Early Birds : Holiday: Most local campsites filled up even before Labor Day weekend started. Good weather is expected to bring large crowds.

The train whistled past Mike and Jill Lopez’s campsite, booming over the tracks. Traffic on the nearby Ventura Freeway whipped down the road. The couple’s RV was wedged nice and tight into a trail formed by 126 other vehicles.

Yet, Mike Lopez had already tuned out commotion in favor of pounding surf.

“You can just listen to the waves,” Lopez said, gazing at the blue curves of the Pacific Ocean a few steps away. “It’s relaxing right here.”

As the long Labor Day weekend got started Thursday afternoon, nearly all of Ventura County’s campsites were already filled, state park officials said. A long line of RVs wound down the stretch of beachfront at Ventura’s Rincon Highway where the Lopezes were parked Thursday, filling up all 127 camping spots for the weekend by midafternoon.

The sunny, bright weather had a hand in the high spirits. The National Weather Service is expecting warm, sunny skies after morning cloudiness through the weekend. Highs should reach the 70s on the coast, and the 80s and 90s inland. The Lopezes of Ventura had to leave their son, Robbie, behind for the day because his classes at Ventura High School started this week. Instead of commuting to school from the beach, he will commute from home.

“It was kind of a surprise to us that school started so early,” Jill Lopez said. “I guess they missed out on some days last year.”

Colton Burke, 8, of Los Angeles wasn’t thinking about grammar and mathematics. His elementary school doesn’t start its fall session until Tuesday, and he was enjoying the last moments of vacation.

“I caught five fish,” Colton boasted, among them a stingray and a tiger shark he released.

His grandmother Marion Burke and mother, Dawn Humphrey Burke, drove from Los Angeles on Tuesday for sun, sand and plenty of time to relax. They beat the traffic here, and even if it’s backed up on their way home Sunday, the break will have been worth the aggravation.

“It really doesn’t matter how traffic is,” said Marion Burke, who lounged on the sand and expected to stay in a similar relaxed position the rest of the weekend. “It’s worth it.”

Gary and Diane Kallusky of Oak Park usually shun the beach during busy days. But with family visiting from Oregon, they couldn’t miss the chance for some Southern California sun.

“Normally, we don’t want to go anywhere on Labor Day,” Gary Kallusky said. “When you’re retired, you go when nobody else does.” Their daughter Kim Ravera and her family were hoping to beat the Labor Day traffic by leaving Saturday, enough time to make it back to Oregon for school. “We’re always worried about traffic,” said her husband, Joe. “But, we’re hoping people will be coming as we’re going.”

Expecting a heavy flow of cars through the weekend, the California Highway Patrol promised “maximum enforcement,” with 75% of its officers on duty through Monday. There will be no sobriety checkpoints in Ventura County, but officers will be on the lookout for speeders, tailgaters and drunk drivers, Officer Dave Cockrill said.

And though there was some debate about the cost of the $16 beach-side spots along the highway, most agreed the money was worth it to catch a view for which homeowners pay millions.

“It sure beats a hotel room,” said Jill Lopez, as she took a look at the stretching, blue vista along the Ventura coast.