San Clemente,
California

San Clemente in California is a small city on the Pacific Coast Highway midway between San Diego and Los Angeles, noted for its beaches, surfing, and Spanish colonial-style architecture. 

San Clemente in CaliforniaSan Clemente

San Clemente's city slogan is 'Spanish Village by the Sea' and, like Santa Barbara, it's a pretty place to walk around, with lots of its houses, shops, restaurants, and other buildings having cream stucco walls, red-tiled roofs, and windows and doors using dark woods, in Spanish style.

Getting to San Clemente

With average traffic it should take about an hour to drive to San Clemente from San Diego, and a little more from Los Angeles because of the heavier traffic. You can take either the Pacific Coast Highway along the coast, or I-5, which also runs through the city.

Our Pick of the California Guides

Rough-Guide-California-2023.png

You can also take the Amtrak train from either San Diego or Los Angeles to San Clemente, and the city has two stations, including one right by the pier. You might want to think about taking the train, to avoid the hassle of traffic and parking.

Amtrak train tracks in San ClementeTake the Train to San Clemente

When to Visit San Clemente

San Clemente has an almost perfect climate, so any time of year is a good time to visit. You might want to avoid February, when it gets about 1/3 of its annual rainfall, but even that month only sees just over 3" (76mm). There's hardly any rain from May to October.

It averages 310 sunny days a year. December is the coldest month with average highs of 67F (19C) and average lows of 49F (9C). In August you can expect average highs of 87F (31C) and average lows of 61F (16C).

What to Do in San Clemente

Casa Romantica

Casa Romantica was built in 1927 as a home for the founder of San Clemente, a real-estate developer named Ole Hanson. It was Hanson who said he wanted the town to be a Spanish Village by the Sea, and his own home was designed in the same style. Today it's the Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens. 

You can tour the house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. You can also enjoy the gardens, of which there are thirty different ones including a Butterfly Garden, Native American Garden, and a Children's Garden. There's also a wide range of activities, including yoga workshops, poetry workshops, wine tastings, and live concerts, so if you're visiting San Clemente, check out their events calendar.

Golf

San Clemente has its own Municipal Golf Course. In addition, in the hills above the town, there's the Talega Golf Club. This has an 18-hole championship course which has been voted one of the best in the USA, plus a driving range, a restaurant, and its buildings are in the attractive Spanish Colonial style.

San Clemente Beach Trail

There's a pleasant walk or bike ride to be had along the San Clemente Beach Trail. It's dog-friendly too, offers some great views along the way and runs for 2.3 miles (3.7 kms).

The pier at San Clemente in CaliforniaSan Clemente Pier

San Clemente Pier

Unlike, say, Santa Monica Pier, there's not a lot to do on San Clemente Pier other than walk along it, enjoy the views from one of the benches, and maybe dine or have a drink at one of the eating places. It's still a lovely pier, though!

San Clemente Surf School

Yes, now's your chance to learn to surf, and the fact that they're open all year round tells you something about the San Clemente weather.

Surfing

Despite Huntington Beach calling itself Surf City, San Clemente also has a right to claim the title. It has numerous surfing beaches, surfing shops, and surfboard manufacturers. It publishes no fewer than three different surfing magazines, has a surfing museum (see below), and it's also home to several champion surfers.

Paddle Surfing in San ClementePaddle Surfing in San Clemente

Surfing Heritage and Culture Center

This free museum (donations welcomed, of course) has a huge collection of photos, videos, surfing memorabilia, surfboards, posters, clothing, magazines, and books about surfing from all over the world.

Richard Nixon

One notable San Clemente resident was President Richard Nixon, who lived here from 1969-1980. His home was dubbed the Western White House, and it's where he wrote his memoirs after leaving the presidency.

Other California coast pages

  • Pismo Beach is a small beach town on California's Central Coast, a resort famous for surfing and clams.

    Pismo Beach

    Pismo Beach is a small beach town on California's Central Coast, a resort famous for surfing and clams.

  • Bodega Bay is a small California coastal town on the borders of Marin County and Sonoma County, and the filming location for Alfred Hitchcock's the Birds.

    Bodega Bay

    Bodega Bay is a small California coastal town on the borders of Marin County and Sonoma County, and the filming location for Alfred Hitchcock's the Birds.

  • For a Moss Beach hotel just off the Pacific Coast Highway, the Seal Cove Inn offers good accommodation north of Half Moon Bay, minutes from the ocean.

    Moss Beach Hotel

    For a Moss Beach hotel just off the Pacific Coast Highway, the Seal Cove Inn offers good accommodation north of Half Moon Bay, minutes from the ocean.

  • Historic and romantic Vagabond's House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Carmel is a great place to stay with free wine and cheese and generous breakfast.

    Vagabond's House Inn

    Historic and romantic Vagabond's House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Carmel is a great place to stay with free wine and cheese and generous breakfast.

  • La Jolla in southern California is north of San Diego off the Pacific Coast Highway and has museums, restaurants, hotels, beaches, and the Birch Aquarium.

    La Jolla, in southern California

    La Jolla in southern California is north of San Diego off the Pacific Coast Highway and has museums, restaurants, hotels, beaches, and the Birch Aquarium.

  • Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.

    Coastal California Guidebook

    Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.

