San Marcos, California
San Marcos is a city of 94,882 people in San Diego County, California, founded in 1963.
Why visit San Marcos
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 52 parks and trails, 204 places to eat, 12 places to stay and 12 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include California Pacific University, Edwards San Marcos Stadium 18, A.H. Beach House and Bumann Ranch.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 89°F; December lows average 44°F.
Weather in San Marcos
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About San Marcos
San Marcos ( SAN MAR-kohs; Spanish for "St. Mark") is a city in the North County region of San Diego County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 94,833. It is the site of California State University San Marcos and Palomar College. The city is bordered by Escondido to the east, Encinitas to the southwest, Carlsbad to the west, and Vista to the northwest.
From the Wikipedia article San Marcos, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do12
California Pacific University
School · 6.0 mi
Private non-profit business school
Eldorado College
School · 4.9 mi
Business college in California, United States
Museums and landmarks10
A.H. Beach House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
House in Escondido, California, United States
Bumann Ranch
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.3 mi
Historic ranch in California
Rancho De Los Kiotes
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Ranch in Carlsbad, California
Thomas House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.5 mi
House in Escondido, California
Parks, trails and playgrounds52
Creek View Park
Park · 1.9 mi
1299 Corte Encanto, San Marcos
sunrise-sunset
Valley View Park
Park · 2.1 mi
1399 Camino del Sol, San Marcos
sunrise-sunset
40 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes204
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 2.9 mi
730 Nordahl Road, San Marcos
Mo-Th 11:30-21:30; Fr 11:30-22:00; Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:30
Cocina Del Charro
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.1 mi
1020-50 West San Marcos Boulevard, San Marcos
Tu-Su 11:00-19:00
Denny's
Diner · American · 0.6 mi
731 West San Marcos Boulevard, San Marcos
Mo-Th,Su 05:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 05:00-25:00
Meal Prep Sunday
Restaurant · 3.5 mi
At Meal Prep Sunday, we offer delicious, fully prepared meals crafted by chefs and designed by nutritionists to support your goals. Our...
2381 La Mirada Drive, Vista
24/7
The Old Spaghetti Factory
Restaurant · Italian · 0.6 mi
111 North Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos
Su-Th 11:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00
Meadiocrity Mead
Brewery and winery · 1.5 mi
1365 Grand Avenue, San Marcos
We 17:00-21:00; Th 17:00-21:00; Fr 16:30-21:30; Sa 15:00-21:00; Su...
Mexico Viejo
Restaurant · Mexican · 3.4 mi
3265 Business Park Drive
Mo-Tu, Th-Fr 07:00-19:00; We 07:00-18:00; Sa 07:00-17:00
Rossis Pizza & Sports Bar
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.9 mi
We are a kid friendly, family restaurant complete with an ARCADE!
156 South Rancho Santa Fe Road, San Marcos
Stone Brewing Company
Brewery and winery · 3.2 mi
1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
192 more on the map.
History
According to some historical legends, the San Luis Rey Mission flocks were robbed by a small band of Native Americans in the late 18th century. Fleeing the Spanish troops, the Native Americans escaped to the hills. While pursuing the Native Americans in 1797 the Spaniards came upon a fertile valley, which was named Los Vallecitos de San Marcos (Little Valleys of Saint Mark) to honor the day of discovery: April 25, St. Mark’s Day. On April 22, 1840, Governor Juan B. Alvarado granted Rancho Vallecitos de San Marcos to his relative, Jose María Alvarado. Jose Alvarado was killed at the Pauma Massacre in 1846, and the land was left to his wife; she then sold the land to Lorenzo Soto. In the late 1850s, Soto sold part of his land to Cave Couts, and his family was soon raising livestock. Although Cave Couts owned the land, Major Gustavus French Merriam from Topeka, Kansas, made the first permanent settlement. Merriam homesteaded 160 acres (0.65 km2) in the north Twin Oaks Valley and began wine and honey production.
