Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Rancho Santa Margarita is a city of 46,990 people in Orange County, California, founded in 2000.
Why visit Rancho Santa Margarita
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 51 parks and trails, 90 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, Jose Serrano Adobe, Alume and Cielo Vista Park.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; December lows average 48°F.
Weather in Rancho Santa Margarita
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Rancho Santa Margarita
Rancho Santa Margarita (RAN-choh SAN-tuh mar-guh-REE-tuh) is a city in Orange County, California, United States. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a master-planned community. The population was 47,949 at the 2020 census, up from 47,853 at the 2010 census. Although it is named for Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, which was in San Diego County, the city limits fall within the borders of Rancho Mission Viejo.
From the Wikipedia article Rancho Santa Margarita, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas
Cinema and theater · 0.6 mi
30632 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Museums and landmarks4
Jose Serrano Adobe
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds51
Cielo Vista Park
Park · 1.1 mi
2.5 Acres, (2) Lighted tennis courts, Playground suggested ages 5 to 12, Two picnic areas, Five BBQs, Five tables
21921 Avenida De Los Fundadores, Rancho Santa Margarita
Mo-Su 06:00-22:00
Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club
Golf course · 2.7 mi
18 hole Par 72 North Course & 18 hole Par 72 South Course
25291 Vista Del Verde, Coto De Caza
O'Neill Regional Park
Park · 1.3 mi
Park in Orange County, United States of America
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
Park · 3.3 mi
Park in Orange County, California
39 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes90
Rose Canyon Cantina & Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.2 mi
20722 Rose Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon
Sa 11:00-22:00; Tu-Th 16:00-21:00; Su 11:00-21:00; Fr 16:00-22:00; Mo off
Aloha Stacks
Restaurant · Breakfast, Lunch, Hawaiian · 2.9 mi
27762 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo
06:30-14:00
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 0.6 mi
22461 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Mo-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Carmelita's
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.5 mi
31441 Santa Margarita Parkway
Mo-Sa 11:30-21:00; Su 10:00-21:00
Celinda’s
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.6 mi
29870 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Mo-Fr 10:30-19:30; Sa 10:00-07:30
Hacienda on the Lake
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.6 mi
27792 Vista Del Lago, Mission Viejo
Mo-Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa-Su 11:00-23:00
Momot Tea House
Cafe · Bubble Tea · 3.0 mi
27744 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo
Mo-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa-Su 10:00-21:00
Peppinos
Restaurant · Italian · 2.6 mi
27782 Vista Del Lago # 26, Mission Viejo
Mo-Th 16:00-21:30; Fr-Su 11:00-21:30
78 more on the map.
History
The area is the ancestral lands of the Acjachemen people. The village of Alume was located in Rancho Santa Margarita, between Trabuco Creek and Tijeras Creek. In 1810, the Trabuco Adobe was constructed near the village as an outpost of Mission San Juan Capistrano.
The city seal has the brands of Rancho Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita and Las Flores on the border, with artwork containing Santiago Peak in the background. The tower in the foreground symbolizes the Rancho Santa Margarita Lake Tower.
Hughes Aircraft Company's Microelectronic Systems Division moved to Rancho Santa Margarita in May 1988 from Irvine. In August 1992, the Hughes plant closed its facilities and moved the division to Carlsbad, California due to budget constraints in the aerospace industry.
Rolling Hills Estates had the longest city name in California with 19 letters until January 1, 2000, when the title was ceded to Rancho Santa Margarita (20 letters) upon the latter's incorporation.
The city is a general law city and operates under the council-manager form of government. Rancho Santa Margarita is a contract city. Police services are provided through contract with the Orange County Sheriff. Fire protection services are provided through the Orange County Fire Authority.
From the History section of Rancho Santa Margarita, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Churches and places of worship12
Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 0.4 mi
30605 Avenida De Las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter-Day Saints · 0.8 mi
30522 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Church · Christ Scientist · 0.8 mi
30442 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 0.8 mi
30462 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita
Sukyo Mahikari
Place of worship · 0.9 mi
23151 Camino Altozano, Rancho Santa Margarita
Trabuco Canyon Community Church
Church · 2.9 mi
30121 Canyon Creek, Trabuco Canyon
Shopping15
Ross
Shopping center · 0.6 mi
30612 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Big 5 Sporting Goods
Shop · 0.7 mi
30692 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Gas and EV charging11
Chevron
Gas station · 0.9 mi
30832 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Schools, colleges and libraries53
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
School · 1.3 mi
22062 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Cielo Vista Elementary School
School · 1.2 mi
21811 Avenida De Los Fundadores, Rancho Santa Margarita
Arroyo Vista Elementary
School · 1.1 mi
23371 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita
Healthcare9
Southland Family & Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.2 mi
27660 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo
Orange County Surgical Specialists - Facial Plastic Surgery
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.8 mi
29829 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Marque Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.6 mi
Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Pavilions Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
22451 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Rite Aid
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
31541 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Map of Rancho Santa Margarita
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 49°F | 2.7 in |
| Feb | 70°F | 48°F | 3.5 in |
| Mar | 73°F | 50°F | 1.7 in |
| Apr | 76°F | 52°F | 0.8 in |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 0.3 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 59°F | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 62°F | 0.1 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 62°F | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 89°F | 62°F | 0.1 in |
| Oct | 84°F | 58°F | 0.6 in |
| Nov | 76°F | 52°F | 0.8 in |
| Dec | 68°F | 48°F | 2.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Irvine Rch (9 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Orange County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-10-16: Norte Fire (Fire)
- 2026-05-25: Chemical Release (Chemical)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2022-05-12: Coastal Fire (Fire)
- 2020-12-03: Bond Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Coto de Caza 3 mi south, about 4 min by car
- Trabuco Canyon 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Mission Viejo 4 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Las Flores 4 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Lake Forest 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Laguna Hills 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Ladera Ranch 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Laguna Woods 8 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Aliso Viejo 8 mi southwest, about 13 min by car
- Laguna Niguel 9 mi southwest, about 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Rancho Santa Margarita California photo Don Ramey Logan, Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 20140907-0135 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20131208-0532 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0210 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0186 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0187 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0176 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0207 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0181 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0179 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0196 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0195 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0170 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0173 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0167 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0156 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0163 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0161 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0168 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0198 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0197 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0199 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0200 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20140907-0201 Rancho Santa Margarita, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- José Serrano Adobe, Eli Pousson, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Advanced Energy Device, Magnus1313, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Holy Fire´s smoke, Fearsome876, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Southern California - Between Night and Day, Melina Mallari, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Coto De Caza Ranch by Don Ramey Logan, Don Ramey Logan, CC BY 4.0
- Sanicula crassicaulis - Rachel Whitt - 609011896, Rachel Whitt, CC0
- O'Neill Regional Park, Wasquewhat, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Station, Bluesnote, CC BY-SA 4.0
- FWS Biologist Jonathan Snyder speaks at the Measure M Event (35469744255), Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US, Public domain
- TrabucoOaksSteakhouseExterior, Amoeba1029, CC0
- Don August plaque MV, Sewageboy, CC0
- Greg Louganis plaque MV, Sewageboy, CC0
- Carolyn Schuler Jones plaque MV, Sewageboy, CC0
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