San Clemente Beaches, Surfing And Campgrounds  
 
San Clemente Beaches, Surfing And Campgrounds

Surf Reports
Surfrider San Clemente's
daily surf report and beach weather - http://www.surfrider.org/surfreport/
Surfline - Trestles - http://www.surfline.com/surfline/livecams/getsurfmapsurfbreakreport.cfm?alias=trestlescam
Surfline - San Onofre - http://www.surfline.com/surfline/livecams/getsurfmapsurfbreakreport.cfm?alias=sanonofrecam

 

San Clemente City Beach
Downtown San Clemente at the Historic Fishing Pier
(949) 361-8264
Hours: 4 a.m. to midnight
Easy beach access, lots of nearby amenities and an adjacent Amtrak station. The extended hours cater to the avid pier-fishing crowd. Even the surf is moderately good with a nice sandy bottom. It's all very family- and kid-friendly (the ratio of youngsters to adults is about 75/25). Parking: $1/hour (pay and display box) in lot on bluff overlooking the pier, plus street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Facilities: Lifeguards, surfing, bus stop, food stands, picnic tables, rentals, showers, basketball courts, volleyball. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

San Clemente State Beach/Calafia State Beach
Avenida Calafia and Avenida Del Presidente
(949) 492-3156
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m
Just south of San Clemente City Beach is San Clemente State Beach, home of the surfing spot know as "Toads"-for "Take off and Die". If you're not surfing, you can still enjoy the overnight camping, cookout facilities here. There are 157 sites, 72 with RV hookups. Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m Parking: $3 all day; 200 day-use spaces and 149 campsites available.
Facilities: Lifeguards, surfing, bus stop, fire rings, picnic tables, showers. Dogs are allowed on hard trails but not on the beach.

San Clemente State Park
225 Ave. Califia (949) 492-3156
Located on the bluffs overlooking San Clemente State Beach. this is one of the most popular State Parks on the coast. Reservations are required and you better make them early!! Access via the I-5 Calafia off ramp.

San Clemente North Beach
Pacific Coast Highway and Avenida Pico
(949) 361-8264
Hours 6 a.m. to 10 p.m
If you want to take the train to the beach, this is the place, as an Amtrak/Metro link station is located nearby. The surf is moderate to good with a nice sandy bottom. The concession stand rents boogie boards and snorkeling gear. Parking: $1/hour (pay-and-display box) Facilities: Lifeguards, food stand, playground, rentals, showers, volleyball. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

San Mateo State Park is roughly one mile inland on Christanitos Road at the southern end of San Clemente. It is San Clemente’s newest park with biking and walking trails to the beach

San Onofre Beach and State Park
North San Diego County off of Interstate 5 at Basilone Road.
(949) 492-4872
Hours 6 a.m. to 10 p.m

As home to Old Man's and Trestles, two of the West Coast's most famous surfing spots, San Onofre is a boarder's paradise. It's also spartan and not easily accessible, which lends it a 1950s feel. A paucity of lifeguards and the long hike down a rugged hill make it less than ideal for small kids unless you are lucky enough to get a parking spot right next to the sand below the bluffs at Old Man's. A paved path up on the bluff allows biking and skating all the way to San Diego. Parking: $3 all day; 200 day-use spaces and 149 campsites available No concessions on site and the nearest food is seven miles away in San Clemente. Facilities: Lifeguards, surfing, fishing, fire rings, picnic tables, bike trails. Dogs: OK in parking lots and on hard trails, but not on sand.

Beyond San Clemente:

Capistrano Beach
Between Doheny State Beach (Dana Point) and San Clemente
(949) 661-7013
With basketball courts, a bike path, fire rings, volleyball nets and very alert lifeguards, this is quite a family-friendly beach. Rental bikes, surreys and boogie boards are available. The beach is separated from the highway by railroad tracks, which are fenced for safety. Bicycling, camping, surfing, fire rings, food stands, picnic tables, lifeguards, showers, rentals. Parking: $1/hour (pay-and-display box) in lot at Beach Road, or park along the highway. No dogs are allowed on the sand, but allowed in parking lots or grassy park areas.

Dana Point Beach and Harbor
Dana Point
The shopping area can be crowded with locals and tourists on weekends, but that doesn't stop the boating and water sport enthusiasts from flocking to the harbor. Baby Beach, a stretch of sand next to the west harbor basin, is protected from waves by the jetty, and appeals to young boogie boarders. Skating is restricted in some areas. There is everything from snack bars and sandwich shops to sit-down restaurants. Lifeguards, bus stop, bike path, basketball courts, boat launch, marina, food stands, picnic tables, pier, playground, fishing, showers, tide pools. Restrooms: They are spaced throughout the harbor, but some are as much as 1/4-mile apart. Dogs: Allowed in parking lots, leashed only.

Doheny State Beach
Del Opispo and PCH, Dana Point

(949) 496-6171
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (summer) and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (winter)
A great family beach — the visitor/interpretive center even boasts aquariums and an indoor tide pool. A large grassy area offers a picnic area under a grove of eucalyptus trees with grills, etc. Access the north beach from Del Obispo Street. The beach south of San Juan Creek is reached by parking on Pacific Coast Highway and crossing over the railroad tracks via a foot bridge. Parking: $3 all day in parking lot; 1,100 day-use spaces and 121 camp sites available. Parking on the highway is free. Facilities: Lifeguards, camping, fire rings, food stands, picnic tables, rentals, surfing, fishing, volleyball, showers, tide pools. Leashed dogs are allowed in all areas except on the beach itself.

Salt Creek Beach
Dana Point/Monarch Beach
(949) 661-7014
Hours: 6 a.m. to midnight year-round
Portions of the beach are restricted to swimming, surfing and skim boarding, as distinguished by mobile markers positioned as wave conditions dictate. Intermediate to advanced swimming and surfing ability is recommended. Boogie boards and other items can be rented at the concession stand. Parking: $1/hour (pay-and-display box) in large lot off of Ritz Carlton Drive. A free secondary lot is located one mile south off of Selva Road. Facilities: Lifeguards, surfing, bus stop, food stands, picnic tables, rentals, showers, basketball courts, volleyball. Dogs are allowed in parking lots and on pavement only; not allowed on the sand.

back to Attractions and Recreation

Our Sponsors

Save our Beaches & Waves

Find out how you can help!