  • Newport Beach is a small city on the Pacific coast of southern California, right on the Pacific Coast Highway and noted for its beaches and surfing.

    Newport Beach

    Newport Beach is a small city on the Pacific coast of southern California, right on the Pacific Coast Highway and noted for its beaches and surfing.

  • San Luis Obispo in California is half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, on the Pacific Coast Highway and with lots of things to do and see.

    San Luis Obispo

    San Luis Obispo in California is half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, on the Pacific Coast Highway and with lots of things to do and see.

  • A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.

    Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel and Monterey, with photos

    A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.

  • Whale watching in California is one of the most popular things to do along the Pacific Coast Highway, in places like San Diego, San Francisco and many more.

    Whale Watching in California

    Whale watching in California is one of the most popular things to do along the Pacific Coast Highway, in places like San Diego, San Francisco and many more.

  • San Simeon is a tiny town of a few hundred people close to Hearst Castle on the California coast midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

    San Simeon

    San Simeon is a tiny town of a few hundred people close to Hearst Castle on the California coast midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

  • Encinitas is a beach city in Southern California, famous for surfing, and regularly chosen as one of the best places to live in both California and the USA.

    Encinitas

    Encinitas is a beach city in Southern California, famous for surfing, and regularly chosen as one of the best places to live in both California and the USA.

  • The Pacific Coast Highway goes right through Laguna Beach, a relaxed artsy beach resort whose attractions include shopping, galleries, dining, and beaches.

    Laguna Beach

    The Pacific Coast Highway goes right through Laguna Beach, a relaxed artsy beach resort whose attractions include shopping, galleries, dining, and beaches.

  • PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Mendocino, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.

    Best Time to Visit Mendocino

    PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Mendocino, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.

  • This Visiting Hearst Castle page gives all the practicalities including location, types of tour, length of tours, how long to allow, and much more information.

    Visiting Hearst Castle

    This Visiting Hearst Castle page gives all the practicalities including location, types of tour, length of tours, how long to allow, and much more information.

  • There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.

    Santa Cruz Downtown Wine Tastings

    There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.

  • The Casa Laguna Hotel and Spa in Laguna Beach is right on the Pacific Coast Highway and has luxury rooms, a swimming pool, and real gourmet breakfasts.

    Laguna Beach Inn and Spa

    The Casa Laguna Hotel and Spa in Laguna Beach is right on the Pacific Coast Highway and has luxury rooms, a swimming pool, and real gourmet breakfasts.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends some of the top wildlife spots along the California coast.

    Top Wildlife Spots on the California Coast

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends some of the top wildlife spots along the California coast.

  • Monterey in California is off the Pacific Coast Highway and home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Monterey State Historic Park.

    Monterey, on the Pacific Coast Highway in California

    Monterey in California is off the Pacific Coast Highway and home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Monterey State Historic Park.

  • Morro Bay is a delightful small town on the California coast roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles and noted for the huge Morro Rock.

    Morro Bay

    Morro Bay is a delightful small town on the California coast roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles and noted for the huge Morro Rock.

  • Drive the Pacific Coast Highway and you have to cross Bixby Bridge in California, ten miles north of Big Sur and 30 minutes south of Monterey.

    Bixby Bridge

    Drive the Pacific Coast Highway and you have to cross Bixby Bridge in California, ten miles north of Big Sur and 30 minutes south of Monterey.

  • The Point Reyes National Seashore is an hour’s drive northwest of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway and is maintained by the National Park Service.

    Point Reyes National Seashore

    The Point Reyes National Seashore is an hour’s drive northwest of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway and is maintained by the National Park Service.

  • One of the best California coast guides is the California Coastal Access Guide, describing the coast’s beaches, National Parks, State Parks, with many maps.

    California Coast Guide

    One of the best California coast guides is the California Coastal Access Guide, describing the coast’s beaches, National Parks, State Parks, with many maps.

  • Unique Inns on the Pacific Coast Highway include some of the best independently-owned boutique hotels, spas, and lodges in California, Oregon and Washington.

    Unique Inns on the Pacific Coast Highway

    Unique Inns on the Pacific Coast Highway include some of the best independently-owned boutique hotels, spas, and lodges in California, Oregon and Washington.

  • Carlsbad is a beach city north of San Diego in southern California famous for its flower fields, LEGOLAND resort and water park, surfing and SEA LIFE Aquarium.

    Carlsbad

    Carlsbad is a beach city north of San Diego in southern California famous for its flower fields, LEGOLAND resort and water park, surfing and SEA LIFE Aquarium.

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Following Improved Weather Conditions, Pacific Coast Highway Reopened

    Mar 16, 25 11:24 AM

    Following Improved Weather Conditions, Pacific Coast Highway Reopened Earlier than Anticipated Today to Businesses, School Buses and Residents Who Live in Palisades Fire Burn Area

    Read More

  2. Pacific Coast Highway Closure and Evacuation Warnings Issued as Storm Approaches Malibu

    Mar 13, 25 11:38 AM

    Effective Wednesday, March 12, at noon, Caltrans has implemented a full closure of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu. The clo…

    Read More

  3. PCH to Close for Incoming Storm

    Mar 12, 25 12:29 PM

    March 11, 2025 -- A section of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) will close at noon Wednesday as a winter storm approaches the fire scorched area possibly causing debris flows, Caltrans officials announced.

    Read More