San Juan Capistrano, California
San Juan Capistrano is a city of 35,095 people in Orange County, California.
Why visit San Juan Capistrano
Townapedia lists 19 museums and landmarks, 80 parks and trails, 130 places to eat, 17 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cinépolis, Coastland University, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Esslinger Building.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; December lows average 44°F.
Weather in San Juan Capistrano
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano (san hwaan cap-ih-STRAH-noh; also known colloquially as San Juan or SJC) is a city in southern Orange County, California, United States. The population was 35,253 at the 2020 Census.
From the Wikipedia article San Juan Capistrano, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do10
Coastland University
School · 3.4 mi
University in California, United States
Zoomars Petting Zoo
Zoo and aquarium · 0.6 mi
31791 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano
Panorama Point
Scenic view · 3.2 mi
Rock wall suitable for sitting arcing around a concrete compass rose
Museums and landmarks19
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Monument and historic site · Roman Catholic · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Former Spanish mission in California
26801 Old Mission Street, San Juan Capistrano
Mo,PH off; Tu-Su 09:00-17:00
Esslinger Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Office building in San Juan Capistrano, California
Frank A. Forster House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Single-family detached home in San Juan Capistrano, United States of America
Goldschmidt House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.2 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Los Rios Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in California, United States
Richard Egan House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
House in San Juan Capistrano, United States of America
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Roger Y. Williams House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
House in San Juan Capistrano, California
Metalworking Furnaces
Monument and historic site · 0.5 mi
Oldest metalworking structures in California
Montanez Adobe
Monument and historic site · 0.6 mi
31745 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano
7 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds80
Laguna Niguel Regional Park
Park · 4.4 mi
Regional park in Laguna Niguel, California
Salt Creek Beach Park
Park · 4.2 mi
Park in Dana Point, Orange County, United States of America
68 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes130
Bad to the Bone BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue
31738 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano
Mo-Su 11:00-20:30
Better Buzz Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.9 mi
610 Camino de Los Mares, San Clemente
Mo-Su 05:00-20:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.6 mi
32515 Golden Lantern Street, Ocean Ranch Village
Fr 05:30-21:30; Sa 05:30-21:00; Su 05:30-20:30; Mo 05:30-20:00; Tu...
TJ's Woodfire Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.9 mi
641 Camino de Los Mares, San Clemente
Tu-Su 11:00-21:00
Thai Juan On
Restaurant · Thai · 0.4 mi
31878 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano
Mo-Su 11:00-14:30, Mo-Su 16:00-22:00
Heritage Barbecue
Restaurant · Barbecue · 0.5 mi
31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
Mo-Tu off; We-Th,Su 11:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00
Paddy's Station
Bar and pub · 0.6 mi
26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano
Su 07:00-23:00; Mo 16:00-00:00; Tu-Th 10:00-00:00; Fr 10:00-01:00;...
Ramos House Café
Restaurant · 0.6 mi
31752 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano
Mo,Tu,Th-Su 09:00-14:30
Rancho Capistrano Winery
Restaurant · 0.5 mi
26755 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-23:00; Sa 10:00-23:00; Su 10:00-22:00
118 more on the map.
Where to stay17
Hilton Garden Inn Dana Point Doheny Beach
Motel and hotel · 3.0 mi
34402 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa
Motel and hotel · 3.3 mi
25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point
Best Western Plus Marina Shores Hotel
Motel and hotel · 3.2 mi
34280 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point
Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Autograph Collection
Motel and hotel · 0.4 mi
31692 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
Capistrano Seaside Inn
Motel and hotel · 3.2 mi
34862 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point
Capistrano Surfside Inn
Motel and hotel · 3.1 mi
34680 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point
Dana Point Inn by the Sea
Motel and hotel · 3.1 mi
34744 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point
Laguna Inn and Suites
Motel and hotel · 3.3 mi
28732 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
Churches and places of worship12
Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.6 mi
31520 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church
Church · Greek Orthodox · 0.5 mi
31612 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter Day Saints · 2.0 mi
29273 Stallion Ridge, San Juan Capistrano
St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.9 mi
5 Midnight Lane, Dana Point
St Margaret's Episcopal Church
Church · Protestant
31575 Moonglow Lane, San Juan Capistrano
Palisades United Methodist Church
Church · 3.1 mi
27002 Camino de Estrella, San Clemente
The Great Stone Church
Church · 0.5 mi
31682 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
Shopping25
Trader Joe's
Grocery · 2.5 mi
32351 Golden Lantern Street;Street of the Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel
Gas and EV charging13
Schools, colleges and libraries68
San Juan Capistrano Branch Orange County Public Library
Library · 0.6 mi
31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
Healthcare8
Memorial Care Health Group
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.0 mi
638 Camino de Los Mares, San Clemente
Map of San Juan Capistrano
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 44°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 68°F | 45°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 69°F | 48°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 50°F | 0.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 58°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 60°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 58°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 77°F | 55°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 72°F | 48°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 67°F | 44°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Laguna Beach (8 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, 17 miles away.
- Dana Point 3 mi southwest, about 5 min by car
- Laguna Niguel 3 mi northwest, about 6 min by car
- Ladera Ranch 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- San Clemente 4 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Rancho Mission Viejo 5 mi east, about 9 min by car
- Laguna Hills 7 mi north, about 11 min by car
- Aliso Viejo 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Laguna Beach 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Mission Viejo 7 mi north, about 12 min by car
- Coto de Caza 8 mi northeast, about 12 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
- San Juan Capistrano (13), own picture Renhau (R. Haupt), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rose-Vined Arches of San Juan Capistrano, pre 1913, Maude Jay Wilson, Public domain
- 2019 Esslinger Building 1, Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Judge Egan House, Chrisg496, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Goldschmidt House, San Clemente, California, Jerrynovak, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Roger Y. Williams House, Bluesnote, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 31665 Los Rios, Jerrynovak, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano 01, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Frank A. Forster House (cropped), Bluesnote, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Frank A. Forster House, Bluesnote, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Casa de Esperanza, George Champ, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Casa de Esperanza (cropped), George Champ, CC BY-SA 3.0
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