Kids will also probably like the surf shop (Matt Moore's Rincon Designs), and Foster's Freeze... nothing like a ice cream cone on a warm afternoon. The trains go by, but it’s a minor inconvenience compared to the benefits.McGrath State Beach, Ventura: This is a nice enough beach. Technically, you are on the beach, but it’s almost ¼ mile to the water over the dunes. And no trains to worry about. Point Mugu State Park: Near Oxnard, it consists of two campgrounds: Sycamore Canyon and Broome Beach. Sycamore Canyon is nice enough. My dad used to love it here. There was a fire about 15 years ago which destroyed the campground, but it’s grown back nicely. Broome beach is a windswept parking lot just off PCH. Not much in the way of amenities here. Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu: Note the name. Most people call it Leo Carrillo State Beach, but it’s on the inland side of PCH, and you can walk under PCH to get to the beach. Since the beach is covered with large rocks, it’s low on my list of favorite campsites. Pomona KOA: Next to Fairplex, in Pomona. People are always asking where to camp “in LA”. While there are no campgrounds in LA itself, this is the closest. Forget about camping here in September, it’s full of people who work at the county fair. It’s exceedingly hot and smoggy in the summer, so beware. It’s very urban camping, but if you want to camp close to LA, this is the spot. http://www.koa.com/where/ca/05438/ Newport Dunes: Located in Newport Beach, it’s the Cadillac of RV parks. You can tent camp here as well, but the park caters mainly to RV’s. The prices are 2-3 times that of the state parks. If I wanted to spend that much, I'd get a hotel room. www.newportdunes.com. Doheney State Beach, Dana Point: This is one of the few campgrounds that have actual beachfront sites. There is a VERY nice park next door, and you are within walking distance of the Dana Point Harbor and shops. San Clemente State Beach: Located in the beach town of San Clemente, it is located on the bluffs overlooking the beach. San Onofre State Beach: Unless you are a HARD CORE surfer, this is not a good place to camp. I camped here once, but never again. You are 10 feet from the RR tracks, 20 feet from I-5. If you're lucky, you get to be right next to the border checkpoint, with flashing lights all night. And it's ¼ mile walk to the beach. South Carlsbad State Beach: Close to Legoland in north San Diego County. Located on a strip of land on the bluffs above the beach, it’s great for whale watching during migration season. San Elijo State Beach: Located in Leucadia, in north San Diego County. Same as South Carlsbad, but with a few hookup sites if you have an RV.