Originally Posted by stevepusser

$25 for a state park tent site would be a bargain here in California, especially for a coastal park. What about a California hike and bike site? Well, they are often less desirable than a standard tent site, being next to the RV sewage dump or something, and the So Cal beach parks charge $10 a head, making a family of four pay $40 for a substandard site they will still have to maybe share with other people--possibly transients.

Are there any fairgrounds along the route? They often allow tent camping; such as the grounds in Quincy, CA along the Sierra Cascade route that have hot showers and tent sites @ $10. College dorms may also offer rooms during the summer: Cheap Summer Lodging at Universities | Frugal Travel Guy