San Clemente Day Trip Fun Things To See and Do

San Clemente is located in Southern Orange County and is the last town before entering the wide-open space of Camp Pendleton. What was once a sleepy beach town populated by surfers and marines from Pendleton is now a popular beach destination.

There are no high-rise hotels along the coast, although there are plenty of places to stay for a weekend getaway. Several boutique hotels are within walking distance of the beachfront train station, so you can enjoy a weekend getaway to San Clemente and leave your car at home.

Go Shopping Along Avenida Del Mar

Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente’s central shopping district looks much the same as in the 1960s. This quaint street is lined with small shops and restaurants and is a pleasant relief from the crowded shopping malls. The Avenida Del Mar shopping district is a short drive to the Pacific Ocean and San Clemente’s Pier.

Enjoy the View From San Clemente Pier

San Clemente Pier is home to one of the town’s most popular restaurants, Fishermen. 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.

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 San Clemente with stops at 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.

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.

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.

T-Street Beach Locals Only Surf  Spot

T-Street is popular with surfers and just 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 nick-named 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 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 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.

Take a Walk on 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 a.m. to midnight, except on the segment from the south T-Street restrooms to Calafia Beach, where the hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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 coast views. Casa Romantica is open to the public Monday through Saturday. Casa 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente.

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 The Discounts at the Outlets at San Clemente

The Outlets At San Clemente offer factory stores and retail stores. Built-in Spanish architecture 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 has 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.

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Nearby San Clemente Day Trip Ideas

Dana Point, California

San Juan Capistrano, California

Oceanside, California

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