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Recommended Reviews - San Onofre State Beach
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This beach fills up on parking as it's has many locals surfing with state beach parking pass. Sometimes wait can be up to 3hrs as parking is limited. I ride my bike here and avoid it all but the beach and surf are worth the wait.
Greats surf for beginners through intermediate peeps. Clean beach, mostly clean water. Solid break and not too crowded. Most people here are friendly. Bath houses and laundry facility available.
This was a nice beach for an afternoon stroll. It was in the afternoon. First time visiting and he park service recommended trail 4. It was nice to see how long this beach is and the campground. Would definitely come back.
Now that I'm old, I don't enjoy spending all day at the beach. However, the sunset from the north end of the beach was very special. Most coastal California sunsets show the ocean, but here, there is a bluff.
Beautiful state park with land shared courtesy of the US Marine Corps. This report is on the trail system. We hiked Trail 6, an easy 1 mile walking trail courtesy of the State of California and the U.S. Marine Corps. The trail commences on the right side of the rest room building and after a flat part, winds down rapidly to the beach. Quite a few surfers with their boards walking down. Great place for the views, admire the bluffs, observe the work of nature eroding the cliffs, and just chilling out on the beach
Given the number of surfers I saw, surfing is this beach's best feature. It's very quiet (we were there in August so that's saying something!). Lots of rocks until you hit the tide line and then a nice gradual walk out into the ocean - I feel like people were about a quarter mile out before the water was at their waist. Be aware, the walk down to the beach from the bluffs where you park/camp is steep - my Apple watch clocked it at 4 floors. For camping, it's a mixed bag. If you have a motorhome or van with good soundproofing, you might be ok. For tent camping, not such a great spot. Most of the campsites have very little space to pitch a tent and the spots are so close together that you have no privacy from your neighbors. If that's your jam or you're camping with a group, could be fun. Other big downside is noise pollution - traffic on the 5, frequent trains (running late into night), and neighboring campers. Tip: The group campsite between spaces 46-66 and 67-93 is a nice area for group tent camping. Otherwise, I'd suggest spaces 24-45 (can put tent up on bluff a little further from road) or 125-175 (less traffic and a hair more space).
The parking lot is essentially a two way, one lane parking aisle miles long, and as long as the parking lot is, the beach is even longer, so you can always get away from everybody if you're able to just hike a bit. Bote there is a steep albeit safe climb to every one of the 6 paths from the parking lot to the beach.
Worst Beach ever, the Surfers are so rude and territorial, longest line to get in... Plus lots of Sharks, I guess it is their breeding area... I also heard the dolphins are really aggressive here and attacked a group of teenagers that were just swimming minding their own business. I would avoid this beach like the plague... Really Dirty too, Did I mention the famous San Onofre sand fleas, not too mention dangerous sea urchins and last but not least tons of sting rays...
Directions to San Onofre Surfing Beach - from Downtown take 5 North - exit Basilone Rd - L @ stop sign n head south (Old Pacific Highway) - L at turn off before San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant (will go under bridge) - San Onofre Surfing Beach, pay $15 - It's between 5th and 6th restroom south of fire ring and tropical shade Enjoy your outing!
This spot is sick! No public people wandering around like a normal beach. Very secluded and full of nature all around. Awesome beach straight for surfing. I recommend you get an electric bike with a surfboard mount like I do. It's a long walk to the beach. Parking is $15 all day. I got a annual pass for $199 for state beaches. I recommended it if you want some peace while surfing. No lifeguards
I searched high n low for a quieter beach... we were here on a Thursday and we had plenty of space to choose from. There is a parking fee here but you park RIGHT at the beach front. Little rocky in some places, lots of little crabs, shells and happy surfer's!! No dogs allowed here.. I didn't see a shower to rinse off but there are life guards. Kids had a blast!
2 months ago
San Onofre really is a hidden gem as far as SoCal beaches go. Lots of different terrain, plenty to see and experience, good surf, lots of nature, and just a great place overall if you're taking in the area. :) read more
2 months ago
San Onofre State Beach is one of the most iconic Southern California beach day destinations. Erosion from high surf and winter rains the last couple of years is rapidly diminishing the beach facilities and parking at San O, I don't know how much longer this classic Southern California beach spot will be accessible by car. Enjoy San O while it's still here, and if SanO is a "Bucket List" spot for you get there sooner rather than later! read more
6 months ago
A slice of heaven. Huge state beach with plenty of solitude. A paid lot with lots of spots. Dogs roam free at lot 1 entrance. Thousands of crystals to adore, tiki huts to occupy or build, beach life and habitat to appreciate and much needed relaxation. read more
This beach fills up on parking as it's has many locals surfing with state beach parking pass. Sometimes wait can be up to 3hrs as parking is limited. I ride my bike here and avoid it all but the beach and surf are worth the wait. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
This was a nice beach for an afternoon stroll. It was in the afternoon. First time visiting and he park service recommended trail 4. It was nice to see how long this beach is and the campground. Would definitely come back. read more
Beautiful state park with land shared courtesy of the US Marine Corps. This report is on the trail system. We hiked Trail 6, an easy 1 mile walking trail courtesy of the State of California and the U.S. Marine Corps. The trail commences on the right side of the rest room building and after a flat part, winds down rapidly to the beach. Quite a few surfers with their boards walking down. Great place for the views, admire the bluffs, observe the work of nature eroding the cliffs, and just chilling out on the beach read more
9 months ago
10 months ago
7 months ago
Given the number of surfers I saw, surfing is this beach's best feature. It's very quiet (we were there in August so that's saying something!). Lots of rocks until you hit the tide line and then a nice gradual walk out into the ocean - I feel like people were about a quarter mile out before the water was at their waist. Be aware, the walk down to the beach from the bluffs where you park/camp is steep - my Apple watch clocked it at 4 floors. For camping, it's a mixed bag. If you have a motorhome or van with good soundproofing, you might be ok. For tent camping, not such a great spot. Most of the campsites have very little space to pitch a tent and the spots are so close together that you have no privacy from your neighbors. If that's your jam or you're camping with a group, could be fun. Other big downside is noise pollution - traffic on the 5, frequent trains (running late into night), and neighboring campers. Tip: The group campsite between spaces 46-66 and 67-93 is a nice area for group tent camping. Otherwise, I'd suggest spaces 24-45 (can put tent up on bluff a little further from road) or 125-175 (less traffic and a hair more space). read more
2 years ago
The parking lot is essentially a two way, one lane parking aisle miles long, and as long as the parking lot is, the beach is even longer, so you can always get away from everybody if you're able to just hike a bit. Bote there is a steep albeit safe climb to every one of the 6 paths from the parking lot to the beach. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
2 years ago
Worst Beach ever, the Surfers are so rude and territorial, longest line to get in... Plus lots of Sharks, I guess it is their breeding area... I also heard the dolphins are really aggressive here and attacked a group of teenagers that were just swimming minding their own business. I would avoid this beach like the plague... Really Dirty too, Did I mention the famous San Onofre sand fleas, not too mention dangerous sea urchins and last but not least tons of sting rays... read more
3 years ago
Directions to San Onofre Surfing Beach - from Downtown take 5 North - exit Basilone Rd - L @ stop sign n head south (Old Pacific Highway) - L at turn off before San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant (will go under bridge) - San Onofre Surfing Beach, pay $15 - It's between 5th and 6th restroom south of fire ring and tropical shade Enjoy your outing! read more
4 years ago
This spot is sick! No public people wandering around like a normal beach. Very secluded and full of nature all around. Awesome beach straight for surfing. I recommend you get an electric bike with a surfboard mount like I do. It's a long walk to the beach. Parking is $15 all day. I got a annual pass for $199 for state beaches. I recommended it if you want some peace while surfing. No lifeguards read more
