camping in big sur

As mentioned, Andrew Molera. There is a dirt parking lot and its a solid 20 minute walk in. Very well worth it and you should be able to tell if there are waves from the road above. Plenty of good spots in Monterey especially in the winter. Moss Landing can be tricky for non-locals. I have heard many stories, seen some hassling but If you approach this spot correctly, it can be well worth it as well. You may not want to come back....

 

If there a larger long period W swell and have brought your step-up and big brass plums, go surf Willow Creek. Easy to check from the bridge and turnout above, but keep in mind you are checking it from hundreds of feet above the lineup - "Looks head high" can be 3xoverhead. Unfriendly locals and unfriendly giant bull seals are common. Also, the creek bed behind the break is a great place to send your girlfriend to go and find jade while you get shacked off your tit.

 

There is a campground a mile or so north, up the road, right across the street from sand dollar beach

And there is a road (willow creek road) that goes up the hill and has free dispersed sites all over.

check www.freecampsites.net for all your camping needs

 

Take the time to go see julia pfeiffer burns state park, take a pic of the waterfall with a nice camera and blow it up on a canvas on your wall. Everybody comments on that photo in my house... And show up at dawn, you can hop the fence and go down on the beach, just expect a big fine if you get caught!
Big Sur is amazing, you really can't go wrong there. If you've never been on the coastal highway, you'll cream in your jeans just looking out over the pacific. So gorgeous.
As far as surf, plenty of places to go, Monterey area has a lot of quiet lineups, everybody's golfing there. Def go up to Santa Cruz, you're close enough, just do it! And definitely molera too.

 

You know if you stay at Limekiln its not far to sand dollar beach. It maxis out at a couple feet over head but if its smaller it will be fun. SkegLegs is right its a good place to drop out of society for a few days. Morro Bay isn't to far south and there is some reefs just north of Cayucus that can get good if you can stomach the paddle out. If anything you'll be able to see CA in its true sense, before all the madness took over. Enjoy!

 

what kind of camping/hiking are you looking to do? car camping is rad, you can bring everything, backpacking is alot different.