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FolsomBrad
Has anyone stayed in San Francisco? I'm going to a concert at the Filmore and was wondering if anyone had any experience with just parking somewhere and sleeping in the camper. I was thinking of parking in a pay lot that allows 24 hour parking and them just quietly getting in the camper to sleep fairly late at night.
FolsomBrad
Since I didn't get any replies I take it that nobody is well-versed in "urban Camping." So I thought I'd fill you all in how our attempt at "urban camping" in our truck camper in San Francisco went.

We couldn't have been more pleased with how it worked out. Rolled-into the city at about 5:30, had a couple beers in the camper, went and had a great dinner, and then went to the concert. Parked only a few blocks from where the concert was.

We found a place on a side street that intersected Geary to park -- Geary is a main busy street. Our campsite, I mean parking place,was in between medical offices and a park. Had no hassles at all sleeping in the camper. We slept in and had a leisurely breakfast in the morning. I'm sure glad we didn't waste money on the RV park -- it would have been $70 plus two taxi rides.

Here's a picture of our "campsite" below. We have the Lance truck camper...notice our neighbor across the street in the bigger RV...from the looks of it my guess is that he may be camping long-term.

user posted image
1888
Excellent job

I am fulltime boondocking it.

had a short trailer at first and got to many looks

bought a van next, but it was a passenger van with way to many windows. I couldnt beat the $300 price for this van. Been through a few different window black out schemes. Black paper looks good, but rain and moisture aint good. Went to a dark blanket hanging off trim. Then went same blanket stuck into window, looks better. Will go with a black thin sheet next with the cardboard backing to black out light.
ColinP
That's pretty cool!!
Freedom1st
QUOTE(FolsomBrad @ May 10 2010, 08:45 PM)
Since I didn't get any replies I take it that nobody is well-versed in "urban Camping."  So I thought I'd fill you all in how our attempt at "urban camping" in our truck camper in San Francisco went.

We couldn't have been more pleased with how it worked out. Rolled-into the city at about 5:30, had a couple beers in the camper, went and had a great dinner, and then went to the concert. Parked only a few blocks from where the concert was.

We found a place on a side street that intersected Geary to park -- Geary is a main busy street. Our campsite, I mean parking place,was in between medical offices and a park. Had no hassles at all sleeping in the camper. We slept in and had a leisurely breakfast in the morning. I'm sure glad we didn't waste money on the RV park -- it would have been $70 plus two taxi rides.

Here's a picture of our "campsite" below. We have the Lance truck camper...notice our neighbor across the street in the bigger RV...from the looks of it my guess is that he may be camping long-term.

user posted image
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I just saw your post, we stayed just north of SF in Dec, in a Motel Parking lot. How did you decide on your location, did it seem safe? I heard that in Ca in some city's it's common to see RV's parked on the street urban camping. We are planning another trip out west and where thinking about the area south of SF on PCH. It seems most of the RV parks are unreasonable in there pricing.
fivealive
QUOTE(Freedom1st @ Mar 14 2013, 11:58 AM)
I just saw your post, we stayed just north of SF in Dec, in a Motel Parking lot. How did you decide on your location, did it seem safe? I heard that in Ca in some city's it's common to see RV's parked on the street urban camping. We are planning another trip out west and where thinking about the area south of SF on PCH. It seems most of the RV parks are unreasonable in there pricing.
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Don't waste your money on an RV park. The stretch of PCH south of SF is amazing and best experienced when camped right on the coast. It is legal camping at any un-marked turn-out up until the city of Santa Cruz. If you keep going south there are a ton of great turn outs south of Carmal as well.

The turnouts look like this:

user posted image

Some of the turn-outs even have trail heads going to gorgeous seldom used beaches. I found a huge sea cave in a beach in that area while camping in the turn-out above it.
fivealive
Also I can also add that I have successfully camped in San Francisco and other bay city's many times with no issues. Stay clear of Marin County, Sonoma County, and the city of Santa Cruz. San Jose, Oakland, and San Fran are all good for up to 72 hours in any legal parking spot not otherwise posted. Not sure on any of the other surrounding city's.

If your on vacation though I wouldn't bother sleeping in the city. Go down Hwy 1 and the good camping turn-outs start appearing just south of Half Moon Bay. There are a lot of good ones going all the way down to Santa Cruz.
AraWithSpirit
QUOTE(fivealive @ Aug 23 2014, 11:26 PM)
Also I can also add that I have successfully camped in San Francisco and other bay city's many times with no issues.  Stay clear of Marin County, Sonoma County, and the city of Santa Cruz.  San Jose, Oakland, and San Fran are all good for up to 72 hours in any legal parking spot not otherwise posted.  Not sure on any of the other surrounding city's.

If your on vacation though I wouldn't bother sleeping in the city.  Go down Hwy 1 and the good camping turn-outs start appearing just south of Half Moon Bay.  There are a lot of good ones going all the way down to Santa Cruz.
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Might be doing that coast this coming spring. So it is OK to spend the night at pull outs on Highway #1? We generally stay away from CA because of the cost being so high on everything.

BTW, as far as urban camping, hospital parking lots are great [they also always have an open cafeteria!], welcome center after their closing time which is generally 5pm [they always leave their WiFi on], garage parking lots as long as you are out of there early before they open. In little town in their park parking lots. It will generally say "no overnight parking" and I then go to the police staion, show them my credentials and ask them politely [while incredibly tired!] if I could just sleep there until morning. Has never been a problem and actually they will notify the night shift which will pass by/patrol and make sure you are alright. Of course 99.99% of the time we are on BLM or National Forest lands but we do have to go food shopping at times!
Hope this help.
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