I searched high n low for a quieter beach... we were here on a Thursday and we had plenty of space to choose from. There is a parking fee here but you park RIGHT at the beach front. Little rocky in some places, lots of little crabs, shells and happy surfer's!! No dogs allowed here.. I didn't see a shower to rinse off but there are life guards. Kids had a blast! read more
6 years ago
One of my favorite places on the planet. It's the Waikiki of of Southern California and one of the best spots for beginners to learn how to surf. The rolling waves are gentle and go on for rides close to half a minute long. And everyone is so friendly and welcoming. No territorial surfers here. A lot of surfers actually will help you catch waves and give you pointers if they see that you're struggling. There are lots of camper vans and VW microbuses parked along the shore. It's like stepping back in time to a 1960's beach party. Things to note: this is a state park and they limit the number of cars allowed in at one time. On summer weekends there can be a long queue of cars waiting for their turn to get in. I arrived at 7:15 AM last Saturday and still had to wait in line for 2 hours before making it to the gate to pay the entrance fee. Get there as close to the 6 AM as you can, or try coming in the midday or afternoon as the dawn patrol starts leaving. Or visit on a weekday. The upside is that once inside, it's not overly crowded. You can park your car right along the sand and then hop in the water. The near shoreline can be a bit rocky, but the bottom quickly gets sandy as your paddle out. The only time it's tricky to navigate is when you're getting out of the water and you have to walk over the rocks. Lean over your surfboard and use its buoyancy to help take the weight off of your feet. read more
2 years ago
I waited for over 1.5 hours in a line waiting for parking. Ridiculous. People were getting out of their cars and walking their dogs because it was so long read more
6 years ago
Campground spots are hard to come by right now so I was super excited to snag a bluff campsite for my family a couple weeks ago. The site itself was OK, not great. Definitely geared more for the surfer looking for a place to crash at night. You hear the train all night long and are too far from the actual ocean to hear the waves much. If it weren't so hot when we went, we would have stayed the full reservation, but we wound up driving to a more kid friendly access beach after the first night. In order to get to the beach itself from the bluffs, it's a super steep hike down and back up and the beach itself is rocky and rough. Don't recommend for a family with smaller kids but it's great if you just want a place to lay your head at night. Bathrooms were clean enough and it wasn't super crowded when we got there, staff was all Helpful and kind. read more
Low and slow waves for beginners learning to surf make this one of the best locations in San Clemente if you are new to wetsuits and boards. Relaxed vibe and friendly folk offer a welcoming environment. The entrance is shallow for a long way and you have to traverse over rocks, so that's not ideal, but it's worth it. State beach , so you need a yearly parking pass or pay for the day. For the price, you really only get the surf and not much sand. I'd only recommend this area for surfing , because there is minimal sand no place to really set up chairs, let kids play, etc. Additionally, there are basically no amenities at this beach - no snack bar or rentals or lockers. There is one or two showers and bathrooms. Leave the kids at home unless they surf , bring the board and pull right up for a beach- front parking spot and catch a wave ! read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
7 years ago
I just want to say that even though I mentioned that I would probably never go back to this place, I lied!! I miss it and I really want to go back with my kids again. this time im bringing my own portable shower and I should be good!! read more
Camped at San Onofre on weekend of 9/24/2010-9/26/2010. We had camp spots 167 & 168...excellent view of ocean and evening sunset. It's a bit of a walk down the bluff to get to the beach but worth the walk if you're in decent shape. Some people left negative feedback regarding the close proximity of parking spot to camping spot and I would agree with them BUT our location (spots 167 & 168) had ample space compared to many of the other camp spots. Great beach for surfing and bodyboarding! We'll be back next year! read more
6 years ago
Most unfriendly surfers I have ever met at trails. Territorial. Bunch of older guys who dictate where you sit in the beach. I was from another county so I showed respect to the elders and left but I will warn everyone to stay away. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
