San Clemente State Beach

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.