San Onofre Sb San Mateo Campground

About

San Mateo Campground is the primary overnight camping area at San Onofre State Beach, located about one mile inland from Interstate 5 at the Cristianitos Road exit. The campground offers 157 sites spread across several loops: sites 1-67 are RV hookup sites with electric and water connections, sites 68-100 are standard campsites, and sites 101-157 are tent-only primitive sites. A group camping area accommodates larger parties. The campground provides solid amenities including flush toilets, hot indoor showers, potable water, and an RV dump station. Every site includes a fire pit and picnic table. Mature trees throughout the campground provide shade and privacy between sites. The maximum vehicle length is 36 feet. The signature attraction is the 1.5-mile Nature Trail connecting the campground to Trestles Beach, home to legendary surf breaks like Lower Trestles, Upper Trestles, and Church. The beach was selected to host surfing events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Beyond surfing, the 3.5 miles of sandy beaches offer swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. The campground operates year-round with hours from 6 AM to 10 PM.

Directions

From Interstate 5, take the Cristianitos Road exit. The campground is located at 830 Cristianitos Road, San Clemente, approximately one mile inland from the freeway.