RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

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RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

February 13, 2017, 10:31:12 am

I was watching some Youtube videos and stumbled upon a collection of various RVs camping on Pismo Beach, California. While we seen some massive gatherings and parties on Padre Island, Texas, we never seen anything like RV camping on this California beach. I watched a several of those videos and not once did I see a Lazy Daze. So it made we wonder if any of the LDO's have ever ventured onto Pismo Beach? If anyone has, all I can say is you're much braver than us.

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #1 – February 13, 2017, 11:16:11 am

Vehicular "sand play" (and getting stuck) has been going on at Pismo/Oceano beach for well over 100 years; this site offers some good information on this part of the local history:

Gerard's Personal History of Pismo Dunes

Many thousands of people in all kinds of vehicles, buggies, ATVs, motorhomes, trailers, 5th wheels, pickup campers, motorcycles, and pretty much anything else that has wheels, pack the beach and dunes in season, and the "season" is long; few down times for the many local tow truck operators and companies! One of our favorite entertainments when I was a kid was to go down to the beach and watch the weekenders from the Valley and SoCal being hauled out of the sand and, sometimes, the surf, because they hadn't looked at a tide table. In the days when one could still go clamming, my grandfather and I had to go far down past Oceano to avoid being run over.

Joan

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #2 – February 13, 2017, 12:22:37 pm

One or more streams empty into the ocean across the beach route you must traverse. These streambeds host salt water as the breakers come in and recede, and may be deeper than they first appear. Not only could you get stuck here if crossing slowly, but the underside will enjoy all the corrosive effects the Pacific can offer - that is, if you don't get stuck to the axles in soft sand first. Once we saw a semi tractor hopelessly stuck just yards from the beach access, all eight driven wheels churning away to no avail...

Steve

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #3 – February 13, 2017, 12:50:43 pm

Unless you have a 4X4 LD, it is best to stay off the beach.
If you have a 4X4 toad, it is an interesting place to visit, for a short period, to watch the show. It has been a crazy place ever since the sixties, when dune buggys became common.
Back then, we spent many 4th of Julys there, my dad digging clams and my brother and I out tearing up the dunes in our rail dune buggy. It was an all right place but I preferred the lower desert's dune's wide expanses.

Pismo Beach tow trucks make a good living pulling cars, truck and trailers out. The entrances and exits are churned up, deep sand. You can usually get down to the beach but getting back up the ramp can be very difficult or impossible.
It gets to be even more fun to watch when a big 4X4 pickup, pulling a huge toy box gets stuck. Bring the popcorn.

One last thing, it's the beach which means salt water, about the absolute worse thing you can expose your LD, or any other vehicle to.
About 45 years ago, I took my VW Baja Bug to Pismo and had a blast driving in and out of the waves.
This just about destroyed the Bug's electrical system and was never the same, even after a lot work.
It was a great learning experience I'm not planning on repeating.

Larry

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #4 – February 13, 2017, 01:08:55 pm

Apparently taking a rental RV to Oceano is high on the "bucket list" for your hard partying 'bro' types. There are plenty of pics on Facebook of those poor Cruise America things being dragged out of hip deep surf or stuck in the dunes.

Could be worse though -- I hear the rental companies no longer allow you to take them to Burning Man.

fu

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #5 – February 13, 2017, 06:14:18 pm

I have nothing but good memories camping at pismo when I was younger. Clam digging and fishing with my dad and yes watching people get stuck. on a trip last year we shipped our bikes from Ohio to northern California and took two weeks to ride down the coast heading south camping along the way. We didn't camp there but couldn't pass up the chance of riding our hard tailed metal flaked choppers on the beach for 5 bucks. only in america. People looked at us like we were crazy. Taking a MH on the sand is Totally crazy. Our last rig was ruined by two consecutive years on the salt flats in Utah as a chase vehicle. like larry said expensive lesson and Never again.
Salt is a nasty monster!

