Last minute maiden voyage! Advice needed!

[thatgirlinthevanagon]

So, I had intended to post an introduction here with photos of my new Westy (86 Vanagon Westfalia) but no time! Headed out of town last minute on our maiden voyage road trip (been driving her around town exclusively for a month and a half) and need some advice.
We're heading out from Pasadena California up north probably along the coast, not past Santa Cruz. We have 4 days. Of course, finding a campsite this last minute is impossible. So the challenge is finding a place to park that has restrooms and hopefully a shower.
Seeing as I'm new to this, I have no idea where to start. Do campgrounds offer overflow parking when full? Do you know of special places, perhaps private land that have facilities where I could park?
We have 2 sure things but they are relatively close to home and close together.
Any ideas?
Thanks a bunch!!
Cynthia
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86 VW Vanagon Westfalia. She's stock AF.

[avernon82]

A shovel and a Freshette is all you need.

Once you dump the restroom requirement, life gets easier!

edit: pun intended

BTW, my wife is a huge Freshette fan.

TMI?

[Merian]

A shovel and some snow is all you need.
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[Mountain1.8t]

AAA card.

[wareiter]

My son loves to golf. I am more mountain bikes, sailboards and skating, Go figure.
Municipal golf courses often have very nice shower facilities. Have lunch or hit a bucket of balls if you feel guilty.
Rubbing alcohol on a wash cloth makes a great PTA shower.
The bag solar showers from West Marine work real well too.
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1985 weekender
1989 560 SL
1995 RR Classic
http://waterboxer.blogspot.com

[Wildthings]

I have often used the parking lots of small municipal airports, churches, hospitals, and even on occasion fire halls.

[avernon82]

rubbing alcohol, really?

how about the old standby, baby wipes?

make sure to bring lots of wine, I like the Black Box wine. No bottles to break, wine stays good for a long, time, and it's not too bad. It's also cheap, so you don't feel bad drinking A LOT.

Well, you might the next day...

[slo356]

Back to the OP's actual question.

Here are a few ideas and you can try some of these, sorry I didn't do websites, but most have them and phone numbers as well. The northbound Los Angeles traffic on Friday is huge to at least Santa Barbara, try to plan around that if possible. These suggestions are Hwy 101 based.


Santa Margarita Lake (road to Pozo)

Pinnacles National Park (eastside off Hwy 25)

Lake Lopez

San Simeon State Park (on Hwy 1)

El Chorro Regional Park (on Hwy 1)

Montana de Oro State Park (west of Los Osos)

Gorda area wilderness camping (on Hwy 1 and back country road to Mission San Antonio)

Lime Kiln State Park (on Hwy 1, 56 miles south of Carmel)

Camp San Luis RV park (if you are ex-military personnel you can camp on the site)

Cerro Alto Campground off the radar and kinda cool (on Hwy 41 between Atascadero and Morro Bay)

Good Luck.
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'65 T1 Sedan
'87 T3 Syncro

[thatgirlinthevanagon]

Too funny.
Thanks for the suggestions!!
Now to get busy figuring it out!
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86 VW Vanagon Westfalia. She's stock AF.

[Vanagon Nut]

[williamM]

There iis a web site called "free camping" where listed by state is all the little nooks and cranys parks . Most free or minimum $- State and city parks Try it-

Also casinos, wal mart parking lots, behind Fast food places and truck stops.

You might try to check for "no shows" at the state parks - I got into the Grand Canyon park that way-
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some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.

opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.

Don't step in any!

[oldschool84]

Here are my suggestions for what they are worth - have had our van for a year and a few months now - don't drive much in the winter so there have just been a handful of trips but from that, here's what I've figured out -

Van Comfort -
This is up to you and what you're doing each day, but maybe look at a campground with nice shower every other day - otherwise baby wipes and/or some warmed up water and a wash cloth.

Wine for the PM - unless alcohol disturbs your sleep a lot, a glass or two in the evening before bed makes sleeping in a van a lot easier, at least for me.

Use the lower bunk - top bunk is ok IMHO but the 4 inches of cushion from that bottom one is mint for me. Keep stuff in bins that you can relocate from the back to either under the van or under the front lip of the bottom bed when folded out. In those spots they don't interfere with space. If using the upper, bring along some extra padding like backpacking pads.

