San Clemente State Beach
Public beach · San Clemente ·

San Clemente State Beach

Public beach · San Clemente ·

Beach, trails, camping, picnic areas, biking & hiking

San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null
San Clemente State Beach by null

Information

225 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente, CA 92672 Get directions

Information

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225 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente, CA 92672 Get directions

+1 949 492 3156
parks.ca.gov
@castateparks
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@CAStateParks

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Dec 9, 2025

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San Clemente State Beach offers a blend of dramatic coastal cliffs, rolling waves, and a laid-back surfing culture. Cited by Surfline and the San Clemente Times as a must-visit, this beach attracts surfers, campers, and families alike. Its historic pier and classic Spanish-style architecture set the scene for leisurely strolls, while the gentle surf and accessible campgrounds invite weekends spent by the water. The town’s independent shops and local eateries are just a short walk away, making it easy to extend your beach day into an authentic small-town adventure.

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Beaches Near Santa Ana: Authentic Local Escapes
San Clemente State Beach

Traci P.

Google
Beautiful & clean! We camped here for 4 days & 3 nights. The view is remarkable. There's is a path that takes you right down to the ocean. It is a VERY steep path! It was a little tricky getting down & especially so coming back up! The campsite is clean with a fire pit and covered picnic bench at each site. There are multiple bathrooms & pay to use showers that are well maintained on the grounds.

Brittany W.

Google
Pretty cool camp ground. With a short walk down to beach. Although the walk could be somewhat hard for some people, and definitely not wheelchair accessible due to the fact that it's a bit of a decline walking path down, which ends at the metrolink train track which you have to cross to get to the beach. But the camp ground has a spectacular view from the top of the walking path before the decline which is a huge open plato with picnic benches placed all around with trees for shade. Great fir large groups or for many small groups. The beach was clean and their were life guards on duty. But make sure to pay attention to the red flags when deciding on your spot because red flag means rocks which let me tell you, IT MEANS ROCKS! like big boulders that are only visible when waves revise bak for only a moment until another waves comes in and crashes over it. And beside them the waves crash right at shore creating a huge trench full of tons of rocks so your legs get beat up for sure. and you cannot swim where the flags are because it's very difficult to get pass the rocky trench since it's again wherr the waves crash. So from my experience it's not the best beach to go swimming at. But if your surfing or boogie boarding maybe it's more fit for that. Also I don't know how it was in other areas where there wasn't a red flag. I'm sure much better. I'd definitely return here again to find out!

Michael de L.

Google
One of the best camping site with full RV hookups and awesome view of the Pacific Ocean!!! Very dark evenings allowing for perfect view of all the constellations..on full moons, its so bright you don’t need a flash light to hike to the beach. Shore fishing is great as they have grunions runs, plenty of sandcrab bait, and super secluded beach. Wave are mesuim awesome for surfing and boogie boarding. Great plac to have family parties until 10pm.

Joe F.

Google
Great camping sites but bathrooms need more attention. Would be nice if they were cleaned at 6am instead of a later time. I went to use them in the morning and it was not cleaned from the day before.

Bryan S.

Google
Close to San Clemente Pier. The park was good with enough space between sites. It's a beach environment so it's not lush green grass. The beach itself is a 15-20 min walk down a fairly steep hill. There is a lot to do in San Clemente, including the pier, breweries, etc.

Don S.

Google
A pretty long walk down to the beach be prepared a wagon helps! There is campground for overnight stays. It costs to park but we'll worth it. Fairly clean, only a few rocks and very little seaweed. Overall great beach!

Robert P.

Google
Love this place, so close to home, but it feels like you're somewhere else. The beach is beautiful. The campgrounds are clean and well-maintained, including the restrooms and showers. You have plenty of room between yourself and your neighbors. We look forward to coming here each and every time. The rail trail is a beautiful and flat walk to the San Clemente pier and even further north if you like. I've been here six times and look forward to returning each and every time. So many great places to eat and visit nearby as well. *10/13/2024 update* Simply my favorite place to camp. They do an outstanding job keeping it clean and in good condition. The sunsets are not to be missed. My favorite trip is always my next one to San Clemente.

