Camping near San Onofre State Beach

7 sites · Lodging15 acres · Valley Center, CA

(499)

Campo Nopalito

Welcome to Nopalito Farm! We’re so happy you’ve decided to spend some time on this beautiful property! In case you’re interested, here are a few interesting things about our farm. Nopalito Farm has been in operation since late 2014, but the property itself has been a working farm for over 50 years. Lemons and avocados were the primary crops from the 70’s through the 00’s, and are still prominent throughout our 15 acres. Our predecessors then diversified the growing operation by planting a wide range of fruit trees ranging from guavas and passion fruit to peaches and figs. For a decade, hops were grown on 2 acres and were sold to breweries throughout southern California. We’ve since replaced the hop yard with perennial flowers, but continue to cultivate a wide variety of delicious fruits.

95%

(291)

Saddle Up Camp

20 sites · RVs, Tents6 acres · Aguanga, CA

Saddle Up Ranch is a horse rescue that is ever growing. We have over 180 trees on the property (mostly beautiful flowing California Pepper Trees) and have gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and horse pastures.We offer horseback riding, goat yoga, and goat milking. You can also volunteer and help care for the animals while you are here by feeding, grooming or simply petting them. TJ, our owner, is working her way through the race track. Our campsites are managed by Tony. He works closely with guests to expand our campsites. TJ and many of the guides volunteer hard hours to rehabilitate the horse and give them a good home. You should see how the animals flock to TJ. The ranch also has goats, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats. You can support our mission of rescuing horses by booking one of our horseback riding or other services! Thank you for your support! Guests love staying here: "Second stay and looking forward to returning again! <3 We were the only campers during the weekend, it was so serene. It gets very cold at night but the star filled skies are breathtaking. This time during our stay we had 3 kitty visitors and 3 dogs that rolled up to our camp multiple times, it felt like they were checking up on us. It was so cute. The sweet Aussie poked his head in our tent to say "you good?" haha It was so cute and they were extremely friendly and social! The black kitten stayed at our camp all night and cuddled on our laps by the fire. It was such a lovely experience. TJ and her crew have done an amazing job with this place, I don't have enough words to explain. Just see for yourself! You'll love it!! Can't wait to visit again!"

3 sites · Lodging5 acres · Aguanga, CA

(66)

Granite Mountain

*IF THE SITE YOU ARE WANTING IS BOOKED, PLEASE SEE OUR OTHER BEAUTIFUL SITES; - THE EAGLES NEST MOUNTAIN CABIN - THE BLACK CEDAR HAVEN CABIN - THE RUSTIC TIMBER A-FRAME CABIN A serene off grid escape where rugged beauty meets modern comfort. Here, snuggled deep into towering mountain peaks and expansive vistas, you’ll find tranquility like never before. Disconnect from the chaos of everyday life and reconnect with your inner peace as you bask in the raw calm beauty surrounding you. With breathtaking captivating views that seem to stretch endlessly, every moment promises serenity and rejuvenation. Welcome to your peaceful mountain sanctuary

95%

(131)

Lakeshore Retreat

1 site · RV, Tent1 acre · Lake Elsinore, CA

Enjoy a private lakefront camping area on Lake Elsinore. You will never get tired of the beautiful sunsets, night sky, or all the water-sports on the lake. Historic downtown is just minutes away where you will find restaurants, and stores all within walking distance. Perfect place for a basecamp for nearby hiking, biking, off-roading. Amenities include private dock, potable water, deluxe porta-potty, fire ring, 2 picnic tables(under a 10' x 10' canopy with water mister), and some shady trees🌴

90%

(90)

Native Falls Campground

43 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents25 acres · Temecula, CA

We are very glad you found us! Our hours are from 9am to 6pm everyday. Check in time starts at noon. Accommodations include fully furnished cabins, RV sites, and tent camping. The campground includes a lake with a waterfall, a sandy beach, lake toys, and catch & release fishing. Additional amenities include a Pickleball Court, shuffleboard, Pool Table, fire pits, picnic tables, hiking trails, and more!

5 sites · Lodging60 acres · Fallbrook, CA

(423)

Bailes Farm

One of the last remaining undeveloped parts of Southern California, De Luz Heights is located adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest, and the Santa Margarita River (just a few miles from the campsite). On my 60 acres, there are no major roads going through or next to the property. My land is 13 miles from the Pacific ocean and enjoys a relatively mild yearly climate. Giant boulders provide topographical relief and offer platforms from which to enjoy the view of the nearby Santa Margarita Mountains. The valley views are filled with olive and avocado groves, vineyards, and horse ranches. The Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base is nearby, so you might hear some artillery in the distance on some occasions. The campsite embraces all the comforts of "glamping": a hot shower, composting toilet, beds with sheets provided, gas grill with a stovetop, pots and pans, kitchenware, a sink, picnic table, shaded deck, sofa, lounge chairs, and propane fire pit. The basics are provided: toilet paper, paper towels, purified drinking water, towels, sheets, cooking oil, etc. Campers need to bring their own blankets. I've created a network of hiking trails for especially fit hikers looking for a more rigorous hike than the nearby Santa Margarita River Trail. My trails lead through creek beds, over boulders, through rocky crags, with views of the Pacific ocean on a clear day. Hikers on my trails need to wear proper hiking boots with good traction. Sections of my trails will require bouldering with hands and feet. Expect to have fatigued quadriceps, some scrapes, and a sweaty hat brim. The campsite is accessible with a two-wheel drive vehicle; I drive a Kia Forte out there regularly. However, some tips when driving a two-wheel drive car: when going uphill on a dirt road, try to keep some momentum of about 12-15 MPH. If you stop and try to start again, your tires will spin out. If that happens, just reverse down the hill, and try it again with more momentum.

