Doheny State Park

[oldmoose]

Anyone camped Doheny State Park? I know it's dry camping, but looking for the better sites.
Moose

[lkw]

Anyone camped Doheny State Park? I know it's dry camping, but looking for the better sites.
Moose

Hi Moose, We've camped there several times. A nice campground (despite the lack of hookups and the train that runs all nite long next to the campground). The location is great and some sites back up to the beach. Dana Point harbor is a stones throw to the campground. It may be difficult to get sites because the place is popular. We have always enjoyed this place, but it is just to hard to get in to on the weekends. If you like to bathe in the ocean, this is not the place to do it because the beach is often closed for excessive sewage and runoff problems from the creek next to the park.

[Cstars]

We camped there in Sept. and plan on making it an annual event.   I think the best sites are any of the waterfront sites but especially the ones by the creek because then you have views of both the ocean and the inlet where you can do a little bird watching.  We like being steps from the sand and going to sleep with the lull of the waves.  The trains are not so lulling, the sights are close and small and it is hard to get reservations.  So that's the down side but we really like this campground and the surrounding area - Dana Point.

[forestwalker]

Small sites.Hard to get reservations.Train was there-but didnt bother us.What did was street traffic noise that was clearly audible in the more "inland" sites.Still,proximity to ocean and typically mild weather earned this campground an "7.8" from us.As stated above,beach front sites are best.

[Unregistered]

oldmoose,

Try South Carlsbad to the south, the swimming is better, you don't get pounded by rocks in the surf. One draw back is that the sites are on a bluff and it is a short walk to the beach. Doheny was our first taste of beach camping, but there are better beaches out there. Good luck

[griffsmom]

Hey Moose,

 
I used to live in Dana Point ('82-'86), and as much as I love the ocean, I wouldn't camp there.  Not only does the creek next to the park dump all of the sewage and waste directly into the ocean, but there's a waste treatment plant just up the road and if the wind is right, you might say, it hums a bit.  Dana Point tends to have a fair number of transients and they like to hang around Doheny, looking for unattended valuables.  And it's true what they say about the train running at all hours, but knowing you, you'd probably like that.  If you are looking to camp for a weekend in the summer, chances are good that everything up through what you can book on Reserve America is already gone.  I still just don't understand the attraction to this spot. :confused:  I'd rather camp at San Onofre-San Mateo any day.
 
I've heard South Carlsbad is a nice spot, but haven't been yet.  The sites are on top of a bluff, os the beach access is not as close or easy as Doheny, but it is far more picturesque.  Again, you'll probably have a hard time being able to reserve anything through the available period on Reserve America if you're looking at the summer months.
 
The other alternative is San Elijo SB just south of Carlsbad.  By a fluke, our neighbor had reservations here in 2002, and we camped here for our maiden voyage the day we brought our camper home.  The sites are close and it's a bit of parking lot style to boot.  Your fellow campers tend to be a bit beach-bum/party, party, party/what's a quiet hours type of people, but they're mostly harmless.  Trains are prevalent at all hours of the day and night here too, but the beach is located just down some stairs, and it's very nice.  My previous comments about Reserve America apply here as well.
 
HTH! Let us know how you make out. If you do end up going to Doheny, let me know and I can recommend some great restuarants in the area.  Heck, Dave and I could even come down and have dinner with you, since it's only about a 30 minute drive from where we live now.

[Dee4j]

well Lori pretty much summed it up. we've camped there a couple of times but as tenters.  but the sites are very close, if you're set on it, I can look at my map and give you the best choices. but the water is ICKY. my mom lives next to there in San Clemente.

[maromeo]

DH and I were researching campsites for some CA ocean camping during the summer to get away from the intense heat. After reading the reviews and looking at the aerial photos on the CA state park sites we settled on San Elijo SB. We were able to get an oceanfront site w/hookups, so I hope that will drown out the train noise. We booked it on Jan 2 at 8:01am and were lucky enough to get one. We are staying for 7 nights in July. Last year the site was not working and by the time anyone answered the phone on the reservation line everything was gone up the coast to Sunset SB near Santa Cruz. So that is where we ended up staying for 3 days. It was nice,  Forestwalker was very helpful in finding some great places around the area. Thank you again Forestwalker!

We are hoping to make it down to Seaworld one day but it depends on the weather and if we feel like leaving for the day.
Mary Romeo

[oldmoose]

My original post was because there is a Dutch Oven Gathering (DOG) there this coming weekend. Unfortunately, we can't participate. My production manager really likes So Carlsbad. It's one of his favorites. Thanks for the input though.
Moose

[Unregistered]

My favorite beach spot is on the beach at Camp Pendleton!   So long as you are self contained (read: porta potty!)  you can practically camp right on the sand!  Great fishing and walking, just not allowed to swim there...

Wthoms2000@yahoo.com

[griffsmom]

My favorite beach spot is on the beach at Camp Pendleton! So long as you are self contained (read: porta potty!) you can practically camp right on the sand! Great fishing and walking, just not allowed to swim there...
 
Wthoms2000@yahoo.com ("Wthoms2000@yahoo.com")

When I was a kid (in the 70s) we used to camp with our neighbor--a ret'd capt in the Marine corp--and his family at White Beach.   You can only camp there if you'remilitary or with someone who is.  We used to go hiking and find unopened cans of rations and spent cartridges from manuevers--a kid's treasure paradise!  You were allowed to fish from the beach and could wade into the surf to cast your line.  One time, our neighbor's son and I got a little carried away "casting" and the MPs kicked us all out.  When they say no swimming, they MEAN no swimming.  Boy, were our families ticked at us!

[wthoms]

Hi griffsmom,

I hate to differ with you, but you do NOT have to be military to camp at Pendleton!

I have never been  in the military, and many that I meet there also were not in the military.  Neither was my father, who first took me to Pendleton 40 years ago.

You register for $40.00 per year for a permit, and so long as the beach is open for the weekend, meaning no maneuvers were going on, you can camp there from Friday nite to Sunday nite!

Let me know if you would like more info, but they just require:

*License
*Registration
*Proof of insurance

Enjoy!

[griffsmom]

Hi griffsmom,
 
I hate to differ with you, but you do NOT have to be military to camp at Pendleton!
 
I have never been in the military, and many that I meet there also were not in the military. Neither was my father, who first took me to Pendleton 40 years ago.
 
You register for $40.00 per year for a permit, and so long as the beach is open for the weekend, meaning no maneuvers were going on, you can camp there from Friday nite to Sunday nite!
 
Let me know if you would like more info, but they just require:
 
*License
*Registration
*Proof of insurance
 
Enjoy!

I didn't know that--we'll have to give it a try.  Thanks for the info!