San Onofre State Beach California: Beach Camping – Day Use

San Onofre State Beach consists of 3,000 acres of the Southern California coastline between San Clemente and Camp Pendleton. San Onofre offers beachgoers a chance to experience what Southern California’s coast may have looked like a hundred years ago. With its natural beauty and pristine waters, it’s no wonder that San Onofre Beach and the surrounding area are the fifth most visited parks in California. The park includes San Onofre Bluffs, San Onofre Beach, and San Mateo Campground.

San Onofre Bluffs Camping

San Onofre Bluffs stretches along Old Highway 101, offering day-use parking and camping. The bluffs are popular with swimmers and surfers and feature camping areas along old Highway 101. These sites are primitive and can be noisy with passing trains and nearby freeway traffic. There are three miles of beach fronting San Onofre Bluffs State Campground. Trailheads at six access points lead down to the beaches below the bluff. Day-use parking lots are at the bluff camping areas’ north and south ends.

San Mateo Campground

San Mateo Campground is about 1.5 miles inland from the beach. A trail connects the campground to Trestles Beach, a world-class surfing site. San Mateo Creek flows east of the campground outward towards the ocean, creating wetland habitats that host rare and endangered species. Campsites: 157 sites (1–67 for RVs/trailers with electric and water hookups; others for tents, RVs, or trailers up to 24–40 feet).

San Onofre State Beach Day Use

Surf Beach is day use only, but visitors can park right next to the beach along a rather bumpy dirt road. During the summer, arrive early at the surf beach; parking is limited and fills up quickly. This beach is very popular with locals and has a long surfing history. The park features 3.5 miles of sandy beaches, tide pools, and the sacred Acjachemen village site of Panhe, a cultural and historical landmark over 8,000 years old.

Old Man’s Beach

San Onofre State Beach is also called Old Man’s. This beach earned its reputation when heavy wooden longboards required rolling, flowing waves, still providing a popular surf spot for grommets and seasoned surfers. Old Man’s lies just north of the now-decommissioned nuclear plant. Surfers who have swarmed to this spot for decades swear the water at Old Man’s is warmer, claiming it was used to cool the plant’s reactors. The reactor is now closed, the ocean is not radioactive, and the tales told by local surfers are speculated to have been spawned to keep their break from being encroached on by outsiders.

San Onofre Gladiator Beach

At one time, there was a nude beach at the southern end of San Onofre Beach, often called “Gladiator Beach.” This clothing-optional area was located south of Trail 6, near the boundary with Camp Pendleton. However, signage and park regulations indicate that nudity is now prohibited throughout San Onofre State Beach. Park rangers now issue tickets to those who are nude, significantly reducing the practice.

San Onofre State Beach Getting There

San Onofre Beach is located just a few miles south of metropolitan Orange County and north of the urban sprawl of San Diego on I-5. San Onofre is perfect for a day trip or overnight camping adventure.
Nearby camping spots include San Clemente State Beach which offers beachfront camping and is known for its scenic views, and Doheny State Beach, which is popular for its family-friendly atmosphere and proximity to Dana Point Harbor. Camping reservations for all three beaches can be made on this website.

Nearby Trestle Beach

Trestles Beach: Trestles Beach is north of Old Man’s, near the San Mateo Creek river mouth, and is a world-famous surf break where many pro surfers have plied their skills. The surf break is accessible via a 1.2-mile paved trail from San Mateo Campground or by walking north from Surf Beach. It’s known for consistent waves and is popular among pro surfers.

Southern California Beach Camping