One Of California's Best Beachfront Campgrounds Offers Pure Paradise With Warm Ocean Waters

Whether you're a seasoned outdoor adventurer or a newbie who ordered your first tent this year, camping is one of the best ways to experience California's natural beauty. From a Northern California beachside campground that's worth the trek to peaceful camping areas minutes from the Big Sur coast, California offers some of the best West Coast spots for beach camping.

However, for a campground perched on dramatic bluffs overlooking the warm, wild Southern California ocean, there's no better place than San Clemente State Beach. Situated five minutes outside San Clemente in Orange County, the campground offers incredible sunset views across the mile-long beach. Eucalyptus trees and coastal sage shrubs dot the cliffs, providing shade and a hint of privacy.

Unlike many beachfront campgrounds in California, the ocean water at San Clemente State Park is a swimmable temperature most of the year. According to Surf-Forecast.com, the water temperature ranges between 55 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the water is warm enough for most people to surf with only a two-millimeter shorty suit (a wetsuit with short arms and legs) between June and October.

Pack your tent or drive your RV to San Clemente State Beach and wake up to waves crashing and the cry of seabirds overhead. The campground has 86 camping sites (no hook-up), which can also accept small RVs and trailers, and 72 full hook-up RV sites with water, sewage, and electricity. Each site can have a maximum of eight guests and three vehicles. While many sites offer glimpses of the water, camping sites 82, 83, 85, 88, and 89 have the best oceanfront views. Also, keep in mind that the campsites are slightly farther apart than the RV sites. So, if privacy is important to you, consider booking a campsite.

For a taste of the glamping life, book one of The Holidays Camp Community's vintage trailers through Reserve California. Although there isn't a bathroom, each refurbished trailer comes with a stovetop, a fridge, sleeping space for four adults, and USD chargers. Guests can also access the campground's hot showers, flush toilets, and picnic tables. The trailers face each other, so they're a good option for groups of friends.

To ensure you get the camping experience of your dreams, research how far in advance you should be booking your campsite. All California state parks allow you to book a campsite six months before your arrival date. We recommend booking as soon as possible if you want an oceanfront site or if you're traveling during a holiday or long weekend.

The first thing you'll want to do when you pull into your campsite is take your shoes off and sink your toes into the sand. The sand isn't powdery fine, but it's soft to the touch and great for building sandcastles. If you're a competent surfer, head out to the break or ask the rangers about the swimming conditions. While the warm waters and natural beauty are the main draws at San Clemente State Beach, there are plenty of other things to do.

Take a bicycle ride along the coastal trail or enjoy hours beachcombing for tiny treasures (don't take anything you find with you, of course). Pack your binoculars and watch as western gulls slide above the surf and hawks circle farther inland. Look for monarch butterflies in the eucalyptus trees during the winter months, or see if paddle boarding is as easy as it looks. If you're traveling with children during the summer months, attend a Junior Ranger program or join a guided hike to learn about the local creatures.

And, if you need a break from camping, San Clemente's restaurants and beachy cafes are only a five-minute drive away. Skip the dishes and barbeque cleanup for one night and enjoy clam chowder and seasonal catches at Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar at the entrance of San Clemente Pier.