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San Onofre SB-San Mateo
Overview
San Onofre State Beach – San Mateo Campground offers a serene escape nestled in the rolling hills of San Clemente. Unlike the bustling, narrow beachside sites nearby, this campground provides a more spacious and tranquil atmosphere while remaining just a short trip from the Pacific. It serves as a vital natural link between the coastal bluffs and the inland wilderness, offering a true California state park experience for those seeking peace near the shore.
Location & Surroundings
Situated roughly a mile and a half inland from the shoreline, the park is surrounded by protected coastal sage scrub and vibrant natural landscapes. A dedicated 1.5-mile nature trail connects the campground directly to the world-famous Trestles Beach surf break. This location offers a unique blend of coastal canyon scenery and easy access to the scenic border between San Diego and Orange County.
Amenities & Park Features
The facility is thoughtfully designed for modern travelers, offering numerous sites with water and electric hookups for added convenience. Each individual campsite features a sturdy fire ring and a picnic table, perfect for evening gatherings under the stars. Visitors also benefit from hot indoor showers and well-maintained flush toilets, along with an easily accessible dump station located near the park’s main entrance for self-contained RVs.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Surfing is the primary draw here, as the trail to Trestles Beach leads to some of the most iconic waves on the West Coast. Beyond the water, guests can explore the Spanish-style architecture of downtown San Clemente or take a sunset stroll on the historic San Clemente Pier. The area is also rich with miles of rugged hiking and mountain biking trails that showcase the beautiful local flora and fauna.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is an ideal match for active surf enthusiasts who want proximity to legendary breaks without the constant noise of the Pacific Coast Highway. It also appeals to families and birdwatchers seeking a quiet, natural retreat that still offers the comfort of utility hookups. Because the sites are generous in size, it is a premier choice for RVers looking for a reliable, scenic base camp between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Jacqueline Reyes
A great camp ground. We are here during this time and it’s raining but we love it. The camp grounds is almost empty except for the few who are braving it through the atmospheric river 😆. The hike to the beach is amazing, about a good 4 miles round trip, great exercise for you and your dog, my husky loves it. Dogs not allowed but still worth the hike. Pretty huge camp ground with lots of sites. One of favorites to date. The drive to go into town is not long either, San Clemente is a cute little beach town.
Brian Andersen
All the Rangers are great! Camp hosts are out and about and very helpful. $10firewood bundles $10RV Dump fee Tokens available for operating showers, cash only
Katherine Abeyta (Kate)
Very pretty, but far from the beach, loud and uncontrollable kids running around and our camp area had ONE SINGLE shower because all the other ones were closed. This was majorly inconvenient as there are probably about 200 people within this area that have to share 1 shower.
Crysta Meador
The trees here get five stars but everything else was just okay so three stars overall. The sites are nice size and the trees on either side give the illusion of privacy from your camp neighbors. Unfortunately, noise here goes completely uncontrolled even though there are strict policies in the paperwork you are given about keeping noise contained to your own campsite regardless of the time of day. My husband and I booked a full RV site Thursday through Sunday. Thursday was lovely actually, not too many people and we were able to enjoy sitting outside peacefully. All that changed on Friday when the campground filled up. Tons of kids running around screaming (yes playing, but still screaming uncontrolled) into the later hours of the night. Camp hosts just kind of shrug and say hopefully they'll stop soon. The other issue is once you've walked around the campground or taking a bike ride around it, there's really not much else to do. The 1.5 mile trail to the beach is so steeply inclined at various points that it becomes a real hike on a hot day, there and back. We brought old school pedal bikes with us not knowing, no way you can make it without an e-bike. You definitely need an e-bike or a vehicle outside of your RV to get around and really do anything fun. For $70 a night, we did not feel we got our money's worth. We would have if we had been able to sit out at our campsite and enjoy a peaceful nature experience without all the noise, but that was not to be.
Jannine
The campsites themselves are clean, spacious, and there’s plenty of parking, which was great. However, the facilities were a big letdown—especially over Labor Day weekend when you'd expect everything to be fully operational. Out of several shower stalls, only one was working across all the loops, and more than half of the water stations were out of order. On a positive note, the one working shower had excellent water pressure. Just be aware that showers are token-operated (50 cents per token, good for 2 minutes), so come prepared.