Originally Posted by
skidder
I'm not aware that any state/federal campgrounds in So California that have hiker/biker sites (and their discounted rates). You'll either have to pay the full 'car camper' fee or stealth camp. Another option I've used to keep costs down is hostels; a lot of them are on Booking.com. Check with each one as they provide different services - some require you bring sleeping linens (or a sleeping bag) and/or a towel, etc.
FWIW: These day I'm a 'whimp' - I like doing credit card touring and staying at hostel or hotel at night.
There are many hiker-biker sites inland from the coast in Southern CA; it's just the beach HB sites that turned into de facto homeless camps with the attendant problems that led to the closures of most of them. Since the inland ones are away from urban areas, they don't have that problem and remain open.