Review Detail
3.9 49
California
195078
OCTOBER 2025
Overall rating
2.6
Location
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
1.0
Amenities/Facilities
2.0
Value
2.0
Overall Experience
3.0
Security Alert - repeat concern to be alert for kids, unleashed dogs running free, & property loss. Front USMC Gates requires civilian real ID or Military ID to enter, San Onofre State Beach ( side by side with Camp Pen. ) has easy, no ID required, non-military, walk on access into Camp Pendleton, with anything they wish to carry, or carry off. It is what it is. Where is the security? Anyone can come over from the state beach and do anything they want….bathrooms, etc, that upper level bathroom female bathroom door does not close or lock, as hinge is broken. - Rates: Very high, this is on Military Base? Rates are higher than other civilian / State campgrounds in the area. New winter pricing 'AI Dynamic Pricing' is a bit confusing, and did not save us any money. Call and speak to Michelle, the manager, she will explain how it works, I did not find it explained online. Rates are very high for conditions of campground.
Last winter there were more open spots than occupied spots. - Large Groups Welcomed: San Onofre Beach Camp Pendleton Ball Field / dry camping - rented out to tent and RV campers, +200 people, these are large nice, civilian groups. Great for YMCA, Boy Scouts. On the non plus side: Fire safety, some of these groups have unsecured open bonfires. Pits with rings are supplied in the ball field - but these are not enough for the large groups - so they just build in anywhere. Open, no rings. Where is security? - Facilities: **Women's restroom, see photos, black mold in the showers. Entry door does not close hangs open ( door top hinge rusted off, not replaced ) so it's left open to whomever. This is an Open Air Bathroom. So at night you may be greeted by a thirsty coyote, skunk, or lost bird. Really... Door is open. To me this is a safety issue for all the children who wander unattended, and shower in there. There are coded door locks, but since entry door does not close behind you, it is NOT secure. - Dump Station: During the rainy months of Feb / March, the dump station over FILLING, comes out across the road. They know, they look, they leave. By They I mean the management, the base facilities. Seen them come out, observe, and leave. Photos of UN-Flooded Dump Station. So where does the money go? There must be six different managers of San Onofre Recreation Beach, manager at site, assist manager at site, then at MCCS headquarters there are +five more managers who oversee SANO. Have any of them actually seen the conditions of restrooms, showers, ground squirrel holes in the RV Spots ( over 90 in my spot last stay ), non working filthy, laundry facilities ( was told new washers and dryers coming Nov 2025 - this is a contracted out service provided by CSC ServiceWorks, Inc.NY / NJ ). - Stuff to know if you go: - Great sunsets, gotta start with a pleasant memory. - Bluff RV Spots ( water and electricity, no sewer, $74 a night ) are small & very uneven, with lots of 'ground hole making' critters. Neighbors: you are smack right on top of your neighbor. -Tents Unlimited? personal experience, up to five tents allowed, 4 family sized & one shade for cooking. In excess of 12 people. Again these are small spots so above family parked half of their tents on the pavement in front of spot. Where is security? Thought 3 tents were allowed. -** Bluff RV Spot Round Fire Pits: your neighbor, the adjacent camper’s RV Spot Fire Ring is less than 4' from the rear of next door motorhome really. - Infra-structure Power Pedestal for Electricity & water: see photos, bring a surge protector or don't come. Unstable. Staffing: Front desk 99% percent nice as can be. Do any of them ever see the campground, the lack of maintenance, the security issues - wish they could wander in the restroom of campground? It is like the maintenance staff has given up. When asked about cleaning bathroom floors, it is once a month…really, and that is only after they got the “new” power washer, so it is a rinse out not a cleaning.
Last winter there were more open spots than occupied spots. - Large Groups Welcomed: San Onofre Beach Camp Pendleton Ball Field / dry camping - rented out to tent and RV campers, +200 people, these are large nice, civilian groups. Great for YMCA, Boy Scouts. On the non plus side: Fire safety, some of these groups have unsecured open bonfires. Pits with rings are supplied in the ball field - but these are not enough for the large groups - so they just build in anywhere. Open, no rings. Where is security? - Facilities: **Women's restroom, see photos, black mold in the showers. Entry door does not close hangs open ( door top hinge rusted off, not replaced ) so it's left open to whomever. This is an Open Air Bathroom. So at night you may be greeted by a thirsty coyote, skunk, or lost bird. Really... Door is open. To me this is a safety issue for all the children who wander unattended, and shower in there. There are coded door locks, but since entry door does not close behind you, it is NOT secure. - Dump Station: During the rainy months of Feb / March, the dump station over FILLING, comes out across the road. They know, they look, they leave. By They I mean the management, the base facilities. Seen them come out, observe, and leave. Photos of UN-Flooded Dump Station. So where does the money go? There must be six different managers of San Onofre Recreation Beach, manager at site, assist manager at site, then at MCCS headquarters there are +five more managers who oversee SANO. Have any of them actually seen the conditions of restrooms, showers, ground squirrel holes in the RV Spots ( over 90 in my spot last stay ), non working filthy, laundry facilities ( was told new washers and dryers coming Nov 2025 - this is a contracted out service provided by CSC ServiceWorks, Inc.NY / NJ ). - Stuff to know if you go: - Great sunsets, gotta start with a pleasant memory. - Bluff RV Spots ( water and electricity, no sewer, $74 a night ) are small & very uneven, with lots of 'ground hole making' critters. Neighbors: you are smack right on top of your neighbor. -Tents Unlimited? personal experience, up to five tents allowed, 4 family sized & one shade for cooking. In excess of 12 people. Again these are small spots so above family parked half of their tents on the pavement in front of spot. Where is security? Thought 3 tents were allowed. -** Bluff RV Spot Round Fire Pits: your neighbor, the adjacent camper’s RV Spot Fire Ring is less than 4' from the rear of next door motorhome really. - Infra-structure Power Pedestal for Electricity & water: see photos, bring a surge protector or don't come. Unstable. Staffing: Front desk 99% percent nice as can be. Do any of them ever see the campground, the lack of maintenance, the security issues - wish they could wander in the restroom of campground? It is like the maintenance staff has given up. When asked about cleaning bathroom floors, it is once a month…really, and that is only after they got the “new” power washer, so it is a rinse out not a cleaning.
