San Onofre State Beach has two campgrounds - San Onofre Bluffs Campground and San Onofre - San Mateo Campground. San Onofre also has a campground that is only available to military personnel and their guests - San Onofre Recreational Beach Camp Pendleton.
San Onofre State Beach Campgrounds:
San Onofre Bluffs is located at 5200 S. Pacific Coast Hwy, San Clemente, CA, 92672 and offers camping and day-use parking along Old Highway 101 adjacent to the beautiful sandstone bluffs. This beach below is popular with swimmers and surfers with six rugged dirt access trails cut into the bluff above. All campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. The campground offers cold outdoor showers and chemical toilets. No RV hookups are available, however, there is a RV dump-station.
Many sites in this campground have beautiful ocean views. Unfortunately, the 5 freeway and train tracks are very close to most of the campsites so the road and train noise can be very loud here.
When camping is available, the entrance to San Onofre Bluffs Campground will be locked & closed daily from 10pm until 6am.
San Onofre - San Mateo Campground is at 830 Cristianitos, San Clemente, CA, 92672 a short distance inland from the 3.5-miles of sandy beaches within San Onofre State Beach. A 1.5-mile Nature Trail connects the campground to “Trestles Beach,” the world class surfing site. Surfers using redwood boards have visited San Onofre since at least the 1940s; San Mateo Creek flows just east of the campground outward towards the ocean creating key riparian and wetland habitats which host some rare and even endangered species. All campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. RV Hookup sites are available with electricity and water. Other amenities includes a dump-station, hot indoor showers, and flush toilets. Camping is available year-round.
San Onofre Recreational Beach Camp Pendleton:
San Onofre Recreational Beach is located on federal property in Camp Pendleton. It is only for military personnel and their guests. This beach has an extensive campground, cottages for rent, day-use parking, picnic areas, and other facilities. They have surfboards, SUPs, and bodyboards for rent at their beach club. The well-known “Churches” surf spot is at the north end of the beach. Trestles Beach is at San Mateo Point just a bit farther north.
Video of camping and other activities in San Onofre: