Nestled only moments from the PCH and I-5 the San Mateo is the closest non- military beach one can find in the San Onofre State Beach Area before Memorial Day. It's location provides easy access to the beach as well as the town of San Clemente as it offers campsites for both rv and tent venturers.

We arrived late afternoon. Check in is typically 2 p.m. We were created by State Park representatives which gave us a quick run down as to the location of our site as well as the other points of interest.

Our campsite itself was again a primitive site which included a fire ring and picnic table. The parking was well labeled and made for easy navigation.

We noticed though surrounded by trees throughout the site the actual camping area was very open. This made for more of a group camping experience with other campers. While nice, it also made for a very loud early chatter in the morning.

Bathrooms were divided with 3 shower rooms and 3 bathrooms. Showers were token operated with dispensers just around the side of the bathroom facility outbuilding. 2 tokens would cover a typical shower and we were pleased by the hot water.

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Overall the campsite receives a 4 of 5 Bunnies. It is advertised as beachside and that was a bit of a stretch so I must say it was a little frustrating to discover it was a commute instead of what it had been promised. Bookings are a must and are done through an outside vendor which covers the entire state so error is to be expected. Still it was pleasant and close.

For those who need wifi, this is not the location for you!

For the full story on the reservation check out my video about the campground and also the San Onofre area:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvCDhtx5W1k

Update:  since this review I have noticed that the campground is now offering better management with online booking and has updated their customer service.