Joe N.

Google
Great camping location with tables,grill and fire pits!
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Randy S.

Yelp
Nice and quiet on the Thursday that we came on. A very clean beach compared to what I'm used to in OC and LA!
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Arden P.

Yelp
Stopped by this beach the other day, it's on the smaller side but nonetheless beautiful. The beach was clean and fairly populated, some rocky areas that hurt a tad bit when walked on with bare feet. It was a stunning summer day, the sun was shining and the water was lovely. Saw some pelicans, and a train passing by
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Angela N.

Yelp
Pretty views and wasn't crowded at all! There is a big parking lot next to the pier. You do have to pay for parking. I'm not sure if the rates vary by the day but we went on a Friday morning and paid around $5 for a few hours. There's a ton of things to do nearby. It's close to Avenida Del Mar which is where a majority of the shops and restaurants are. We were able to walk there from the pier in about 10 minutes.
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Zheila O.

Yelp
Right next the beach, quiet, clean, and fun for a couple on a romantic getaway, college kids having fun, or a family vacation.
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Arleen S.

Yelp
Recently came on a camping trip with my wife and family. I was able to book for a handicap spot because my nephew is disabled and is slowly losing the ability to walk and needs a wheelchair. This trip was meant for my nephew and his young cousins but my sister and parents also tagged along. We had about 8/9 people and three tents. We had one large tent that we got from Costco, a rooftop tent for my 4Runner, and a rooftop tent on my trailer. At first the camping spot looks small but upon arrival, it was pretty big and we were able to fit two cars and our small trailer there. The bathrooms were extremely close by and was easy for my nephew to be pushed there on his wheelchair. We stayed here for 2 days and checked out on a Friday. We had zero issues until checkout day when we woke up to a ton of ants crawling on our car/trailer and they were starting to crawl into our tents. Luckily we woke up on time and were able to clean up. It was annoying. The kids were able to play catch/baseball & other games in the grass area with no issues. The kids had a great time and we really enjoyed the campsite. My only complaint is that I saw online that you can rent a beach wheelchair for free and its meant to tread sand easily so I went to the check in booth on two separate occasions before my trip to make sure I had everything prepared. The first time I went, the employees indicated they never heard such a thing so I left and confirmed online that they do have the wheelchairs available at SCSB so I called the number provided and it was a phone tree that leads to a voicemail no matter what time of the day you call (absolutely messy). So then I called several other numbers and got the same response. The 2nd time I stopped at the visitor booth on a separate day and indicated what I saw on the website and asked about the wheelchair in which the gentleman told me he didn't know and did not want to provide me with incorrect information so he told me to contact the headquarters which was about a 5 min drive away, however, they were closed so I later called and was told to contact the booth at check in and they would communicate with the lifeguards who would later deliver the wheelchair. Upon check in, the employee shut it down immediately and told me they didn't offer that, at least in the past 3 years he has worked there. It was frustrating because there is obviously some kind of miscommunication. Luckily we didn't end up needing the wheelchair but I can only imagine the frustration a person who absolutely needs the wheelchair would feel. Especially because it's advertised on the reserve california website.
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Lynda E.

Yelp
Camped there this weekend and won't return. Coyotes are running all over the campground night and day. Not safe for pets. Also beware of the ants

Yorkie L.

Yelp
This review is for the campground. We camped there over Labor Day Weekend, in the RV only section. Pros: quiet at night, not like other campgrounds that are very noisy late at night. Pull through sites that are easy to level your rig. Some sites with privacy bushes between Spectacular views!! Con's: Our biggest was non working showers!! Out of the six in the only open bathroom/shower buildings only 2 worked. The ADA shower was broken and no sign on the door till we complained, and then nothing was done about the other showers, except a sign on the ADA shower that it was closed for repairs. It's is a good campground centrally located to several fun things to do, but with several issues. Unless maintenance problems are addressed, not sure if I ever want to go back.
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Mylene C.

Yelp
More chill than Laguna Beach, it is just so far to drive to. Parking meters did not work. The tides come up quick as the shoreline is narrow. Fun to watch the trains pass by. Overall nice beach
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Nancy S.

