Established Camping
San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach
Warning 3 Alerts are In Effect
There are 3 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 3 Alerts are In Effect
There are 3 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
<p>If you are interested in having a RV delivered and set up on your campsite at Bolsa Chica, Crystal Cove Moro Campground, Doheny, San Clemente or San Onofre State Beach Campgrounds, the following Concessionaires are the approved contract providers: Luv 2 Camp (888) 898-2267 and <a href="theholidaysdelivered.com">The Holidays Delivered</a> (833) 268-8956. No business or private party may conduct business on State Park property without an approved contract.</p>
<p> </p> <p>California State Parks wants to thank our park visitors for helping us keep our parks and environment clean. In 2018, State Parks installed new RV dump station collection systems at ten state park units as part of a pilot program to help us protect the environment and are added amenities for our visitors. </p> <p>Following the success of the initial pilot program in 2018, an additional eleven park units have been added to the program. The service is available for campers, day-use or transient visitors for $10-$20 per use, depending on the location. Please note that visitors with current reservations arriving on or after April 13, 2021, who are interested in using the RV dump stations may be required to pay the use fee. The price per campsite for these state parks does not include the use of a dump station. View the following link: <a href="https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1029">Camping Information</a></p>
<p>NO SHOW POLICY: A campsite will be held for you until 12:00 NOON the day after your arrival date. If you have not called the park (949-670-8276) before that time, you will be considered a “no show,” and the park will cancel your reservation. Customer will forfeit their $7.99 reservation fee, $7.99 cancellation fee, and first night use fee. If you miss your first day but plan to arrive later, you must call the park each day to hold the remainder of your reservation. This rule will be strictly enforced.</p>
About
State Park
San Onofre State Beach
Details here: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/647/files/SanMateo082609.pdf
San Mateo Campground lies a short distance inland from the 3.5-miles of sandy beaches within San Onofre State Beach A 1.5-mile Nature Trail connects the campground to Trestles Beach, a world class surfing site. San Mateo Creek flows just east of the campground outward towards the ocean creating key riparian and wetland habitats which host some rare and even endangered species. All campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. Hookup sites are available with electricity and water. Other amenities include an RV sanitation station, hot, coin-operated indoor showers, and flush toilets. Below are listed a few park rules that will assist you in having a fun and save visit.
San Onofre - San Mateo Campground is at 830 Cristianitos, San Clemente, CA, 92672 a short distance inland from the 3.5-miles of sandy beaches within San Onofre State Beach. A 1.5-mile Nature Trail connects the San Mateo camping site to “Trestles Beach,” the world class surfing site. Surfers using redwood boards have visited San Onofre since at least the 1940s; San Mateo Creek flows just east of the campground outward towards the ocean creating key riparian and wetland habitats which host some rare and even endangered species. All campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. RV Hookup sites are available with electricity and water. Other amenities includes a dump-station, hot indoor showers, and flush toilets. Camping is available year-round.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Stay Connected
- WiFiAvailable
- VerizonPoor
- AT&TGood
- T-MobileGood
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
TravelerNear the beach - spots usually available
Nice campground. 1.5 miles from the ocean. Sites are quite large with bushes/ trees between sites. Upper campground has water and electricity.
GuideGreat Location, Lots of Privacy, Easy to Back In, Clean
We loved this campground! There are mature trees between every campsite that provide privacy between sites. The campground is setup as a bunch of loops with a large common area between the rear of every campsite. That's the only place you're going to see your neighbors. It's a perfect setup for a bunch of people camping together at separate sites - get enough of them and you'll have the entire common area between you to spread out! For us, we used that large open space to setup our Starlink satellite antenna, and that was necessary since Verizon is basically a dead zone in that area.
The communal showers were nice. BRING DOLLAR BILLS to change them into tokens for the shower. A couple tokens (one dollar) is enough for a decent shower.
Your paid campground site gets you day use access to the other nearby parks: San Onofre Bluffs and San Clemente State Beach.
Got an e-bike? Lots of people had them. I think as long as you're on the pavement there's no issues but check with the park regulations for any off pavement use which would include the trail to Trestles.
CONS:
The dump site was closed this weekend (8/18-8/20). But with our day pass we were able to use the dump site at San Clemente State Beach. NOTE: Day use is up to 10PM and they also have a dump site at the Bluffs. Just keep in mind you may have to wait in line with other campers checking in to access the other areas. We went at "dinner time" just before sunset to avoid crowds.
At each bathroom / shower area, there are a set of sinks - one for washing hands and a couple others for (apparently) washing dishes and other stuff. However, they were turned off.
Overall, this was one of the better campgrounds we've stayed out. We would defiintely come back here.
- (6) View All
GuideGreat spot with good privacy
Easy spot close enough to the beach to be almost beach camping but far enough to have plenty of room and spacing to spread out. Your parking pass allowed to you to park at the state beach across the 5 freeway for free. Campsites are well maintained and have mature trees and bushes between sites to provide lots of privacy. Showers/facilities are a little rundown and our bathrooms foot-wash and dish wash station were disconnected. During the weekday you can hear activity from Camp Pendleton. Overall great spot to camp with the family.
Location
San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach is located in California
Directions
The beach is three miles south of San Clemente on I-5 (Basilone Road.)
Address
830 Cristianitos Road
San Clemente, CA 92672
Coordinates
33.40718612 N
117.5843097 W