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San Clemente Beach

Orange County



San Clemente State Beach

Location

225 Avenida Calafia
San Clemente, CA
(949) 492-3156

Admission

Day Use Parking: $15
Day Use Hours: 6 AM to 10 PM

Main Attractions

Facilities and Features

Accessibility

Hazards Include


Caution: Check with rangers or lifeguards that conditions are safe for your planned activities.

Regulations (partial list)

  1. Do not climb the bluffs - unstable and dangerous.
  2. Collecting dead wood is prohibited.
  3. No alcohol except in campsites.
  4. Dogs are not permitted on trails or the beach.
  5. Dogs must be on leash and attended at all times.
  6. No collecting or disturbing natural features.
  7. No fires on the beach.

Webcams

San Clemente Beach Webcam

San Clemente Surf and Beach Webcam


San Clemente Beach, San Clemente, CA

San Clemente Beach


San Clemente Beach

San Clemente's 4-mile coastline is divided into a number of popular beaches, including North Beach, San Clemente City Beach, and San Clemente State Beach.

Along most of their length the narrow beaches are guarded by high bluffs, interrupted by an occasional ravine. Running along the edge of the beach at the foot of the bluffs is a railroad line. With the combination of precipitous bluffs and the railroad tracks, safe access to the beaches is limited to a number of key places.

San Clemente Pier is at the heart of the city beach. Near the pier is a railway station, making it convenient for passengers to hop off a train and be on the beach with just a few steps.

San Clemente Beach map,  Orange County, CA

Accessing San Clemente
City Beach

A dozen beach access points are spread along San Clemente City Beach, some combined with facilities, others simply a path to the sand. All parking lots are metered at $1.50 per hour. Most take credit cards.


Calafia Beach, San Clemente, CA

Calafia Beach




San Clemente City Beach Information

Beach and Pier Hours: 4 AM to 12 midnight

Beach Concessions


Beach and Pier Regulations (partial list)

  1. No alcohol or dogs on the beach.
  2. Fires in self-contained BBS (off the sand) or provided fire rings only.
  3. No glass containers on beach or pier
  4. Jumping and diving from the pier is prohibited.

Accessibility

Two beach wheelchairs at Marine Safety Headquarters for public use (free of charge). Please call (949) 361-8219 to make reservations (highly recommended).

Lifeguards

The Marine Safety Division is staffed from 8 AM to dusk, every day.
The main lifeguard tower on the pier is staffed from 8:20 AM every morning.
Lifeguard towers staffed from 9 or 10 AM until 6 or 7 PM. Staffing and hours are partially based on crown conditions.

Calafia parking map, San Celemente, Orange County, CA

Ride the Train to San Clemente Beaches

San Clemente has two stations along the railroad line that runs along the edge of the beach - the North Beach Station and the San Clemente Pier Station. Facilities near each station include parking and restrooms. A ticket machine is located at the station, but there are no attendants.

train  in San Clemente

Riders have their choice of Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or Metrolink's Orange County Line.

Pacific Surfliner

Trains run from San Luis Obispo San Diego. Two daily, morning trains to San Clemente Pier take about 45 minutes from Santa Ana with stops at Irvine and San Juan Capistrano. A pair of northbound trains stop at San Clemente Pier in the late afternoon. Check their website for precise times: Amtrak Timetables

Metrolink

Metrolink trains run between Oceanside and Los Angeles, with connections there to greater LA. Metrolink stops at the North Beach Station next to Ole Hanson Beach Club on weekdays and also San Clemente Pier on weekends. Bicycles can be taken on Metrolink. Metrolink Orange County Line Timetable.

San Clemente Beach Trail

A beachside trail runs parallel to the railroad tracks from North Beach all the way to Calafia Beach. The multi-use trail makes it convenient for pedestrians and cyclists to move from one part of the beach to another.

San Clemente coast



Parking at San Clemente
State Beach

The day-use parking area at San Clemente State Beach is atop a rugged bluff overlooking the ocean and beach. A picnic area, restrooms, and a visitor center are located there. Access to the beach from there is via two long trails that follow ravines down through the sandstone cliffs. (see map below) A pedestrian tunnel leads under the railroad tracks.

Parking at the state beach is $15 per day for each vehicle. Alternative access to the beach is at the city run Avenida Calafia parking area to the north. (see the Calafia Parking map, below, right.)

San Clemente State Beach, San Celemente, Orange County, CA

Nearby Beaches


Ocean Safety

California State Parks and Recreation cautions that "large surf, cold water temperatures, backwash, sudden drop-offs, pounding shorebreak, and dangerous rip currents can turn what seem like safe activities such as playing near the surf line, wading, or climbing on rock outcroppings, deadly." Learn more about ocean safety at
CA State Parks: Ocean Safety

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Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that may have been made. Also, check with lifeguards that conditions at the beach are safe for your planned activities.

The maps displayed above are for illustrative purposes only. California's Best Beaches website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. The information provided on this website is done so without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.