Yelp
Check in was smooth. $15 a night for parking. Get your date booked early. It's full and packed. Be cautious of fast drivers. No shade so bring your shade shelters. Lots of aunts and wildlife so pack your things in crates, totes or boxes. Throw trash away in dumpster every night or you will be picking it up off the floor when the critters tear into it. Dogs allowed at campsite but not on beach (I don't think. . . Check) bring bills if you want to shower, they require tokens. Nice fun getaway spot near the beach. They have camper parking and you can rent our little campers as well. Bring sunscreen and lots of water! Beware of bees. Bring your Benadryl.
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Rou M.

Yelp
We camped here at the beginning of April and it was a blast. Our campsite was right by the cliff so wet could hear the water all day and night. The camp ground is maintained well and there are bathrooms and wash stations in several locations. The train passes right under by it's pretty quiet and it didn't bother us at all. You have to take a pretty steep path to get down to the beach. There was a golf cart going around selling wood which was nice. They have some camp sites with larger capacity. Dogs are allowed on site just on leash. Lots of kids playing around on bikes and skateboards. We had a great time.

Kathy M.

Yelp
Lovely beach. Off season. Relaxing week with friends. Near restaurants, or eat in. Lovely sunsets.
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Rob M.

Yelp
Nice campground with level & very generous spaces. Each space has power, water and sewer as well as a picnic table and fire pit. Like most of the camping facilities, everything is a bit dated, but for the most part it is clean. We did encounter a "drifter" asking for food, but he took off quickly. There seems to be regular patrols through the park which is always welcome. You will NOT hear the waves from here unfortunately. You will hear the cars on 5, but it's not horrible. Great little gift shop and museum to visit. The day use area is right next to the CG. Good access to beach, but you'll need to hike down a steep path (paved) and cross the RR tracks. Very overpriced for what you get, but the location is good for exploring the area.
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Wesley W.

Yelp
This review is about the campground. We really enjoy this place as the facilities are in good shape and campsites well maintained. Showers are .50 cents for 2-3 minutes and you have to buy the tokens. Nice hike to get to the beach and great views of the ocean from the edge of the cliffs. The visitors center has a ton of gift items and taxidermy local wildlife. Lots of ground squirrels and rabbits and an occasional coyote. I didn't have issues with securing food i.e. racoons raiding. I liked that bathrooms were abundant and clean. Beach near the campground is a bit rocky. Overall, one of the better campsites on the coast.
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Janine C.

Yelp
Beautiful cliffs leading to the beach. Loved the historical Spanish bungalow visitors center. Perfect for running or walking on an improved fort path that goes all the way to the pier. The campground sits on cliffs above the beach. You will need a wagon to haul your stuff and kids down to the sand. The train runs through the park. Amazing views from the day use area. Charcoal barbecues are in the picnic area. Bring your own soap for the bathrooms. California residents can pick up the California Parks pass at their local library and park for free. A nice bonus with gas prices going up.
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Tameka L.

Yelp
I accidentally went to the state camp site. The nice park ranger said go back down the hill and make a left.He said the lot at the bottom is metered,but I could put my state parks pass in the window and it world be fine. The lot was medium filled ,but it was easy to find a spot. The walk over the railroad tracks and down to the beach was nice. I would classify this as a chill spot to visit. I would go back.
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Carrie A.

Yelp
This is my favorite state campground! We got Group Site 1 this time around and had 6 trailers varying in sizes of 18'-40'. 3 were 5th wheels, 1 RV, 2 pull trailers. It was a little windy 2 of the four days we were here but it wasn't unbearable. This site is right on the bluff. Being that we had the best site in the whole park we weren't gonna complain. Cons: SKUNKS! We seen them the first morning but didn't realize there were that many. One of our camp dogs got sprayed. So you can imagine that fiasco! Def recommend trying to get a spot here. You can book 6 months out but more often then not I just randomly check and always find days available.
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Frank P.

