Getting Through Los Angeles
 

Pretty new to bike touring. Living in San Diego, I took a run down the coast from Ventura to downtown San Diego, about 200 miles. Malibu Creek campground lists "Hike and Bike" sites on their site, but the ranger never heard of that, and it would have been $45. I opted for a motel in Calabasas for $60. Second night, the mileage did not work out so I went for motel again in Costa Mesa. This was pretty frustrating.

Questions are:
What route have others taken through LA?
What success have you had with "Hike and Bike" sites? What if the site is taken/full? That would mean $100+ motel (or stealth I suppose).
Do you just go by the city and avoid this part of the coast? I wanted to ride through Malibu, the Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach (which was very nice).

Now that I have done it, when I take my tour from Seattle to SD if I can't find a decent route through LA I might just skip it and take the train from Ventura to Dana Point.

MY Last time Was 87, I Stuck to the Coast.. lower cost lodging? there are Hostels , San Pedro has one .. Montara Is another

in GGNRA just north of the Bridge there is another . you buy an IYHA membership card at your First stop.

https://www.hihostels.com/

The route I've taken through LA is the beach bike path: South Bay Bicycle Trail

As for places to stay, I grew up in LA, so I use family homes. But, there has to be hundreds of available hosts through warmshowers.org or couchsurfing.org .

There is a hiker bike site at Sycamore Canyon about 10 miles up from Malibu: Point Mugu SP

There is an easy route right along the coast from Venice to Redondo Beach going west of the airport, and then back on Highway 1. When we rode through there we hit some construction and had to veer into the city a little, but not a big deal.

You might want to invest in the book: Bicycling the Pacific Coast by Kirkendell. While a little dated, it is a good reference, and helpful getting through the larger cities on the south coast.

P.S. Raybo, I was composing when you posted. We are probably talking about the same route. Really fast and pretty interesting from a people watching perspective.