Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next San Onofre State Beach adventure.
Perfect your surfing skills or check out sea life at this popular SoCal beach.
San Onofre State Beach is among the most popular beaches in California, attracting surfers, swimmers, and campers, particularly in the summer months. This state park is spread out over three main areas: the sandstone San Onofre Bluffs, which offer campsites looking out over a swim beach; the San Onofre Surf Beach, which has breaks for surfers of all levels; and the inland San Mateo Campground, which is linked to Surf Beach via a nature trail. San Onofre is also an excellent spot for birdwatching, and it’s not uncommon to spot whales, sea lions, and dolphins swimming just offshore.
San Onofre State Beach is popular throughout the year, though summer is by far the busiest time, when campgrounds fill quickly. While June can be overcast, the weather is still generally pleasant, and July through September is hot and dry. Winters are too cold to swim, but if you come between December and April, you may get the chance to spot migrating gray whales just off the coast.
There are plenty of spots to pick up groceries and other supplies within a 10-minute drive of the park in San Clemente.