San Onofre State Beach

Park Popular surf beach with coastal state park access

On the San Diego-Orange County border, San Onofre State Beach draws surfers to long breaks, anglers to rocky points and campers to beachfront sites.

San Onofre State Beach is a California state beach and coastal recreation area located on the Pacific coast at the border of northern San Diego County and southern Orange County. It is known for long sandy beaches, surfing, coastal trails and beachfront campgrounds.

The beach is popular with surfers, swimmers and campers; well-known surf breaks near the site include the Trestles area at the county line. The park includes multiple beach access points, day-use areas and a state campground.

Portions of the coastline adjacent to the park lie within the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and some access routes and parking are influenced by base boundaries. The park is managed by California State Parks for recreation and coastal resource protection.

San Onofre State Beach stretches along the coast between the cities of San Clemente (Orange County) and Oceanside (San Diego County), south of Los Angeles and north of San Diego.

Trestles surf break: The park includes the world-famous Trestles surf break near the county line; access points and parking vary, and weekends are busiest.

What to See #

Campground: San Mateo Campground provides tent and RV sites close to the beach; other units include day-use bluffs and trail access points to the shoreline.

How to Get to San Onofre State Beach #

Reachable by car from Interstate 5 (take Avenida Pico/Ortega Highway exits depending on the access point). Amtrak and regional trains stop at nearby stations; local shuttles and park signage direct to specific beach access points.

Tips for Visiting San Onofre State Beach #

Arrive before dawn to catch the best surf and parking close to the beach access points.
Be aware of surf-zone regulations and seasonal restroom availability; portions of the park are relatively undeveloped.