By:
Submission
Details here: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/647/files/SanMateo082609.pdf
San Mateo Campground lies a short distance inland from the 3.5-miles of sandy beaches within San Onofre State Beach
A 1.5-mile Nature Trail connects the campground to Trestles Beach, a world class surfing site. San Mateo Creek flows just east of the campground outward towards the ocean creating key riparian and wetland habitats which host some rare and
even endangered species. All campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. Hookup sites are available with electricity and water. Other amenities include an RV sanitation station, hot, coin-operated indoor showers, and flush toilets. Below
are listed a few park rules that will assist you in having a fun and save visit.
San Onofre - San Mateo Campground is at 830 Cristianitos, San Clemente, CA, 92672 a short distance inland from the 3.5-miles of sandy beaches within San Onofre State Beach. A 1.5-mile Nature Trail connects the San Mateo camping site to “Trestles Beach,” the world class surfing site. Surfers using redwood boards have visited San Onofre since at least the 1940s; San Mateo Creek flows just east of the campground outward towards the ocean creating key riparian and wetland habitats which host some rare and even endangered species. All campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. RV Hookup sites are available with electricity and water. Other amenities includes a dump-station, hot indoor showers, and flush toilets. Camping is available year-round.
The beach is three miles south of San Clemente on I-5 (Basilone Road.)
Camping here on a Wednesday was awesome. Camped during the weekend before and there is way more people. Took the trail to the beach which was a very nice stroll . 1st time in 10 years you'll see the river that passes San Mateo connect to the ocean. We walked to the point where the river touches the ocean and it was beautiful to see 🥰
San Mateo Campground is another really nicely kept California State Park. Campground in great shape, clean restrooms, friendly staff and great location. Located about 2 miles from the ocean, this campground has a wonderful trail to enjoy the hike to the beach.
Love this campground for the location and awesome sites. Great walking path to Trestles Beach, takes approx 20 to 30 min by foot. Many people bike. Good showers and clean bathrooms. Camp is well run with lots of surfers and families. Cool in the evening and warm in the afternoon. Fire rings and picnic table at sites. Many sites have great privacy with thick plants between.
A lovely campground! We really enjoyed our four-night stay here, and already look forward to coming back. We got a spot that backed into the brush, and it felt so secluded and private even with neighbors on both sides and in front of us. The bathrooms were impressively clean and well kept. Although, just an FYI that there's no soap or towels/dryers for handwashing and drying. We did not use the showers, which run on tokens purchased by the bathrooms, so if you need to use their showers be sure to bring small bills (1s and 5s) to feed the machine.
It's worth noting that we had no cell phone service while we were here. We were on vacation and didn't care, but if anyone is looking to work remotely off their cell phone's hotspot or is anxiously awaiting an important phone call, then this isn't the spot for you. We were able to get service using our travel hotspot device, but without it, we only sporadically received messages.
The walk to the beach is about 1.5 miles, and was a decent little hike with some pretty steep incline and declines. I mention this because it might be difficult for someone with mobility restrictions. The trail is wide making it great for bikes, too.
The beach is absolutely beautiful, and we loved the town of San Clemente. It has so many cute shops and excellent food! We can't wait to spend more time here.