Who does not love going to the beach? I have yet to go to one I did not enjoy and this is a gorgeous stretch that does not get to crowded with people. Very well maintained and just simply beautiful. So nice to get away for the day and just enjoy the scenery. read more
On Wednesday (08-28-2013) I woke up before the birds, loaded up my surfboard, change of clothes and headed out on a Surfari to San Onofre State Beach. I arrived just as the gates were opening (6:00am). If you are traveling here for the first time exit 'Basilone' off of the 5 freeway. For those who do not know the Basilone exit is named after 'Staff Sergeant John Basilone' who was KIA and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. When you exit the freeway make sure you follow the signs which are clearly marked. The Basilone exit shares its exit with the retired San Onofre Nuclear Facility and the USMC Camp Pendleton military base, so don't get lost=) As you pull up to the Park & Recreation booth you will be required to either show your annual pass (good for all State Parks) which you can purchase for $195 or you can purchase a day pass for $15. If you are going to purchase an annual pass make sure you purchase it on the 1st of the month and you will see that you can squeak 13 months out of an annual pass instead of 12=) A short drive from the Park & Rec booth you will arrive in the parking lot you are you are immediately taken back to what surfing is all about, what I mean by that it just seems like everyone here has the right attitude. The surrounding grounds, gardens & straw huts put you in the right mood. As you exit your vehicle and get ready for the morning surf everyone walking by says hello and everyone seems to have a smile on their face. As I was getting ready for my surf session I must have witnessed 5-6 different people walking around the parking lot picking up trash, several other folks were walking around trimming the gardens, sweeping path ways and disposing of composted debris that has fallen from surrounding trees. As you walk the short distance from the parking lot to the beach you can simply hop onto the sand or you can walk paths carved out of foliage, I suggest you walk through the foliage. You will find monuments dedicated to fallen surfers, you will find masks, you will find little figurines set up and hidden in bushes, you will find all sorts of stuff that will instantly transport you back in time. When you enter the water you will find the right attitudes to your left & right so make sure you have the right attitude because if you don't you will stick out like a sore thumb. The break here at San Onofre is very consistent year around and on big days it will get packed and get packed early. While you sit on your board it is amazing to just looked at the country side and imagine what it was like to surf here back in the day. When you surfing session is over you will find bathrooms, showers, water foundations, bulletin boards and all sorts of things set up for your surfing enjoyment. I suggest you bring a cooler, pack a lunch, eat and get back in the water, if you are coming here plan for on being here for the whole day. If you have a dog bring them along, San Onofre is dog friendly. I had such a good vibe being at San Onofre that I felt I had to give back. I had something surfing related in my truck and ended up leaving it propped up against the dumpster. I hope someone found it, took it home and is stoked with the find=) I look forward to my next trip to San Onofre. If you are coming here make sure you have a longboard because unlike Trestles which is a short distance away a short board is not going to do much for you here. If you are traveling here make sure you bring a change of clothes. The sand is super fine at San Onofre and the sand will get everywhere. It takes a little skill to be able to switch out of your wetsuit and into dry clothes but once you have this skill mastered you will be part of the club=) San Onofre also has fire pits & Volleyball courts. read more
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More info about San Onofre State Beach
Old Hwy 101
San Clemente, CA 92672
Directions
(949) 492-4872
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=647
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Ask the Community - San Onofre State Beach
Is it a Nude Beach and is Over Night Camping is in a Tent Allowed?
Not an official nude and the only tents that are used are for sexual play
Google says this beach is "closed"? Is that correct?
Not that I know. The California State Parks web page (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=647) for SOB doesn't mention any beach closure. There's a phone # on the page your can try.
So the bluffs campsites have water spigots?
Are dogs allowed here?
In trail 1 and 6 dogs are allowed on the beach with a leash.
Review Highlights - San Onofre State Beach
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