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Much to do at San Onofre State Beach - from TripAdvisor.com
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I just camped out at San Mateo Campground Aug 18th to 20th "˜08. I took all the neighborhood kids, many of them are on the High School Surf Team and we all loved every minute of it. We had to reserve two different spots #122 and #103 both nice and we couldn't see our neighbors due to the dense bushes around these spots. I recommend spots from about #101 through #114 or so, these have more bushes and trees. Lots of things to do here, I've seen everything from rattlesnakes to a bald eagle at this campground. The place is covered with California Native Plants, several different types of Sage and California Buckwheat, Elderberries (these make a good pie), bladderpod (Indians used to eat these)...just to name a few"“many of these plants attract the many birds that can be found here, several which are endangered species. Trestles Beach and Lagoon (which by the way breaks through the sand and flows into the ocean around every 3 years) is awesome, this is how a So Cal beach should look in its natural form, it's very beautiful. Springtime is especially nice here, green hills and wildflowers everywhere. As you approach the I5 on the trail to the beach you are literally standing in an 8,000 year old Native American burial ground. This is the last unspoiled natural So Cal beach we have left with so much nature and cultural history, I really enjoy it. I go back every chance I get. This place is great and I highly recommend it! Enjoy!
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Posted by Cindyc1 on 8/27/2008
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Camping Among the Redwoods - from TripAdvisor.com
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San Mateo Campground is one of our favorite campgrounds. The rangers are friendly and the redwoods here are beautiful. We spent three days recently and felt rejuvenated.
Sites vary from semi-private to not so private and some are much bigger than others. Reservations are taken online and a map is provided with pictures of individual sites. I recommend the sites on the river sides of sections B & C.
The camp store is well stocked but only open 4 months a year. From fall until the end of May, only one portion of the park remains open for camping but I think it would be too cold for many people during that time, anyway.
Bathrooms are clean unless it's the middle of the night & the raccoons have been in there drinking from the toilet. But - hey, it's camping so you expect that. : )
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Posted by Membergirl on 7/4/2008
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A great value in So Cal - from TripAdvisor.com
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My family and I were looking for a quick get away near Orange County and we found it. I must admit I was concerned when I read several bad reviews ranging from too much noise to stolen articles. San Mateo is located off the 5fwy and Exit Cristianitos. Camp Pendleton Marines actually own the property but camping is open to the public. Our experience was in San Mateo's RV loop which I believe is spaces 1-60. We stayed in space 48 and found the site clean and spacious by coastal RV site standards. The RV site provides water hookup and 20-30 amp electrical service, fire pit and a dump station at the front of the park. For around $29 per night it was well worth it. The surroundings were lush greenery, hiking trails and the famed Trestles surf beach 1 1/2 mi away (hiking distance) The park hours during this time of season were approx 7-5pm and the gates remain OPEN while not being attended. You are allowed 1 free tow vehicle, but be aware that if you are not actually towing you free tow vehicle you will be charged $10 per night. Up side is the tickets can be used at the nearby State Beach for admission. On our final day Sunday we could hear the firing range that is nearby on the Marine base but it did not bother many including us. Overall our experience was great and we will surely return. Don't forget to bring your Firewood.
we booked our stay through: reserveamerica.com and it is located under San Onofre SB as it is part of that area.
Pro's*********************************
Close proximity 20-30 min from OC
Great Price
Feels Secluded
Restrooms/ Showers in park
Well maintained sites
Fire pits that can actually be used
Level Asphalt Landing (RV LOOP)
Some privacy with plant growth (varies site to site)
Nearby San Diego Zoo, Sea World and Oceanside Harbor
Weather
Cons*************************************
No dump located in sites (central location)
Extra $10 fee for vehicles not towed in
No convenience store (stores within 1 mi. outside park)
The phone # offered up for this park never worked.
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Posted by Niners007 on 3/11/2008
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Lock Up Your Firewood!! - from TripAdvisor.com
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We have stayed at the San Mateo Campground in the past and it has been fine. This time we were disappointed to discover that there is no one there to check anyone in during the evening hours. We arrived around 7:00 p.m. both nights this past week. Although we booked our reservations through the website and had our confirmation numbers with us, no one was there to check; also there was no one there at 6:00 a.m. when we left to go to the beach to surf. Therefore, we did not get the necessary sticker for our windshield to produce at the other State Parks the next day and we ended up paying an additional $10.00 fee.
Upon arriving at our site the 2nd night, we found someone in our site. We drove all over the campground, in our motorhome, looking for a Ranger or someone to help us. After 45 minutes, we discovered our site empty (probably the nasty family we ran into at the front kiosk). There were lots of loud campers at their firepits that second
night. We had stored our firewood under our RV and found out the next
morning that it had been stolen.
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Posted by Npwpmom on 4/15/2007
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Would never stay here again! - from TripAdvisor.com
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The campground itself is descent, typical so cal desert camping, but it ts literally only one mile off the freeway so if you want to feel like "you are getting away from it all" this is definitely not the place. The inner loop is basically like a large group campground. There is NO privacy between the campgrounds that back each other. My real complaint has to do with the campground guests who thought staying up until 3 am screaming profanities at each other was an ideal vacation. My husband and I ended up packing up everything at 3am and heading home because we couldn't sleep at all with all the noise. No exaggeration, they were still going strong when we drove out. Did we seek help from the campground or sheriff whose number was posted on the ranger station? Of course, only to be told that the marine base Camp Pendleton is responsible for the site and won't respond to noise complaints. What a waste of money.
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Posted by Tylerjones on 3/27/2007
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Great Time!! - from TripAdvisor.com
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I haven't been camping since I was a kid myself. I wanted to take my sons (hubby's idea of camping is no room service) and maybe see if they enjoyed it. I rented a tent trailer and headed off.......
We all enjoyed the campground, was very clean, the boys enjoyed the wildlife (rabbits, ground squirrels, birds), and the bathrooms were clean along with the showers.
Since its a State Park, we could go to San Clemente to boogie board and swim or to Doheny Beach at no entrance charge. Then go back to the campground for the rest of the evening. Was pretty quiet, considering I rented a tent trailer, I felt very safe there, security came around couple times that I saw, and our neighbors were very considerate to the rules and kept things down after 11pm. I would recommend this campground anytime. In fact I just bought a tent trailer and the kids and I are taking Dad camping to San Mateo in a couple of weeks!!
P.S. I made reservations through the State Park 800 number. She was very
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Posted by Lilbitandme on 9/5/2006
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Great Campground but Check the Cost. - from TripAdvisor.com
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Nearly every year my family camps out at one of the local campsites here in California and many friends join us as well. We have been to San Mateo Campground (SMC) before and this time (August 2006) is a return visit. We camp for 3 nights each time. The campground is well kept, very clean with lots of shade on most campsites. Although SMC is well secluded, one thing that we find very convenient is the closeness to civilization. A short trip of 1.5 mi and you're in San Clemente with plenty of shopping, restaurants and beaches. This all sounds real good but I must warn you of something I feel is deceptive in the posted cost for the campsites. Two years ago we paid $25 per site per night. This year we paid $27.50. Not a bad increase, but although they claim 3 cars per campsite, they now charge $10 per day for each car after the first. That's an extra $20 per day per site! That almost doubles the cost for the campsites and this was not the case when we were here two years ago. Nowhere in
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Posted by Joe4trips on 8/14/2006
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