From the History section of San Marcos, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay12
Residence Inn San Diego North/San Marcos
Motel and hotel · 1.4 mi
1245 Los Vallecitos Boulevard, San Marcos
Fairfield Inn & Suites San Diego North/San Marcos
Motel and hotel · 0.5 mi
227 West San Marcos Boulevard, San Marcos
Lakehouse Hotel and Golf Resort
Motel and hotel · 2.2 mi
1025 La Bonita Drive, San Marcos
Churches and places of worship18
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 2.0 mi
1111 La Moree Road, San Marcos
Saint Mark Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.3 mi
1147 Discovery Street, San Marcos
San Marcos Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 2.2 mi
363 Woodland Parkway, San Marcos
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 2.9 mi
1250 Borden Road, San Marcos
Shopping39
Gas and EV charging31
Schools, colleges and libraries69
Healthcare16
Children's Primary Care Medical Group San Marcos
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.6 mi
158 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos
Welcare Pharmacy Compunding and Perscriptions
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.3 mi
1921 West San Marcos Boulevard, San Marcos
Map of San Marcos
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 45°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 69°F | 46°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 71°F | 49°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 74°F | 52°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 77°F | 56°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 64°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 89°F | 65°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 87°F | 63°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 81°F | 57°F | 0.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 75°F | 49°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 68°F | 44°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Escondido #2 (5 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
San Diego County has had 35 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-02-19: Severe Storm And Flooding (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-10-16: Wildfires (Fire)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Lake San Marcos 2 mi southwest, about 4 min by car
- Harmony Grove 3 mi southeast, about 5 min by car
- Escondido 6 mi east, about 9 min by car
- Vista 6 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Carlsbad 7 mi west, about 11 min by car
- Hidden Meadows 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Encinitas 8 mi southwest, about 13 min by car
- Rancho Santa Fe 8 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Oceanside 10 mi northwest, about 16 min by car
- Bonsall 10 mi north, about 16 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
- SanMarcos, Taylorj661, Public domain
- San Marcos Old Spaghetti Factory - 3, RightCowLeftCoast, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Marcos Old Spaghetti Factory - 1, RightCowLeftCoast, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Marcos Old Spaghetti Factory - 2, RightCowLeftCoast, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Marcos Library - South, RightCowLeftCoast, CC BY 4.0
- San Marcos Library - West, RightCowLeftCoast, CC BY 4.0
- San Marcos Deli - panoramio, Mountain Mike Johans…, CC BY 3.0
- San Marcos Library - Southeast, RightCowLeftCoast, CC BY 4.0
- San Marcos Fry's (4253600908), Bryce Edwards from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Inside San Marcos Fry's Electronics, Sam Trenholme, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Marcos Fry's Electronics Cafe on 2015-08-15, Sam Trenholme, CC BY-SA 4.0
- CSU San Marcos Sprinter Station, DJTechYT, CC BY-SA 4.0
- P Building at Palomar College in San Marcos, Roc0ast3r, CC0
- Double Peak, San Marcos, CA, USA - panoramio, OnTarget, CC BY 3.0
- Double Peak Park, Double Peak, Double Peak Drive, San Marcos, CA, USA - panoramio, OnTarget, CC BY 3.0
- Double Peak Park, Double Peak, Double Peak Drive, San Marcos, CA, USA - panoramio (cropped), OnTarget, CC BY 3.0
- A-H- Beach House 2012-09-25 13-19-42, scerruti, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rancho De Los Kiotes 2012-09-22 16-36-00, scerruti, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BUMANN RANCH ENCINITAS SAN DIEGO COUNTY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Thomas House 2012-09-25 13-27-25, scerruti, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cal State San Marcos library, Eamuscatuli at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- 2014 MAY-14 Beginning of Cocos Fire with Washingtonia Fire, John Melson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- UCSD Shortstop, Shay Whitcomb, Chris Hunkeler, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Vallecitos Water District - Entrance, Alan Islas, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dian Nissen jumping at a trampoline park, Triffis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Looking for Advice (8255762490), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sole of a Wrestler (8111420340), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Stepping Over (8111417149), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Weight, Gravity and Balance (8254700611), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rose and Dagger (8250751167), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Dodge and Circle (8251817914), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Forward Throw (8299456702), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Keep Him Off (8255770180), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Prying (8248333639), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Single-Leg Takedown (8111417907), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Getting Up and Pushing an Arm Away (8248332501), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Side Throw (8251818610), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- New Palomar College library, Alicezeppelin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Double Peak East Trail, Alan Islas, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Double Peak Park north (cropped), Alicezeppelin, CC0
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