San Clemente State Beach Campground

Be mindful of their shower token system. Otherwise, a nice spot. Not too close to the highway. We saw a coyote, so watch your dogs.

It was overall a nice campsite. Our site seemed to be pretty large it came with a picnic table & fire pit. The walk to the beach was close seemed maybe about 10 minute till we reached the beach from our site. It is on a hill you need to walk down & back up. The only down side was the bathrooms on the same road as our site were pretty dirty did not seem to have any maintenance during our stay.

Believe it or not, this was the first camp spot we stayed at with my family and it was my wife's first time ever camping since! We stayed in the premium tent campsites on the bluff that overlooked the beach. These are the best sites hands down in the whole campground. We camped here no problem in our sprinter van.

There are bathrooms and showers are good and nice hot water. There is a coin dispenser there.

The downer is that I thought our camp spot would be closer to the overlook, but it's actually just a parking spot with a grass spot and then walk over to an overlook. We only stayed one night as we were passing through, but would stay here again if we were in the area.

Also, we got there relatively late so the office was closed, got a ticket in the morning and had to walk all the way to the office to get us checked in properly. These premium sites are furthest away from the office just FYI.

This is a big lawn atop the bluffs where campsites are set up next to each other with no separation. It's like camping in your neighbors lawn...the neighbor with the most kids and probably a few dogs that are off-leash.

BUT...the views from the bluff are beautiful. The beach is perfect, and even the visitor center has a cute little museum display.

BUT...it isn't really camping. It is loud, even if it isn't because your neighbors are on top of you, and it is right off the highway. This is not the place to go to "get away."

Sites mostly have nice little pergolas/shades over a picnic table and fire pit. If you are looking to hang at the beach and not drive home, this is the campground for you. The campground is huge and there aren't many staffers to maintain it. Our site had grass/clover/weeds that was pretty thick, and the ground pretty lumpy, making it difficult to find a spot for the tent. Recommend a car camp situation or rv.

Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

Music way to loud..camp host ehh.im.just not going there.

Nice place close to many convenient places ie grocery liquor bix box sporting goods bars restaurants etc nice little spot surrounded by city so kinda like camping but not lol

Campground is separated by large parking spots (class A/C or travel trailers) and the other is geared towards smaller setups (smaller trailers and tents). Some spots have great shade over the picnic table (we hung our hammock on ours), and all of the tent sites have fire pits. Some units are on a slope so keep an eye out for that if you are tent camping. Bathrooms were clean and showers have token dispensers right by the showers. Got pretty cold at night.

Talk about the views! This campground is located above San Clemente State Beach and offers a short walk to a tunneled beach access under the train tracks and spectacular sights.

With 160 sites to choose from, including ADA accessible, that are a good size, multiple bathrooms with hot showers available, hiking trails, and close to the town, this is a must to try!

Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash no longer than 6 feet. I tied mine on a long leash to the overhang like everyone else and it was fine.

Tent Site Amenities:

Firepit with grate, picnic table, overhang and some have water spigots. All sites can accommodate two cars, the first is included in your fee and the second can be added for an additional $15 a night. The bathrooms are cleaned every morning around 10/11am.

The front gate opens at 6am and closes at 10pm with the exception of the gate code from a Ranger upon request.

Not everything can be perfect, no matter how beautiful. Here are some cons to consider that I have come across:

During the spring and summer there are ants everywhere. Skunks are desensitized to humans and will walk right up to forge through your trash. For the sites further from the ocean, the constant freeway noise is noticeable and if school is in session, the local elementary children's screams can become annoying. Some sites are a little too close to eachother unless you reserve those for a large party, then it makes sense as to why they are close. But if you want your own space and little bit of privacy, it can be annoying. I noticed a few like that.

Overall it is one of my favorite places to camp! I just can get over the scenery.

You can find all the info to book and see pictures of each campsite on www.reservecalifornia.com

It was ok for one night - would probably try to find another spot for a more relaxing time. They allowed pets, but couldn’t take my dog on the trail down to the beach which was a bummer. Also had to pay for showers - bring cash to get tokens!! The water was hot but when I pay for a campsite like this I don’t want to pay more for a shower. I had a picnic table and fire ring. Wasn’t very quiet - lots of families, but seemed to be a good spot if you did camp with kiddos!

We've been staying at San Clemente State Beach for more than 30 years now, and it's always an enjoyable time. The beach is great for surfing and boogie boarding, with the famous Trestles surfing spot located about 2 miles away. 

San Clemente State Beach is a pretty large campground with lots of commotion/activity, so if you're looking for peace and quiet, this isn't the place to go. Another thing to consider is that the beach is a bit of a trek, especially if you're carrying a bunch of coolers, chairs, umbrellas and boogie boards. Still, once you get down there, it's a great beach and very beautiful. 

If you want to go shopping, there's a Rip Curl outlet nearby that has a lot of good deals on surf clothes, supplies, etc. The Pier is about a 10 minute drive away, where you'll find several decent seafood restaurants.

