Trestles gets the contest cameras, but just south of it, San Onofre State Beach has been the spiritual home of California longboarding since the 1930s. Locals just call it San-O, and the club that has surfed it since 1952 is still showing up at dawn.
Why San Onofre?
San Onofre is a roughly mile long stretch of coast with several named peaks, all forgiving, mellow, and built for a longboard, which is a big part of why it has stayed a cultural landmark rather than just another good beach.
→ Old Man's, the signature wave, breaks around 200 yards offshore over an outer reef with a long paddle out; Dog Patch is the slow, forgiving section where true beginners are sent; and The Point, further along, suits shortboarders instead.
↳ The San Onofre Surfing Club, founded in 1952 after Marine Corps control of the land threatened surfer access, still runs today, and the whole stretch carries a reputation for an "aloha spirit" culture rather than aggressive localism, even on a crowded weekend.
Getting There and Getting Around
- Fly into John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA), the closer option at roughly 40 minutes' drive, or San Diego International (SAN), about an hour away.
- → From Los Angeles, it is about 62 miles and roughly 1 hour 15 minutes down the I-5 to San Clemente; from San Diego, about 58 miles and a little over an hour.
- ↳ Enter at the park's main gate off I-5 at Basilone Road for Old Man's, Dog Patch, and The Point, or use the San Mateo Campground entrance on Cristianitos Road for the nature trail that connects to Trestles. Day use runs approx. $15 per vehicle, rising to approx. $20 on holidays and peak weekends.
A current access note worth checking before you go: California State Parks closed the lower dirt lots at Surf Beach, Old Man's own parking area, through the fall and winter of 2026 due to coastal erosion from earlier storm damage. Only a small upper paved lot remains open, with long waits reported, and visitors are being told to park at Trails and walk or bike in instead.
When to Surf
San Onofre is a south and southwest swell spot, so it lines up with the broader Southern California pattern of bigger south swell from spring through fall, roughly April through October, while staying surfable through the smaller winter windswell months too. The water drops into the mid 50s°F (around 13°C) in winter, warming into the high 60s°F (around 20°C) by late summer, so most locals keep a wetsuit on hand year round. Hazards: the shallow end has a cobblestone and small rock bottom, so booties are a sensible call, and the current lower lot closure at Old Man's means a longer carry with your board than in past years. Crowds build on weekends and at dawn, when the longtime local crew shows up, though the wide, consistent waves generally mean there is enough to go around.
Surf Breaks
- Old Man's: The signature longboard wave, roughly 200 yards offshore over a reef.
Wave: Mellow, long paddle, best south swell.
Level: Intermediate longboarders. - Dog Patch: A slow, forgiving section close to shore.
Wave: Soft and wide.
Level: Beginner. - The Point: A steeper peak further along the beach.
Wave: Faster, with some lefts.
Level: Shortboard friendly, intermediate.
Where to Stay
→ Prices below are approximate and were seen in November 2026.
Budget ($)
San Mateo Campground, San Onofre State Beach
830 Cristianitos Rd, San Clemente. Recent camper reports put a site at approx. $65 to $75/night; book through ReserveCalifornia.com and confirm the current rate.
Mid-Range ($$)
Hotel Avenida, San Clemente
A short drive from the park entrance. Rooms run from approx. $86/night, seen on Booking.com.
Beachfront/Luxury ($$$)
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point
A beachfront resort a short drive north. Rooms run from approx. $455/night depending on room type and dates, seen via Kayak.
Food and Drink
-
Local institution: The Fisherman's Restaurant and Bar, San Clemente
→ A pier side San Clemente mainstay. Fish tacos run approx. $15.60, clam chowder approx. $7.80, per the current menu. -
Surf crowd favorite: Hapa J's, San Clemente
↳ A Hawaiian plate lunch spot known for its Taco Tuesday deal. Tacos run approx. $5.25 each on Tuesdays, per the current menu.
Photographing San Onofre (Surf Snaps)
A longboard nose ride at Old Man's, with the Surfing Club's palm frond shack somewhere in the background, is about as California as a surf photo gets, and the club culture here means there is always someone worth shooting on any given morning. If you are shooting San-O, or you are the surfer who finally stuck the drop knee cheater five at The Point, Surf Snaps is built for exactly this. Upload a gallery once at surf-snaps.com/upload and it stays live as a shoppable set, with no subscription, listing fee, or storage bill, and nothing owed until a photo actually sells. Surf Snaps takes a 10% revenue share and pays the rest out monthly, and the photographer keeps copyright throughout. Surfers can browse without even creating an account at surf-snaps.com/explore, with photos listed from $8.
FAQ: Surfing San Onofre, California
Is San Onofre good for beginners?
Dog Patch specifically is, a slow and forgiving section where newer surfers are usually sent. Old Man's and The Point suit more experienced riders.
Where exactly is San Onofre?
Inside San Onofre State Beach, just south of San Clemente in Orange County, California, right next to Trestles.
Is there a fee to surf San Onofre?
Yes, a day use vehicle fee applies, approx. $15 on a regular day and approx. $20 on holidays and peak weekends.
What is the best time of year to surf San Onofre?
Roughly April through October for the bigger south swells, though winter windswell keeps it surfable most of the year.
Where can I find photos of my session at San Onofre?
Check surf-snaps.com/explore, where photographers shooting San-O list their galleries by spot and date, so you can search for your own session without needing an account just to browse.