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #6 – February 13, 2017, 06:58:56 pm

I did last year. Needed a little spotting help and a shovel to get around some of the stuck trailers and trucks at the entrance. This April for the kite board expo we will most likely stay at the campground and not on the beach.

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #7 – February 15, 2017, 09:05:31 am

Pismo Beach has a state park in Pismo, not the dunes. Not sandy and pretty nice. You can walk right into town. I would not camp on beach at Grover Beach/ Oceano dunes.

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #8 – February 15, 2017, 09:06:14 am

Pismo Beach has a state park in Pismo, not the dunes. Not sandy and pretty nice. You can walk right into town. I would not camp on beach at Grover Beach/ Oceano dunes.

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #9 – February 15, 2017, 09:53:03 am

There are two campgrounds in Pismo State Beach, Oceano and North Beach. Oceano is RVs only and the sites are very close together. North Beach is a much more pleasant choice, but according to the CA state parks site, it's currently closed due to flooding. If one is interested in camping soon at North Beach, it might be a good idea to call the kiosk to get updated information; sometimes the parks' website is a bit slow on the draw.

The blog "Wheeling It" posted a good video and write up on North Beach last year.

SP Campground Review – North Beach Campground, Pismo Beach, CA – Wheeling It

Joan

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #10 – February 15, 2017, 10:23:59 am

Quote from: JCT - February 15, 2017, 09:53:03 am

There are two campgrounds in Pismo State Beach, Oceano and North Beach. Oceano is RVs only and the sites are very close together. North Beach is a much more pleasant choice, but according to the CA state parks site, it's currently closed due to flooding. If one is interested in camping soon at North Beach, it might be a good idea to call the kiosk to get updated information; sometimes the parks' website is a bit slow on the draw.

The blog "Wheeling It" posted a good video and write up on North Beach last year.

SP Campground Review – North Beach Campground, Pismo Beach, CA – Wheeling It

Joan

Oceano is a SLO County Park. As Joan mentioned, sites are close together but it's a pretty good location. Stayed there many years back when I had my '85.

Oceano | SLO County Parks

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #11 – February 15, 2017, 11:21:29 am

Joan

In that Wheeling It review I did not see any mention of McClintoks (Sp?) Restaurant. A stay at Pismo would not be complete without at least one meal there.

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #12 – February 15, 2017, 12:03:28 pm

Steve, the original McClintock's is in Shell Beach, just north of Pismo; they have three other locations. The main restaurant is on Mattie Rd. (just off the freeway), named for Mattie Mattock, the owner of Mattie's; this was the restaurant that occupied the present McClintock's for many years.

F.McLintocks

Other steakhouses in the general area are Jocko's in Nipomo, The Hitching Post (the original is out in Casmalia), and The Far Western, formerly in Guadalupe, but now in Orcutt.

Joan

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #13 – February 15, 2017, 12:46:02 pm

Quote from: Lazy Bones - February 15, 2017, 11:21:29 am

Joan

In that Wheeling It review, I did not see any mention of McClintock's Restaurant.
A stay at Pismo would not be complete without at least one meal there.

One meal there is enough food for a long weekend. Just getting through the appetizers fills me up.
If that isn't enough food for you, Joan's suggestions of Jocko's, in Nipomo, and The Hitching Post(s) are also good choices for protein overload.
Vegetarians and Vegans need not apply.

Rib-eye fanatic
Larry

Re: RV Purgatory -- Pismo Beach Ca.

Reply #14 – February 16, 2017, 12:05:12 am

For a good steak, you might also want to try AJ Spurs. Three locations, south to north: Buellton, Grover Beach, and Templeton.

Oh, and don't forget the Thursday night Farmers Market in downtown San Luis Obispo, 6 - 9 pm. Fresh produce, music, and lots of great Santa Maria style BBQ! McClintock's usually has a booth. Just watch out for the drunk Cal Poly students!

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