San Onofre State Beach Campground

San Onofre State Beach Campground are in northern San Diego County at some of the premier surfing destinations along the coast. The state beach is easy to pick out along the coast by the now-defunct nuclear power plant. The state beach includes areas on either side of the power plant. Surfers gather at legendary breaks like Trestles Beach, Old Man's and The Point. Several hiking trails meander along the coast.

San Onofre State Beach Campgrounds is divided into two areas. San Mateo Campground is situated inland off Christianitos Road. There visitors find exclusive trailer or RV loops along with sites for tents. Electric and water hook-ups are available at some sites. A Group Site is located and the southern end of the campground. A 1½ mile trail leads down to Trestles Beach.

Bluffs Campground, the other camping area, is spread along Old Pacific Coast Highway with magnificent oceanfront sites for RVs and tents. This campground is only open from mid-May through September. There are no hook-ups. Another Group Site is found here.

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San Onofre State Beach Campground Basics
Location:	Off Interstate 5, 3 miles south of San Clemente
Campground Open:	San Mateo Campground open year-round, but some sites closed in off-season Bluffs is open in San mid-May through September
Number of Sites:	309 (about 150 in each campground)
Max. People per Site:	8 (including children)
Vehicles per Site:	2 (one driven and one towed)
Pets:	On leash, always attended
Operated by:	California State Parks
San Onofre State Beach Information:	(949) 492-4872

Reservations for San Onofre State Beach Campground
Reservations available	San Onofre State Beach Campground reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance of arrival date.
Maximum Vehicle Length:	25 feet
Accessible Sites:	San Mateo: #1, 65, 78, 139, 156, Bluffs: #23, 24, 34, 45, 46, 93, 95, 120, 124, 125, 145, 146, 164, 165
Favorite Campsites:	San Mateo Campground: #21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 88, 91, 92, 122, 123, 125, 145, 152
Campground Maps:	San Mateo Campground Map Bluffs Campground Map
Fees:	Standard site - $45 per night Hook-up site - $70
Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia:	San Onofre State Beach Campground Reservations or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) between 8 AM and 6 PM
Check-out, Check-in:	Check-out: Noon Check-in: 2:00 PM

San Onofre Campground Amenities
Campsites:	Picnic table, fire ring, some sites with partial hook-ups
Campground:	Restrooms with flush toilets, piped water, store, amphitheater
Showers:	Hot showers
Dump Station:	Yes
Nearby Attractions:	Head out Surfing. Hike on the Bluff's Beach Trail and Panhe Nature Trail. Do some surf fishing. Visit Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens and Surfing Heritage Foundation museum in San Clemente.
Updates	Last Updated January 2025

San Onofre Group Campsites

San Onofre State Beach has 2 group campsites, one at San Mateo Campground and the other at Bluffs Campground. The San Mateo group site is at the southern end of the campground and can accommodate up to 40 people and 8 vehicles. It is a tents-only site. Sleeping in vehicles is not allowed. The campground is wheelchair accessible. The group site has 2 fire pits, one standard and one ADA, as well as one large BBQ (charcoal or wood), 6 picnic tables, 2 shade Ramadas, and potable water.

The Bluffs Group Campground can accommodate from 9 to 50 people and up to 12 vehicles. Maximum vehicle length is 18 feet. The camp has a large area for tents, outdoor showers, and a nice ocean view.
Fees: San Mateo - $250, Bluffs - $250
Reservations from ReserveCalifornia:
San Onofre State Beach Group Campsite Reservations

Cape Blanco

San Onofre Beach

Reviews from Previous Campers

2022 - 2024

Roomy campsite and clean campground.

Bathrooms are clean and well-maintained; bring a flashlight.

Some road and train noise at night at Bluffs.

Friendly park host came around often.

Bushes blocked some ocean views from San Mateo Campground.

Southern California Beach Attractions

Visitors to Southern California beaches have so many places to explore and enjoy.

Surfing on some of the best waves in California at places like San Onofre, Black's Beach, and Tourmaline
Excellent pier fishing for a wide variety of fish at spots like Imperial Beach, Ocean Beach, and San Clemente
Enjoying strolling along glistening sand and watching the sunset at beaches like Coronado, Del Mar, Laguna Beach, and Zuma
Watch top-rated beach volleyball competition at venues such as Manhattan Beach and Hermosa
Immerse yourself in the fun and excitement of destination beaches like Venice, Redondo, and Santa Monica
Watch surfing competitions at Huntington Beach, Salt Creek, Oceanside, and Coronado
Attend the San Clemente Ocean Festival and the Carlsbad Beach Fest held in July

Key San Onofre Beach Campground Regulations

Vehicles must be parked on the pavement within the campsite area.
Fires must be in designated concrete fire rings only.
Pets are not allowed on the beach. They must be in vehicle or tent at night.
Generators may only be operated between the hours of 10 AM and 8 PM.

Be careful when you make your reservation that your vehicles will fit within the space allowed at your site.

Check California State Parks - San Onofre State Beach for any campground updates.

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General Camping Information

Opening and closing dates of campgrounds are only estimates, usually dependent on weather conditions. Not all campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs of all lengths. If using a reservation website, check to be sure your vehicles will fit in the parking space for your campsite.

In order to prevent the spread of invasive insects, obtain firewood locally.

Accessible Sites

Designated Accessible sites are usually reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate

San Onofre State Beach Campground

San Diego County

San Onofre State Beach Campground

San Diego County