The venue
About Trestles Beach
Trestles — formally Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach — is widely regarded as one of the premier surf breaks in the world. Located at the southern boundary of Orange County near San Clemente, the break produces long, high-quality waves ideal for competitive surfing. It is a regular stop on the World Surf League Championship Tour and has been a proving ground for elite surfers for decades.
For LA28, Trestles is the furthest venue from central Los Angeles — roughly 65 miles south of Downtown LA, near the San Diego County border. Surfing runs over four consecutive days (July 15–18), culminating in Finals Day on July 18, which includes quarterfinals, semifinals, and gold medal matches for both Men's and Women's competitions compressed into a single session. Access requires planning: Trestles has no adjacent parking and involves a walk from a designated lot through a pedestrian tunnel under the I-5.
More venue details coming. LA28 has not yet published spectator access plans, ticketed areas, or shuttle logistics for Trestles. Given the unique nature of the site, official guidance will be important — check back as LA28 releases venue-specific plans.
Getting here: There is no Metro service to Trestles. The closest Metrolink stop is San Clemente Pier (Orange County Line), approximately 2–3 miles away — a rideshare or local shuttle connection would still be needed. Driving is the primary option; plan for a parking area walk-in. Expect demand to exceed available parking — arrive early or use LA28-organized shuttles if offered.
Sessions at this venue
Events Here
4 Surfing sessions — July 15–18. All 4 are here, culminating in a packed Finals Day on July 18.
🏄 Surfing
Men's Round 1, Women's Round 1
From $28.00
🏄 Surfing
Men's Round 2, Women's Round 2
From $28.00
🏄 Surfing
Men's Round 3, Women's Round 3
From $28.00
🏄 Surfing
Quarterfinals, Semifinals & Gold Medal Matches — Men's & Women's FINAL
From $104.19
Getting here
Access & Planning
Drive — primary option
Take the I-5 South to Christianitos Rd (exit 71) in San Clemente. A designated walk-in area leads through a pedestrian underpass to the beach. There is no parking at the beach itself — plan for a walk of up to 20 minutes from any lot depending on where LA28 designates spectator parking.
Metrolink — with a transfer
The Orange County Line stops at San Clemente Pier, roughly 2–3 miles from Trestles. A rideshare or shuttle would still be needed for the final leg. Metrolink runs from Union Station in Downtown LA — expect a 90-minute ride.
Plan ahead. Trestles is a remote beach venue with limited road infrastructure. LA28 may operate official shuttles from San Clemente or nearby transit hubs — check official LA28 venue logistics as details are released. Given early 7:00 AM start times, overnight accommodation in San Clemente or Dana Point makes sense for Finals Day.