Lots of folks here have commented about cooking outside the van to keep the food odors down - I find stopping places while road tripping to be half the fun so I buy stuff when traveling. Again, mixing up 50:50 camp nights with some restaurants would make it go easier, but all up to your interest as to how much self contained to be.

Extra stuff - bikes, kayaks, etc. - I'd decide what you want to do and what you feel secure leaving out of your sight locked to the van. I went solo for an overnight and took my kayak intending to either kayak/fish or hike or both. In the morning I regretted this for a little bit because I realized I wasn't eager to leave my kayak locked in a flimsy way to a Thule rack that can be unscrewed in about 5 minutes or less at a remote trailhead if I was going to be off hiking for a few hours. Happily, I found a nice lake to kayak and fish and all was well. Point is, there's a tendency for some of us to bring everything, "in case", but maybe thinking about what to focus on helps - or not...

I've slept on a residential street bordering the campus in a college town while picking up my daughter. I tend to sleep in the back when solo - attracts less attention and just easier and faster than putting up the top. More comfortable too.

With regard to your route - I spent a good amount of time in N. Calif. and have family there still. Here are some suggestions -

Andrew Molera State Park is walk in camping but I bet you could overnight in the van in the parking lot.

Santa Cruz - Capitola area - great area - again, there are some municipal parking lots near the beaches - not sure how much enforcement if you are overnight sleeping there. If you make it clear you're camping in the lot, you're asking for enforcement - if you walk around in the evening, do your reading at a coffee shop or brew pub then park and get in the back of the van and draw the drapes, probably a lot less obvious. I also don't bother with the front windows, though in CA fold up sunshades in the very front are super common - just hang something behind the seats. - others here might be able to comment on whether overnighting in those lots is really possible or not. Seabright Brewery is a nice brewpub to hit - I'm sure there are others.

Near Monterrey is Asilomar State Park - a small conference center and park with beach access. You could try rolling in late to a lot there or see what other options are around the place like the Aquarium parking lot, for example. Monterrey seems like a place that getting hassled by the cops is possible, but then again, most cops in towns and cities have a lot more to deal with than worrying about enforcing whatever town law it is if you're not bothering anyone.

Finally, inland near the Monterrey area is Pinnacles National Monument - check - there should be camping there. Also great hiking. Nice little roads between Monterrey and Hollister to get you down there. Plenty of stuff available to restock in Hollister. Also a hiking overlook area (small) that is right near town that's kind of cool.

Good sourdough bread in the Santa Cruz and south bay area is Alfaro's. Then again, Safeway and Raley's have great sourdough compared to the stuff we have back here -

Have fun -

[Steve M.]

Second the AAA membership.
If your not aware they have a membership level with a towing package of 200 miles. That will get you home or to a good location where you can get work done or parts availability to do it yourself as opposed to being in the middle of nowhere.

Have a great Maiden Trip...of course we will not believe you did it unless you have pictures!

p.s. When you get the chance, "Blazecut" fire extinguisher option!

[benandmj]

Gas is on the left and brake is on the right. You'll figure the rest out as you go!
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85 Westfalia Weekender
91 Syncro Westy

[campism]

[B.O.B.Wanders]

You will have to learn to let go of your fears and step off with optimism and hunger for adventure. It may come disguised as a breakdown at an inopportune time or missed turn but almost always an adventure you will relive a thousand times. Saint Vanagon will watch over and guard your travels with an ironic sense of humor and a smirk. Live. Enjoy.

You can't plan serendipity, but you can remain open to it. The best times are the unplanned.

Oh and +1 on the AAA card

Rick
(Recently inaugurated as "Pilot" to BOB.)
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83.5 WBX 2WD Assuan Brown Westy, B.O.B.

"It feels good to be lost in the right direction” - unknown

[vegpedlr]

It being a holiday weekend, you'll be hard pressed to find a spot in a coastal campground. But head east into the hills no you can find great places. There's great camping in the Santa Ynez mtns outside Santa Barbara. Great camping up the steep winding Nacienmientonroad from Big Sur over to Fort Hunter Liggett. Mission San Antonio is cool too.

Have fun!