Yelp
This is a pretty cool State Beach. It's really hidden, and if you don't take Amtrak or Metrolink you wouldn't know it's there. The entrance is on a hill. You enter, and see a giant camp ground, and a parking area for day use. They have plenty of restrooms some with showers for the tent campers. I don't know what the fees are for parking since I have an annual pass. I saw a pre pay parking machine, and there's a booth as you drive in. I got there early and the gate was open for the campers. I'm used to Huntington where people line up an hour before opening. At the day parking lot there's a visitor center, and a restroom. There's also a ton of picnic tables. The trail to the beach is steep but manageable. At the bottom go through the tunnel to the beach. During peak season they have lifeguards. The tracks are right there so you can watch the trains all day. If you like to walk the pier is only a couple miles away.

Craig J.

Yelp
The Park Rangers are so helpful! Answered all my questions on purchasing a State Park Pass and handled the transaction. Looking forward to a year of California Beaches
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Christine A.

Yelp
Beautiful camping. I definitely recommend spots in the 80s and 90s. You're closer to the beach trail. It does get windy, so bring warm layers
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Elisa G.

Yelp
How can you go wrong here? It's a gorgeous beach where you can escape from it all. It was a sunny 63 degree day here today and it wasn't crowded at all! There are nice easy walkable trails and on the other side of the train tracks, you have an amazing beach and the beautiful Pacific Ocean..,WOWZA!!
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Tania T.

Yelp
We started at Calafia beach trailhead. It's the most south part of the trail and made our way to the pier. We went on Saturday evening, parking was $6/hour and there's a lot of space to park the car! Restrooms are available, um, don't expect much other than running water. There was no soap when I went, so make sure to bring wipes or hand sanitizer. We went with a regular stroller, and it was able to get us to the pier. The path is mostly wide and flat, however there are some areas where the path narrows and full of soft sands - so get ready to push through or have someone lift up the stroller a bit while you push. Right before you get to the pier, there are swing sets for baby and older kids. Love it! Overall it's a really beautiful place for a stroll or run - be careful of bikers!
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Sidney S.

Yelp
I surfed Dana Point, San Clemente, and of course Huntington Beach. Every morning, you could find me at the hot water pipe -- Dick Dale I don't surf, but I admire those who do. And I admire this beach. The restaurants are nothing great, the downtown is too far away, but the sunsets, pier and waves here make for pretty, pretty pictures. It's 4 miles from the parking lot to the other and back, so a nice work out too. They have a paved path or you can stay on the beach. The sand is usually hard too, so another way to stay or get in shape in lovely surroundings. Highly recommend especially if they move downtown within normal walking distance ;-) (That's a joke by the way)
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Rob Paradise ..

Yelp
In order to enter you must pay ($14) UNLESS you are riff raff walking in or on a bike. If that is the case NO ONE will monitor this group. It used to be a nice spot to park, view the ocean / use the bathrooms on a long drive. Now with these non paying admissions you get people spending hours next to the bathroom smoking, using the outlet inside the bathroom next to the Ocean view area. I am being nice in my descriptions - not a safe feeling if you have a family.
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Leanne D.

Yelp
Came here for the first time. Beautiful coast line with beautiful rock formations. We didn't walk down to the beach this time around but enjoyed the coastline views from up top. While there we saw a train go by and soaked it all in. Next time we will walk down to the actual beach.
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Kim H.

Yelp
My family loves coming here every summer to camp. We have been in all areas and really enjoy it! Recently it seems they could do better with keeping things in better repair - like the restroom, showers (which take tokens for hot water) and the token machines. All in all, we will continue the tradition. It's super relaxing and a beautiful walk down the bluff trail to the beach!
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Rebekah T.

Yelp
In an effort to see all of the beaches on the California Coast, my boyfriend brought me to San Clemente State Beach. We were taking a coastal drive up to visit his family and stopped off to check out the view. It was a beautiful beach, great to explore and take photos of the waves. I just love the warm sun, gentle breeze and great views. Fun stop to break up the drive and check out another beautiful beach.
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Shawna S.

