San Clemente, California, is located in Southern Orange County and is the last town before entering the wide-open space of Camp Pendleton. Once a quiet beach town favored by surfers and marines from Pendleton, San Clemente has become a popular beach destination. There are no high-rise hotels along the coast, but numerous accommodations are available for a weekend getaway. There are no high-rise hotels along the coast, but numerous accommodations are available for a weekend getaway.
Top Things to Do in San Clemente
Enjoy the View From San Clemente Pier
San Clemente Pier is home to one of the town’s most popular restaurants, Fishermen’s. If you are looking for a light snack, try Pier Shack at the end of the pier. San Clemente Pier is nearly 1300 feet long and popular for fishing, taking a stroll, or watching surfers catch some waves. No fishing license is required to fish off the pier. Croaker, corbina, mackerel, and stingrays can be caught off the pier with an occasional spiny lobster. The pier is open 24/7, but dining and nearby shops typically operate ~10 am–9 pm.
Soak Up Some Sun at San Clemente Main Beach
Main Beach is located at the end of Avenida Del Mar. Its wooden pier crowns it and is popular with surfers and sunbathers. Just north of the pier is the 50-year-old San Clemente Lifeguard Headquarters building. Across the street from the beach are several sidewalk cafes and hotels. There is a significant public parking lot and metered street parking. The public parking lot is paid for from 10 am to 5 pm, but free before and after that.
T-Street Beach Locals Only Surf Spot
T-Street is popular with surfers and is a short walk south of the pier. A pedestrian bridge takes beachgoers over the train tracks and down to the sand. The current bridge replaced the original Overpass that was built in 1950. The T-Street beach is located 1/2 mile south of the pier and is named after Trafalgar Lane, which ends near the beach. The beach was nicknamed T-Street to hide its location from nonlocals. Locals can be very territorial, so if you’re new to surfing, stick close to the pier, where beginners are more welcome.
San Clemente Pier Train Station
There is an Amtrak station at the foot of the pier, only steps to the sand. Daily Amtrak and Metrolink train service to San Clemente with stops at the main and north beaches. (Not all Amtrak trains stop at the pier) Metrolink runs beach trains from the Inland Empire to San Clemente during the summer. There is no ticket office here, but there is a ticket kiosk. You can also buy tickets on board the train if necessary.
Honor Marines & Sailors at Park Semper Fi
Park Semper Fi overlooks the main beach and the pier and is a monument honoring United States Marines and Sailors. The park features a life-sized bronze statue of a Marine in a dress blue uniform. Plaques honor persons who donated to fund or maintain the garden, as well as local servicemen and women. Park Semper Fi also features several benches with beautiful beach views below. Website.
Go Shopping Along Avenida Del Mar
Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente’s central shopping district looks much the same as it did in the 1960s. This quaint street is lined with small shops and restaurants and is a pleasant relief from the crowded shopping malls. Dining options include a mix of casual eateries, upscale restaurants, and cozy cafes, with many spots boasting outdoor patios. Avenida Del Mar shopping district is a short drive to the Pacific Ocean and San Clemente’s Pier.
San Clemente North Beach
North Beach is just off the coast highway as you enter the city from Capistrano Beach. North Beach features a Metrolink Station and a summer snack shop. Most of the sand is washed away during the winter, and North Beach is almost entirely rocks. You can take the San Clemente Beach trail to the Pier from North Beach. During the summer months, a snack shop is open on North Beach. Parking at North Beach is metered. Some free parking is available in nearby neighborhoods if you don’t mind walking.
Hike The San Clemente Beach Trail
San Clemente Beach Trail runs along the coast from North Beach to Calafia Beach, south of the San Clemente Pier. The trail starts at North Beach, where there is a large parking lot at the Metrolink station. Trail hours are 4 am to midnight, except on the segment from the south T-Street restrooms to Calafia Beach, where the hours are from 6 am to 10 pm Bicycles are allowed on some sections of the beach trail, but it’s best to hike; the trail is way too busy to navigate. On a plus note, the trail, but not the beach, is dog-friendly.
Learn About San Clemente’s History at Casa Romantica
Casa Romantica is a hidden gem on a bluff overlooking San Clemente’s main beach. The founder of San Clemente, Ole Hanson, built this Spanish-style mansion in 1927. The estate was initially on 5 acres and designed as a development model for the city’s future. Today, the remaining 2.5 acres feature the original home and coastal garden areas with amazing coastal views. Casa Romantica is open to the public Monday through Saturday. Casa 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. Website.
