Facilities

Club House

Laundry Room

Swimming Pool

Hot Tub

Fitness Center

Game Room

Rec Hall

Pavilion

Exercise Room

Restroom/Shower

Restroom Only

Shower Only

Restaurant

Groceries

RV Supplies

ATM Machine

WiFi

Dog Park

Cocktail Lounge

Dog Washing Station

Pit Toilet

Snack Bar

Play Ground

Sites

Water

20 Amp

30 Amp

50 Amp

Sewer

Cable TV

Services

Escort to Site

Self-Service RV Wash

Metered LP Gas

Firewood

Fishing Supplies

Pet Supplies

Onsite Rentals

Worship Services

Golf Carts

Fishing Guides

Onsite RV Service

Staffed RV Wash

Fishing Licenses

Complimentary Breakfast

Recreational activities in or near the park

Recreational Activities

Archery Range

ATV Riding

Biking

Boating

Body Of Water

Casino

Climbing

Dock

Driving Range

Fishing

Golf

Heated Pool

Hiking

Horseback Riding

Horseshoes

Kayaking

Lawn Bowling

Mini Golf

Paddle Boats

Pickle Ball

Putting Green

Ramp

Sauna

Shuffleboard

Snow Sports

Splash Pad

Swimming

Tennis

Wading Pool

Water Slide

Water Sports

Water Umbrella

Whitewater Rafting

Policies

RV Age Restrictions

Pets Welcome

Pet Restrictions

Pet Restriction on Quantity

Pet Restriction on Breed

Pet Restriction on Size

No Pets

Tent Camping Allowed

Folding Tent Campers Allowed

No Tents

No Overnight Guests

<h2>Overview</h2><p>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 <strong>spacious and tranquil atmosphere</strong> 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 <strong>true California state park</strong> experience for those seeking peace near the shore.</p><h2>Location & Surroundings</h2><p>Situated roughly a mile and a half inland from the shoreline, the park is surrounded by protected <strong>coastal sage scrub</strong> 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 <strong>coastal canyon scenery</strong> and easy access to the scenic border between San Diego and Orange County.</p><h2>Amenities & Park Features</h2><p>The facility is thoughtfully designed for modern travelers, offering numerous sites with <strong>water and electric hookups</strong> 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 <strong>hot indoor showers</strong> and well-maintained flush toilets, along with an easily accessible dump station located near the park’s main entrance for self-contained RVs.</p><h2>Nearby Attractions & Things to Do</h2><p>Surfing is the primary draw here, as the trail to <strong>Trestles Beach</strong> 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 <strong>San Clemente Pier</strong>. The area is also rich with miles of rugged hiking and mountain biking trails that showcase the beautiful local flora and fauna.</p><h2>Who This Park Is Best For</h2><p>This park is an ideal match for <strong>active surf enthusiasts</strong> who want proximity to legendary breaks without the constant noise of the Pacific Coast Highway. It also appeals to families and birdwatchers seeking a <strong>quiet, natural retreat</strong> 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.</p>



San Onofre State Beach is a 3.5-mile stretch of beach located in San Clemente, California. It is located south of San Clemente and north of San Mateo Point. The beach is known for its surfing, swimming, and camping opportunities. It is also home to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which is located just off the coast. The beach is part of the California State Park system and is open to the public year-round.

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San Onofre SB-San Mateo

Experience San Onofre SB San Mateo in San Clemente, CA. Enjoy spacious RV sites with hookups and a nature trail to the world-famous Trestles Beach.

San Onofre SB San Mateo, San Clemente, CA

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

We have been camping for years so there are things that are essential to us when we search for campgrounds and this campground didn't meet them after we arrived. 1- soap in the restrooms.  There was none. 2- cleanliness. The restroom/showers seem like they are pressured wash each morning however they don't smell or seem like any soap is used to disinfect.  3- Site cleanliness.  Our site was infested with rats. There were 2 rat nests in the high bushes. According to the host this is known and nothing is done. We found out our last night there. 4- noise. it was louder that we expected. Overall not a place we will be returning nor recommending.

With Only one coin operated shower working with water that was so uncomfortably 🔥 hot  that skin felt so dry after. That was not enjoyable. No onsite dump station either. The plus is Campsites are spacious and private.

They sell wood there but no fire starter. Restroom is very clean as well as the shower room. Many kids play balls and ride bikes in the campground.

I live in Downtown San Diego and this hidden gem is a great place for R&R close by.
This particular trip I'm enjoying a week of rest and recovery with me and my pup in the RV after she got spayed on Monday (easiest way to keep pets separated during recovery).
On Tuesday, I accidentally locked us out of the RV at 6:30am and of course my phone, jacket, keys are all inside.
Campground hosts Victor and Martha totally rescued me, letting me borrow their phone and a jacket until I could get my spare brought to me. They gave us good company and treats until my husband arrived.
The location is amazing, clean, quiet, and it's beautiful out here but I really just wanted to share a review because the hosts are incredible.
I know hosts rotate but I'm glad they'll be here the next few months.

We love this campground for it's close proximity to surfing at San Onofre Beach. The campsites are spacious with enough space in between and small trees & brush for privacy. Ground is flat for tents & yoga mats, however, pounding stakes into the ground doesn't work due to very hard ground. Each site has paved parking, a fire pit, a picnic table, and trees we were able to use with a clothesline to dry our wetsuits overnight. Garbages are convenient and easy to access. Also the showers have wonderful hot water & great water pressure. The park Rangers spray out all the bathrooms & showers each morning for sanitization. We will definitely be back for our next San Onofre surf trip!

It was pleasant and secure. The amenities  were adequate and working. I would camp there again.

It's a parking lot. Sadly, couldn't really go out in the water unless it was super low tide and I'm definitely not that great of a Surfer to maneuver around all those rocks! It's a small little Campground but it was quaint and I would go back again, but definitely know you are on top of your neighbor!

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San Onofre SB-San Mateo

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