Yelp
This is a great camp spot, right on the beach bluff. The little town is awesome with many great places to eat. The only draw back to this place is 1) ants and 2) coyotes. If you have a small dog, DO NOT let it out of your sight. If you walk with it early morning or evening/night, keep it right at your side. The coyotes run along side you in the bushes and can jump out and take your dog. While we were camping there, a woman's dog was bitten as she walked it, when a coyote tried to take it. She was able to fend it off. The park rangers tell people about the coyotes when they pull in, but don't give enough tips on how to keep your pet safe. And re: the ants... you can buy diatomaceous earth from the camp host to put around everything that touches the ground and leads up to your rig. It KIND OF helps. We did that and they still came in. :(( Would I come back? Yes, absolutely. But beware and be safe!

Hui C.

Yelp
One of the best campgrounds, state or private. Pull through sites, full hookups (E/W/S), clean restrooms, and super friendly and helpful rangers. There are also tent sites with better ocean views. There are two paths to the beach. The walk was a bit sloped, but it was not bad. We had no trouble carrying one tent, two very small foldable chairs, and some sand toys, but would not recommend to carry too many things. For people concerned with accessibility, we saw several parking lots and drop off locations around the same level of the beach towards to pier direction. Those will be better options. There is a restaurant and bar at the pier.
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Albert W.

Yelp
Among Doheny, San Onofre and San Clemente, this is the best beach for kids and family. San Onofre is for the surfing (geared to young adults, not recommended for families with kids who don't surf) and the camping spots are really small and there is no views. Doheny is the closest to San Clemente. I don't think you can go wrong with either. What I do like is that at San Clemente you are above the beach and that you walk down to the beach. Other tidbits, there are hot showers here which San Onofre doesn't have.
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Ashley M.

Yelp
Gorgeous beach and great place to hang around at! A lot of great places to eat near by too!
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Lynnann W.

Yelp
We camp a lot, usually primitive but spent Father's Day here with the grandkids. This campground really stood out for the layout of the campground, the easy access to the beach, the cleanliness of the showers/bathrooms, and the view! It is also very well managed, with rangers or hosts who routinely drove around to ensure no one needed anything and that quiet hours were observed. The tent sites can easily accommodate two 4-people tents, have covered picnic tables, and a fire pit. We will definitely be back to make more memories - Everyone left relaxed and happy!
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C P.

Yelp
Camped in rv site. Very clean campground. Friendly staff. Walking distance to beach. Great views. Cloudy day and warm beach. Definitely coming back.
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Alfredo H.

Yelp
Terrible super loud at night. They allow group camping and they played loud music and talk loudly for two nights in a row basically having a party until 3 am with no regard to any other campers Quiet time is supposedly 10 pm. No noise enforcement whatsoever.
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Kevin B.

Yelp
Nice gorgeous awesome beach on our SOuthern tip of Orange County California. Took my girl here yesterday now that we finally have some good hot sunshine in California. One of the best underrated beaches in Orange County. Real clean here at this beach. More locals kick it here and they got rid of alot of the homeless hanging out here. Beautiful restaurants and a more family vibe beach here. Awesome surfers and great life of the ocean community.
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Jodi H.

Yelp
First, the beach is not that assessable. If you are handicapped or have someone who isn't too steady on their feet. And if you are steady on your feet, this is one of the few beaches I've been to along the coast that there's no path for walking or running or biking. The sand is very porous which makes for a difficult place to ride a bike. There's no pathway like many of the beaches have. My sister, who is not ambulatory, likes to sit on a bench and look out over the water. This beach has none. I've stayed in San Diego numerous times and once I went to the beach here, I just wasn't impressed. The tram runs right by the beach so you have to climb over the tracks to find a small access to the water. So as a result we found ourselves driving down the road to find a better situation.

Brenda S.

Yelp
The place is beautiful, clean, and safe. NO quiet time, it is midnight, and there is very loud music. Campground does not reinforce rules. If you are looking to party, this is your place. If u are looking to relax, forget it! It's totally the opposite effect!. I won't be back.
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Bonnie S.