Go Camping at San Clemente State Beach
San Clemente State Beach is on the south end of San Clemente and features a sizeable state-run campground. Most campsites here do not have beach views but are within easy walking distance of the sand. A day-use area is adjacent to Calafia State Park, the southern end of the San Clemente Beach Trail. There is a large metered parking lot and a seasonal snack bar here.
Enjoy Discounts at the Outlets at San Clemente
The Outlets at San Clemente offer factory stores and retail stores. Built in a Spanish architectural style with archways that will offer ocean and hillside views. No other outlet mall in California is located in a more spectacular location. The Outlets have sixty stores and dining options, with more on the way. Nike Store and Rockwell’s Bakery, to name a few.
Take a Hike to Trestles Beach
Located at the south end of town is the world-famous surf break known as Trestles. Named after the railroad bridge over San Mateo Creek, the 3½-mile-long beach consists of five separate surf breaks: Cotton, Uppers, Middles, Lowers, and Church. Trestles Beach is in Northern San Diego County, right on the edge of San Clemente and part of San Onofre State Beach.
Getting To San Clemente
San Clemente offers plenty to see and do for a day trip from Los Angeles or San Diego. Most activities here are beach-related; however, some unique shops are in town, especially along Avenida Del Mar. San Clemente is 50 miles south of Los Angeles and 57 miles north of San Diego, California.
Nearby San Clemente Point of Interest
Dana Point, California
Dana Point, California, just north of San Clemente, is a coastal gem in Orange County known for its stunning harbor, world-class surfing, and laid-back beach vibe. Often called the “Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World,” it blends natural beauty with a rich maritime history and vibrant community. Dana Point Harbor is a hub for boating, dining, and water sports, while beaches like Doheny State Beach and Salt Creek are perfect for surfing, swimming, or relaxing.
San Juan Capistrano, California
San Juan Capistrano, California, is a historic and charming city located in Orange County. Famous for its Spanish mission heritage, the town features a quaint downtown area and a variety of cultural attractions. It is situated just 7 miles northeast of San Clemente. Key attractions include Mission San Juan Capistrano and the Los Rios Historic District, which offers a walkable area filled with boutique shops, eateries, and a relaxed, old-California atmosphere. Additionally, San Juan Capistrano serves as a stop for the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train.
Oceanside, California “Tan Your Hide in Oceanside”
Oceanside, California, is a vibrant coastal city in northern San Diego County, about 40 miles south of San Clemente and known for its thriving surf culture and growing food scene. Oceanside boasts a 3.5-mile coastline with sandy beaches and the iconic Oceanside Pier, one of California’s longest. A revitalized area with craft breweries, eateries, and shops, offering a similar walkable vibe to San Clemente’s Avenida Del Mar but with a grittier, urban edge.
San Clemente has turned into a little Newport
I’ve been here since the early 70s. Many are priced out
of being able to stay or buy a home.
Our sand is disappearing and our streets are crowded.
We have plenty of bars and many restaurants $$$
We do have beautiful weather, great people, animal friendly,
walking trails, and a train that’s can drop you off at the pier or North Beach.
I attended San Clemente High School from 68-71, so I know what you mean. All along the coast, sleepy little towns have turned into Newports.
San Clemente is one of the best foreground picturesque that accommodates just about any occasion. Surf is perfect for beginners & experienced. The beach is spectacular & everything is close! Neighborhoods look classic near the beach & to the East of the city!
Not sure what you are trying to say but San Clemente is a nice place to visit or live in.
I would add that there’s a very cool Cars & Coffee that happens at the Outlets every Saturday morning.
Thanks for what you do. At your site I got to visit San Clemente, where I used to live and loved it. In 1970 I had to move with my family to Sacramento and I hate it still. I would give anything to be able to move back there, out of this heat and noise and back to the beauty of the Pacific Ocean and San Clemente.
Home prices in San Clemente are vastly different from when you lived there. So moving back would be an expensive endeavor. Unfortunately, the San Clemente Beach Trail is very crowded these days. Bikes should be banned the whole length of the trail, at least during the summer.
Should have seen it in the 70s , Locals only , Pier a dangerous place to Surf unless you are local , T street beginners spot , mostly lousy waves .Overcrowded CITY
I graduated from San Clemente High School in the early seventies so I know what you are talking about. Still, a nice place to visit. Nothing ever stays the same.