Los Angeles to Cambria

The California coastline is a lovely way to explore nature, surf communities, and campgrounds.

 Los Angeles to Cambria

Drive time from Los Angeles to Cambria is 4.5-5 hours, depending on the traffic. You can get there fast or take it slow. Check-in at most places is between 3 PM at the earliest. So why sit in traffic to get there at check-in or leave early and find something to do when you get there hours before check-in? Leaving Los Angeles at noon, no matter the day, is not suggested for a road trip, especially if you are dragging your second home behind you. Traffic is a guessing game. So leave early and plan a journey that takes just a little bit longer. Explore the landscape, discover a new travel spot, or find a campground.

Check out RVLife Trip Wizard if you are new to the area for driving routes.

101 to Ventura, California

Heading out on highway 101, stop by Ventura, California. This beachside community has an old-town vibe. The town is dog friendly with plenty of family-friendly things to do.

Time frame in Ventrua 1 hour.

Things to do! Create a Road Trip Treasure Hunt.

Discover the tile work at Ventura Harbor Village take a walk down main street or the pier.

Ventura has a main street, perfect for a morning discovery. You can check out the Historic City Hall and the Mission in under an hour. Or stroll the Ventura Pier, take a walk on the beach, or fly a kite. This is a farmland community, so stop at a few farmstands for fresh fruits and vegetables. The Ventura Beach RV Resort is just before the freeway on-ramp; this is a popular resting spot. Check it out. When leaving Ventura, take the first exit, Highway 1, for a drive down the old original road. You will Pass Emma Woods State Beach and beach homes. Stop for a walk on the beach before getting back on Highway 101. Dog Friendly!

Just outside Ventura-a few campgrounds to consider.

If you stay at Hobson Beach or Rincon Parkway, get up early to explore the tide pools.

The campgrounds are very popular so plan accordingly!

Emma Woods State Beach
90 Campsites
you must be self-contained!
No tents or car camping

Hobson Beach Park
31 Campsites 10 with Hook-ups
Camp Store Snack Bar
Flush Toilets-Showers

and the always popular Rincon Parkway Campground on Old Rincon Parkway; there are 127 campsites, no tents, and vault toilets are the only amenities.  

Check out the campers, trailers, and RVs, on the way out of Ventura. Old Rincon Parkway Campground showcases a spectacular line-up of RVs as you take the road back to Highway 101.

Carpinteria State Beach

Carpentria, California, is a quick off-highway discovery; check out the campground for layout and favorite spots if you plan on a camp visit. The campground has 216 campsites, hook-ups, a dump station, flush toilets, and showers. However, it can get crowded, so if you like a quiet campground, this is not it.

Camp Road Trip Note: Stop at Beach Liquor on Linden and 8th street for a great plate of Mexican food. They cook it fresh so take a walk down the main street while they prepare your order.

Estimate time in Carpentria 45 minutes to an hour  

Postcard from a Campground El Capitain

Highway 101 just past Santa Barbara take the El Capitain State Beach Road exit.

This is a favorite camp spot. The campground sits on the bluff. Drive through this campground to find your favorite sites. Park at the day-use $10.00, pack a picnic, and enjoy the ocean views. No dogs on the beach, but there are plenty of spaces to dine.

Estimate 1 hour exploring the campground with a picnic lunch.

Camping is an adventrue!

A Great Location El Capitan State Beach

Once you leave El Capitan, head over to Goleta, where you will find two beautiful beach campgrounds; you can see both from the highway. Refugio State Beach has 66 campsites, and Gaviota State Park down the road has 39 campsites; both have camp stores, flush toilets, and hot showers. On the beach campgrounds, so drive-through and mark your next camp spot in your Let’s Go Camping Guide.

Moving inland towards Pismo Beach, stop at the “Old West Cinnamon Rolls” for their famous cinnamon buns if you can get in.

Road Trip Must

Stop and walk at Margo Dodd Park, Pismo Beach Caliornia

This park is spectacular. The views are amazing, estimate 30 minutes to enjoy the majestic ocean and landscapes.

Next stop Madonna Inn; if this is on your bucket list, stop for a visit. Check out the Cave Man room if you can; you will never forget it.

Morro Bay, California

Take at least an hour to explore Morro Bay. This is your last major stop before Cambria where you can catch your time-frame before check-in. The Morro Bay State Park campground is worth the drive-though. Document your favorite sights in your Let’s Go Camping Guide. The estuary is across the street. From this location, you can go biking, fishing, play golf, hike, enjoy nature trails, visit tide pools and watch the birds fly by. The town of Morro Bay has excellent restaurants, a local fish shop for that first night meal, shops and galleries. Check out the shell shop in the center of town.

Cambria to Morro bay is perfect for day trips, Morro Bay has an awesome whale watching excursion almost every day of the week. Check it out.

Cayucos, California

Pet Friendly Beach-Catch Highway 1 at the end of Morro Bay and head on into Cayucos, California. Morro Strand State Beach is the perfect spot to run your pets if you stay in Morro Bay or Cambria. Get there early; very popular during the weekends.

Cayucos' main street is a cute collection of bars, coffee shops, and antiques. If you are looking for the past, the antique shopping is full of surprises.

Driftwood structures line the shoreline

Continue on to Cambria but stop first in Harmony California

Camp Notes: Take a walk down main street. Send postcards home with a memory from your road trip!

Cambria, California

Downtown Cambria is divided by east and west.

The drive into town showcases the creative side of life, with galleries, artisan shops, restaurants, and pottery.

No matter where you are staying Cambria is filled with hiking trails, bird life, galleries, and Hearst Castle.

Moonstone Beach has a great boardwalk to explore Cambria’s majestic natural environment. Take the hiking trails, scenic paths, enjoy the visual treasures, discover bird life, sea life, and nature. Cambria is more than a castle on the hill.

Get on the road and discovery new adventures.

Shop Cambria
Ephraim Pottery
Monarch Gallery
Riccardo Spazzamiglio Gallery
Rich Man Poor Man Antiques
Spellbound Gift Shop
Cambria Historical Society Building
Cambria Coffee Roasting Company
Bob and Jan’s Bottle Shop
JJ’s Pizza

Campground
Emma Woods State Beach
Hobson Beach Park
Ricon Parkway Campground
Refugio State Beach
Gaviota State Park
El Capitain State Beach
Carpenteria State Beach
Morro Bay State Beach
Hearst San Simeon State Park

Road Trip Finds
1 Piece of pottery from Ephraim
5 Hawaiian shirts
2 Amazing boxes from Monarch Gallery
1 Vintage miniature living room set
3 Jars of local jam
1 Thanks for picking up the newspaper bottle of local wine
1 Vintage trunk
1 Birthday gift
1 Renewed childhood memory

San Simeon State Park has no-drive-through policy, so you cannot check out the campsites. There are 202 Campsites. San Simon Creek has 134 Campsites. Both have flush toilets, showers and dump station. This is a very busy campground with Hearst Castle up the hill, so plan accordingly. Drive up the road for the Elephant Seal Rookery, get there early it can get crowded.
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Discover this amazing coastline with a road trip.

Los Angels to Cambria. Take 4.5 hours or go easy, make a few stops and enjoy the ride checking out the California landscape.

Get into the campground with the Let’s Go Camping Guide.