Yelp
The San Clemente State Beach is where I camped for the very first time. It was my "training " and where I learned to love to camp. For anyone new to camping, it can be a very scary thing. Luckily you are not far from any store if you are in need of anything. I do love that it is not a far walk from your camp site, and to the beach. The downside is there is a hill that leads down to the beach and it can be a little difficult walk back up. What I find s cool but somewhat annoying is the train tracks that you go under to go to the beach. Yes sometimes you hear a train passing and blowing its horn at night and early morning but I find it to be cool to watch them go by. Especially from above. I highly suggest to camp here for first time campers or even to just to spend the day at the beach.
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Grace S.

Yelp
Really nice spacious campgrounds. We were in campsite 83 which overlooked the ocean. There was a fence between the bluff edge and the ocean. It did get windy at times and sometimes the cars were loud. The train runs right along the edge of the beach but I did not find it disruptive. Each campsite came with a grill, fire pit, a picnic table, and a shaded wood structure. The firewood was $10 a bundle.
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Diane D.

Yelp
My go to beach in San Clemente. I purchase the annual parking pass. The parking is good, of course it gets packed during peak seasons and times, but the parking lot is huge. It's a great place to start a walk on the trail, it's an easy walk over the train tracks to the beach. There is a shower and bathrooms which are usually pretty clean. There is a snack shop that's open in the summer, I've never tried it.
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Jean L.

Yelp
I wasn't aware that San Clemente had a beach until this past weekend. South Orange County is different than other parts of OC or even LA! The area's very serene. There's a pier at the main part of the beach with couple of restaurants on the pier itself. The surrounding area included a couple of restaurants and boutique hotels. However, I didn't see too many stores for window shopping, buying trinkets, or killing time. The beach itself is very clean and not crowded (at least not for a cool weekend in January). Mostly locals were around walking their dogs or jogging. Amtrak runs through and I believe there's even a stop near it. Metered parking only and operating 7 days a week. Overall, this beach is good to hang out for an hour or two at most, but not a whole lot to see or do.
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Cristina G.

Yelp
It's so beautiful here. The sunset are gorgeous and sunrise are so peaceful. I strongly recommend camping here. Great weekend getaway.
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Elle N.

Yelp
San Clemente is the first place and time I ever pulled off the freeway in California to enjoy a beach in California (one that didn't involve a business trip - many years ago). It later became the first place I ever camped after my husband and I got an Airstream and I should quickly correct myself as, this is truly glamping and NOT camping! In California, hook-up spots require a 6 month in advance reservation and go on sale the 1st day of each month at 8am. It's not easy folks - you have to really know what you want and where you want it to get what you want! We didn't do bad on this first trip. We got a nice shaded pull-in spot with full hook-up, a picnic table and a tree. The spaces sit on a bluff above the ocean so you have to walk down a steep hill to get to the beach. Great for exercise and beach walking. You can watch Amtrak make it's way by daily and watch a beautiful sunset! How could you go wrong. On the downside and only reason for one less star: They have no store or shop on the premises and you don't have direct ocean views unless you are able to obtain one of a couple of limited spots!
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Azra A.

Yelp
What an amazing place. We were lucky enough to be invited by a friend (since you can never book a spot!). She had reserved Group Site #1 ($300/night) - we had 7 families: 15 adults and 17 kids! Such a perfect spot for a big group and affordable after you split up the cost per family. We only RV camp, so it was nice that on this site RVs are allowed. It was a big spot so everyone was able to pitch their tents and we could park the RV in the corner and not be intrusive. While there are no hookups, it was super nice to have a dump station onsite that doesn't cost anything. The walk to the beach was not too bad, steep but manageable (plus we packed light) and the beach was so fun. The view on the bluff overlooking the ocean was amazing, I'll definitely try to get that spot again. Oh, and there was an awesome tree on the site, perfect for climbing.
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Sharon N.

Yelp
The good, the bad and the ugly. The good. Several great sites on the bluff overlooking the ocean an easy access to hiking trails and the beach. Yes, quite a walk but it's not too steep and you are rewarded with a not so crowded sandy spot to recover. Friendly staff BUT....(more later.) The Bad. The campers here young and old revert to college drinking days immediately upon arrival. Quiet hour are between 10 and 8 but are enforced sporadically at best. Bring earplugs and hope their is enough staff working to patrol the grounds. The Ugly. Homeless people using the restrooms and showers. The restrooms and showers. Most spots are very close together. Come for a short stay, walk or bike to the pier. Enjoy the beach but don't count on a serene and peaceful experience.
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Jennifer E.

