San Clemente Pier

Just a delightful way to spend some time in San Clemente without throngs of tourists. We came over after breakfast, some errands, and touring the picturesque San Clemente downtown as the morning clouds gave way to a beautiful sunshiny day with a wonderful breeze.

The pier goes back to 1928, built as an attraction to get people to come to San Clemente. Today it is an inconic landmark in the entire area. It provides not only spectacular views, but it is an important local fishing location. In addition, it has a superb restaurant which we patronized for lunch. Surfing is allowed on the north side of the pier and it is a common attraction for the visitors.

With a length of almost 1,300 feet, the pier is a walker's paradise. Along its length, instructional posters illustrate the extensive fauna of the area.

There is ample pay parking in the immediate vicinity of the pier, the Passport App or cash is used to park.

Lots of fun memories coming into San Clemente.

It's always great to grab an ice cream across the street and walk down to pier or have a nice lunch at Fisherman's.

Came out when there was a surfing competition going on, so that was cool to see from the pier. It wasn't too crowded when we visited on a Sunday morning but as the day picked up, more people were around and that was our cue to skedaddle. We did manage to have breakfast at the lovely Fisherman's Restaurant and then picked up some caffeine from Bear Coast Coffee. I recommend going to both! A little side note regarding Bear Coast Coffee: it's one of those places where the line forms and goes out the door... so that should tell you what their coffee is like.

THE VIBE EVOCATION.

Quintessential SoCal vibes. You can't miss it as it smacks you in the face with its (mostly) sunny conditions and relaxed atmosphere. T-shirt, shorts, and flip flops are the norm. However, bring a sweatshirt as it can become randomly cloudy and cold sometimes.

The pier is literally steps from the train tracks, so be aware of your surroundings before crossing!

THE PARKING AFFAIR.

Parking is on the street and metered. There's an open parking lot a short walk away and you also have to pay there too. In either scenario, finding an open spot can be difficult, even in the morning hours. We luckily found a car leaving on the street right next to the restaurant and snatched it quickly. Parking lot and street parking is $1.50/hour from 9AM - 5PM.

They also have a trolley service which is free, but you'll need to check the San Clemente website to figure out the run times.

THE RETURN QUANDARY.

Yeah, I like the area and it'll be fun to go back and see what other kinds of mischief we can get into. By mischief, I mean food. We like food.

Gorgeous place to stop by for a meal or just to get in a good view of the ocean! We found metered parking on the street nearby on a weekday but I'm sure on the weekends that could be a hassle. The pier does not have their own lot. Overall it's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area!

The San Clemente beachside vibe is good. We like going here to eat at the pier and just walk.

There are a few dining places across the pier.

When you want to enjoy a pier that's clean and away from it all come to San Clemente Pier

Low key chill spot
Less touristy of a area
Super recommended if your in the area and want to enjoy the beach sunrise or sunset

There is a bathroom super clean
Parking is at the meter and free parking after 5
Couple seafood restaurants at the front of the pier
Live music saxophone
Come check it out and walk the pier

Beautiful pier. Lots of scenic spots. The small parking lot has a cheap fee for however many minutes or hours you wanna spend at the pier or beach.

Warm surf, great views, and good vibes; San Clemente Pier is so lovely! Located at the heart of everything, the beach and Pier are clean and well-maintained. Parking can be challenging, but persistence pays off.

I love watching the surfers and swimmers. They always have a good number of lifeguards on duty, and the lifeguards seem vigilant. We were lucky enough to chill at the beach here and watch the fireworks last 4th of July- even though it was totally packed, I felt super safe due to the heavy police presence and lifeguards.

The beach is not dog-friendly, but some people don't adhere to this rule. I've heard the ticket if you get caught is quite expensive.

nice place. you can do fishing and strolling here. easy to find parking spaces, di not forget to pay at the machine. can play around the beach as well. so peaceful...

Love going to the San Clemente Pier. San Clemente is such a cute town and a great place for a vacation