19 sites · RVs, Tents36 acres · Perris, CA

(79)

Rock & Tree

It's so nice to "meet you" my name is Taryn and my hubby's name is Anson. We are parents to two-year-old twins, so saying we have our hands full is an understatement. Anson is a folk and blues musician and has traveled all around the U.S. playing his music and I work for a children's book company. One day, we decided that we wanted to live the rest of our lives hosting live music, and events and that's how Rock & Tree began. As the idea grew, we wanted to create an Open Canvas so that the guest could dream up what they wanted on our stage. We moved to the Inland Empire from Santa Monica, in 2017 with the dream of building an open canvas event space out of sustainable, re purposed and natural materials. Our mission is help enrich the culture of Perris, CA by providing a unique venue that takes you away from the hustle and bustle and takes you to a wonderland of nature surrounded by rocks and eucalyptus trees. Anson and I continue to build everything ourselves with the help of our friends and family every now and again. Our process is that we source as much lumber using the dead Eucalyptus trees we have here on the 36 acre property and we are constantly trying to come up with innovative ways to use recycled and donated materials in the venue. During the pandemic, we turned our venue into a campground so we could open up the venue to people who needed to get out into nature. We are now open for daily camping and private events. You can follow our journey on our Instagram.

The best camping near San Onofre State Beach guide

Overview

About

San Onofre State Beach is among the most popular beaches in California, attracting surfers, swimmers, and campers, particularly in the summer months. This state park is spread out over three main areas: the sandstone San Onofre Bluffs, which offer campsites looking out over a swim beach; the San Onofre Surf Beach, which has breaks for surfers of all levels; and the inland San Mateo Campground, which is linked to Surf Beach via a nature trail. San Onofre is also an excellent spot for birdwatching, and it’s not uncommon to spot whales, sea lions, and dolphins swimming just offshore.

Notable campgrounds

Great for off-season camping: San Mateo Campground, just inland from the beach, has tent and RV camping all year long.
Great for watching the sunset: San Onofre Bluffs Campground offers front-row views of the Pacific Ocean and easy access down to the shore.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Campsites can be reserved up to six months in advance on the California State Parks website or over the phone.
Campgrounds tend to fill up fast, particularly on weekends and during the summer, so it's wise to book as early as possible.
San Onofre Bluffs Campground is open seasonally, from mid-May through September, but San Mateo Campground is open year-round.
The maximum permitted length for motorhomes and trailers is 36 feet. There are no hookups at San Onofre Bluffs Campground
If you can’t secure a reservation, look into availability at San Clemente State Beach, a few minutes’ drive up the coast.

When to go

San Onofre State Beach is popular throughout the year, though summer is by far the busiest time, when campgrounds fill quickly. While June can be overcast, the weather is still generally pleasant, and July through September is hot and dry. Winters are too cold to swim, but if you come between December and April, you may get the chance to spot migrating gray whales just off the coast.

Know before you go

There are plenty of spots to pick up groceries and other supplies within a 10-minute drive of the park in San Clemente.

Dogs are allowed in campgrounds, if leashed, but not on the beach or on trails.
Alcohol and smoking is not permitted on trails or on beach areas.
Generators are allowed in the campgrounds, but must be turned off between 8pm and 10am.
Accessible tent and RV/trailer sites, accessible restrooms, and accessible parking spots are available at both campgrounds. A beach wheelchair is also available for visitors to borrow free of charge.

88%

100 ratings · 24 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

Highly recommend!

I loved the spot, super clean and spacious enough. Also the view at night in unbelievable!! Great spot to spent the weekend.

Antonio T.

3 reviews

December 2022

I have camped here twice. While I enjoy the layout and grounds, there seems to be no patrolling of campground or consideration of other campers. As I am writing this there is a large party, many people, very loud music and karaoke on one side of me and competing loud music and occasional karaoke on the other side. It is anything but peaceful, more like a frat party. That being said, the bathrooms are clean, grounds well-maintained and a nice trail to the beach.

Heather D.

2 years on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· July 2021

Extremely tiny campsites. Barely big enough for a single tent especially considering there were people on both sides of our campsite. It was very crowded and we were right behind a hill. We had absolutely no view of the cliffs of water and it was a very far walk to get down to the beach. Not at all how pictured when we booked in the campsite.

Kendall A.

3 years on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· April 2019

This isn't a great place for solo campers or families. The campgrounds are close and there were at least three big parties being thrown with far more than 8 people in a campsite. The family next to me packed up and went home a day early. That said, the flowers along the nature trail to the beach are quite pretty in late April and the bathroom facilities were clean.

Amy G.

7 years on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· September 2018

Right next to the freeway!!

Michelle G.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2018

Had a great experience camping here with friends overall. It was a bit louder than other places we've been, but the tent sites were fairly private, and the walkable shoreline access was a huge plus! Would camp here again.

Christine Lee S.

7 years on Hipcamp

January 2018

Didn’t stay here due to campground closure. Note that they do not have winter camping available.

Laura M.

7 years on Hipcamp

October 2017

I decided t solo camp here and it was a great pick. The camp sites are private and spacious. I reserved a spot but it was taken when I arrived. That was fine because I drove round and round the perfect spot. It was nice to have a hot shower every night. I walked the trails to the beach and watched the surfers then headed back to camp and enjoyed a camp fire. I am looking forward to my next solo camping trip.

Belinda Bj Y.

7 years on Hipcamp

September 2017

Nice little get away from the City, I recommend the first few campsites by trail 1 great view and also the last few by trail 6 also great view...there are bees so bring a repellent candle for your site! Surf is a must here so bring your board and some booties! Also dog friendly and great for cycling recommend bringing your bike!

Josimar A.

7 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2017