Great place

We enjoy beach camping in San Diego County. We’ve camped at San Onofre and San Elijo many times over the years. This was our first stay at San Clemente. The camp site was pretty clean. It didn’t take much to clear a spot for our 4 man. We were opposite a bathroom with showers and the camp host. Just lucked out. It’s so hard to get spots now days i barely look at that stuff, I just book it. It’s a large camp ground but facilities are always within a reasonable walking distance. Lots of paved paths for kids to skateboard and ride bikes. The camp ground is in a residential area but is near the freeway so you’re not really “transported” when you’re camping here. You will also likely hear the trains as they run along the coast here, although I didn’t hear them at 4am like I do at San Onofre. Maybe train schedules have changed. It’s a steep hike or lengthy set of stairs to get down to the beach, the camp ground is on the bluffs. The beach is beautiful. If you have surf boards, SUPs or Boogey Boards bring them. The whole point should be to get in the water. I like the fact that tent camping and full RVs are separated here. I’m weird like that. I like a little village of tents. You’re close enough to town that if you want to do some miles you can walk in. I think you can walk the beach to the pier when the tide is right. The staff was friendly. Our camp host was great! He even brought us some fresh lavash bread from town one night. The bathrooms were clean most of the time and well stocked. The only thing I would call out here is this is a draw for young surf nomads, most of which are a fun group and interesting to chat with. Some are rowdy and pretty rude. You want to be prepared, you may have to keep track of your littles to avoid them getting hit by guys on skateboard with longboards in hand. We saw a few narrow misses. And my least favorite part, the loud drunk partying at midnight, 2am and 4am. Quiet hours are not well enforced here. All in all we like it here and will come back for short stays.

California beach camping can be very hard to come by. Unlike some other campgrounds in Southern California this one gives you ample room to move around and set up camp. You can see the ocean from most sites too which is a huge perk since that is the reason most people camp along the coast. The walk to the beach is obviously steep but definitely worth it because the surfing here was incredible! This one came with a shade set up, fire ring, and a picnic table. It’s close to town If you forget anything or run out of ice or just want to grab a beer at a local spot. It is definitely one we will be going back to.

We stayed here in September 2020. The camp site is well maintained and the people were friendly. Showers and bathrooms were clean. The walk to the beach is steep. And the beach has pebbles. We had an awesome time. No regrets!

This was so beautiful and so clean! Everything was neatly placed and accessible. Beautiful hike to the beach, bathrooms were clean and our location was terrific!

Nice campground that’s near the ocean.

Amazing ! one of the best i've ever met . Loved . I was with my family and my dog ​​and it was incredible.

Great, clean, campground for the family. My daughter, dog, wife and I enjoyed two nights here in November 2020 for my birthday. We didn’t have a reservation but they do a lottery at 11am each day and we got spots for two nights.

Really easy to get to. We’ll go back a few times a year.

I live across the street, but have been coming here to camp for years. The vibe is groups of young friends stoked on their new-found independence and families with RVs or trailers with the latest toys. The hardcore surfing nomads stealth camp in their bubble-top vans outside of the park on the streets. Walking distance to Cottons point for surfing and to hangout among the beach huts.

This is a good alternative to the Bluffs. It's a little quieter since you're farther from the freeway, but it's still essentially parking lot camping. There is some shade, but it's flat so good for kids to play around. It sits right above Cottons and a short walk from the other breaks of Trestles so that's tough to beat! Shops & groceries are just across the highway.

I love this campground. I came in as a hike and bike camper this year but I’ve also been on the campsites. It’s very close to the beach!

This campground is a good introduction for beginners. Campsite was clean for the most part but there was some trash found around the area from the previous campers. The beach is maybe about a 5 min walk. The water was nice and cold and the sand was mixed with pebbles and big rocks so be careful. Bathrooms are clean that provide a sink and toilet paper inside. Showers are conveinent after coming from the beach. Bring cash for the showers for tokens; 1 token for a 2mins shower. $1 for 2 tokens. Campsites have a fire pit, and bench. Spigots and trash cans are located around the area. Trash is taken every morning by the workers so that was nice to see.

Beware of ANTS since we found a lot on our campsite. Be mindful where you put your bag because even if you hang it, they will find it! I'd recommend keeping exposed food in your car. Also bring ant powder or spray just in case. We found ants on our tent, but my friends found them inside their tents as well. Campsite 132-139 is a good spot because it provides a nice middle area for kids to run around. We saw people using bikes, scooters, skate boards and such around the campgrounds since there are pavements.

Overall, this campground is ok. I'm not fond of being this close to our neighbors. Some campsites looked like they overlap eachother because of how close they were.

Each campsite has a fire container, barbeque , and a picnic table under trellis type structure. Clean flush toilets. Beautiful location next to the ocean. Great place.

Walk to the beach is kind of long. Camp is on the bluff! We tent camped and had a good time

San Clemente State Park is a great place to go camping and enjoy the beach. The campground is located on a bluff that offers great views up and down the coast. It's also a great place to catch the sunset. 

The facilities are very clean but bring quarters for the showers.  It's close to the freeway but I didn't hear anything. There were a few helicopters and Ospreys that flew over from Camp Pendleton Marine Base that made for a good airshow.

We go every summer and the group keeps getting bigger. I love the trees, views and even the skunks (the are tame and love pizza). The walk up from the beach is a little tough, but the lifeguards are super nice and helpful if you need assistance. I always come home with a nice tan and great calfs. The upside of the walk is that there aren't as many people as down the beach by the public parking.

This is a great campground located less than one minute from the beach. This is the obvious plus to the campground. As it is a State park, parking on all the other state beaches is included at the price.

My biggest complaint is that the sites are so close to each other. There is essentially no privacy between your neighbors. Full hookups are available and are pull through sites. Restrooms and showers are also available. Firewood is available for $7 a bundle at the entrance but it’s just lightweight pine that burns quick. We brought our own wood.

The beach is about a minute away driving and is a great family beach. The sand is soft and there is lots of room, especially not on a holiday weekend. We have been coming to this beach for years as a family and it is one of my favorites.

Nice, clean, easy access for trailers/rv’s. Not an easy or quick access to the beach from the rv and tent areas, so just plan on spending time there!

Campsites offer nice sunset views of the ocean.  Sandy spots are covered and include a table and BBQ grill.  It was not crowded for being the middle of the week.

We tent camped here. The campground is large, so most spaces have a lot of room. Lots of amenities for those that need them. Short walk to the beach. Some seasons, the beach is very rocky and difficult to swim.