Yelp
One of our favorite beach spots to camp. The showers are hot and clean. The spots are a fairly good distance apart considering the space. Close enough to town, but not so close that you can hear traffic. There's a lot of skunks and we often see dogs get sprayed. The hike up and down to the beach is decent, so a wagon or child labor is helpful to get your junk down there.
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Carissa D.

Yelp
This is one of my more favorite beaches in Orange County. I love how there's adequate parking available (free after 6pm), and the beach is well maintained. I go here often to watch the sunset or to relax in the sand. The one thing that I will say is that when going here a few times during the summer, there were quite a bit of rocks that were being brought in by the waves. I went into the water during the summer and got a few scrapes from the rocks. Other than that, it is a very cleanly beach and has beautiful views.
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Melissa L.

Yelp
My family absolutely love this place. It's our first time camping here and the space is roomy. Check in was a breeze. Your reserve spot is pretty big. Big enough to fit at least 4 big tent. I couldn't believe the amount of space we had for ourselves. The spot had a table Bench with overhead shade, fire pit and 2 car parking. Which is perfect for 2 families trip. They have shower & bathroom available. Shower takes 1 coin (=$0.50) for 2 mins. Which is not bad. One thing my kids and I didn't like is there was bugs in the ceiling of each bathroom n shower room. The bug is harmless but makes showering uncomfortable especially for kids. But, we didn't have a bad experience, thank goodness. The best part... the beach . It's not too far walk depending on your site location. There's a trail to walk down to the beach. WOW!! The path is a bit scary walking down and up the path. I was out of breath walking back from the beach. It's nice to take pictures in between walking. But just got to be careful especially the kids. Other than all that, I really appreciate the park staff takes out the trash and keep the place clean. Also, they patrol around the site which gives you the comfort of... help is available if needed. We will definitely come back here.
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Henry U.

Yelp
I just got back from spending the weekend here camping. We booked site 157 which was right across from the restrooms and showers but the furthest from the beach. Bolling was pretty easy to do online. We had booked the space 3 days prior so I had no issues with the website. The rangers there were nice and pretty lenient. We didn't have anyone come up to us or say anything to us. Our group had booked a 2nd site away from us and they stayed at our site instead because we wanted to stay together and we had 4 tents at our site and we didn't hear anything about it. The max is supposed to be 3 vehicles 3 tents and 8 people. The restrooms were pretty clean. They get cleaned by the park every morning it looks like. The showers here are super hot. So hot that I couldn't even stand under it. Every site comes with a pit and bbq. You also get a gate code if you want to leave after hours. I'm not sure if it works or not or if you get locked in after hours because we didn't have to leave. We did leave to get more wood during open hours and the gas station was probably 1 min away. The beach is a good 8 min walk. The entrance is steep downhill so coming back is a little hike. The beach itself was nice. You do need to watch where you step though because of the black tar that can get stuck to your feet. It would suck if one of the kids got that on there feet. Overall we had a great time camping and some of the group it was there first time so San Clemente was a good beginner for them. Sidenote: the restroom has an outlet of you need to fill hot air mattress or something.
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Renee C.

Yelp
We are big campers but this was our first time camping at the beach. Here's a little info- showers take tokens and you get 2 tokens for $1. Each token is worth 2 minutes. Dogs are allowed at the campground but not on the beach (we took ours to the beach when it was almost sunset and it was fine). We were at site #42 and have a 23ft travel trailer and had plenty of room left. It was $65/night. There are horse pits onsite too. Dump station too. There aren't very many cons but here is what we found. Cons: 1. walk is a bit of a distance from the beach (have to walk through the campground and a small parking lot than down 1 of 2 steep hills) 2. Store is kinda far (there is no small store onsite) 3. Campsite personnel is kinda strict about the dogs being leashed 4. Lots of seaweed at this beach Pros: 1. pretty big spots. 2. Lots of privacy 3. Can pitch as many tents as will fit on your spot with your rv 4. All sites have a table and fire pit.