Camp Pendleton/Coastal Triathlon Training Route

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Carlsbad, CA, US

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Route Overview

@oldguywhotris

San Diego Cycling Climbing Addict - Half & Full Ironman Age Grouper

64 mi.

2,051 ft.

The classic triathlon route in San Diego that maximizes long stretches of pavement with less stop lights and more continuous cranking time. Great for non-triathletes as well.

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Route Details

## Overview
This is the classic San Diego County coast route for anyone who is training for a 70.3 triathlon, full 140.6 distance triathlon, or wants a spectacular day of riding long stretches where there are no/few stop lights.  In fact, the scenery can be fantastic which makes it fun route even if you aren’t into training for a big day of swimming, cycling, and running.

For these reasons you will encounter many peloton-like groups on the weekend from local bike clubs on this route as it is very, very popular due to the minimal hindrances to just keep cranking.

Your chances of riding next to a triathlon pro, legend, elite, or fellow age grouper are high as this is the most well-travelled pavement in San Diego for all of the above.  For those of you who actually want to tack on some training for the swim and run portion to get your “brick” workout in, I will provide some insights for that as well.  At the end of this ride description I will also provide options for extending the route if you need more mileage for training for a full 140.6 distance tri.

## EXTREMELY IMPORTANT Insider Tip!!!
This route REQURES that you have a bicycle ID pass to ride on Camp Pendleton Marine Base!  You can find out more about this process [click here](https://www.pendleton.marines.mil/Base-Access/Recreational-Bicycling/). Basically, you will need to go to the @poi[visitors center](9671642) at the entrance to Camp Pendleton, fill out some paperwork, get your picture taken, and then receive a special bicycle ID to get on the base.

## Where To Park
Get to the intersection of Carlsbad Blvd (Aka Pacific Coast Highway) and Carlsbad Village Drive.  Go West on Carlsbad Village Drive toward the ocean to @point[Ocean Street](d,78.9) and turn right.  This is the same street that the route starts on.  If you get here before 10 a.m. on most days you should be able to find a place to park on this street or one of the cross streets within the next few blocks.  Parking is free.  *It is, of course, busier in the summer.*

## Pre-Ride Brick Swim Tip
From any of these parking areas, you can get down to the beach.  There are multiple public access stairways down to the ocean.

## Carlsbad to Oceanside
This is your warm up to find your legs before you hit the first long stretch of flat and fast in Oceanside.  From wherever you parked, head East to Pacific Coast Highway and turn left.  This will lead you through a small round-a-bout and down past a wetland.  As you leave the wetland start to check traffic behind you because you are going to need to cross traffic and turn left on @point[Eaton Street](d,1568.69) next to Angelo's Burgers.

Continue to follow the cue sheet instructions to pick your way through the neighborhood until you are on @point[S Pacific Street](d,2560.06).  Here, you can start to push your legs because it is pretty straight.  Just watch for stop signs, traffic, car doors opening from parked cars, and surfers crossing the road.

You will eventually come into Oceanside proper.  Your cue will be a little old house on your right that looks like it is going to fall down.  Locally, this is known as the @poi[Top Gun House](9671164) as it was where Kelly McGillis lived in the movie Top Gun.  They are supposed to build a hotel there and move it somewhere on the property so at some point this feature I am writing about may shift.

## San Luis Rey River Trail
You will then pass the pier, ride through a neighborhood and start a small sweeping descent.  At the bottom of this descent start to slow down and look for a @point[paved trail to your right](d,6503.17).  The beginning of this trail is a short and steep descent followed by a left turn onto the main trail.  You will then ride underneath a bridge and then up to the main trail.

Once on the @slice[main trail](d,7296.92,18801.38), feel free to start hammering it.  You now have 7.5 miles of nothing but relatively flat trail to get your time trial on and not one stop light before you turn around and hit it again for a total of 15 miles.  There are a few roads you have to cross, but that is it.  The trail can get busy on the weekends, but during the weekdays it is pretty clear.

Once you pass a large park, this will be your cue you only have about a mile until you get to the end of the trail.  @point[At the end, it will dump you out into a neighborhood.](d,18791.85)  Simply turn around and start hammering it again back to Oceanside.

If you want a break, take a left into the park on your way back.  There are @poi[restrooms](9671638), water fountain, and even a public bike pump with various fittings.

## Oceanside Harbor To Camp Pendleton
At the end of the trail back in Oceanside you will @slice[turn right and cross over the bridge to the Oceanside Harbor and turn right](d,31221.27,31589.21).  As you descend you will see some shops and restaurants on the left.  There are some @poi[public restrooms](9671641) here as well if you need a pit stop.  At the bottom of the short hill simply pull to the left into the parking lot and follow the signs to them.

Otherwise, the road will naturally turn left.  Almost immediately on your right you will see a @point[short tunnel](d,31699.7) on your right.  Slow way down and go through it to the large parking lot on the other side.  Here you will meet up with San Luis Rey Dr that will take you up to Harbor Dr.  Turn right.

@slice[As you pass the Denny’s and go under the freeway, this is a tricky part](d,32503.92,32789.15).  There can be a fair amount of traffic here and as you come up from under the freeway there is a lane of traffic that will be merging onto Harbor Dr where you are.  You need to look to your right to see what is coming because you are going to have to merge all the way to right while they are trying to merge to the left.  It does not tend to be tons of traffic, but you need to be aware.  You may need to just stop and wait if there is too much.  I have only stopped a few times over many trips.

## Camp Pendleton
Once you make the merge to the right you will approach @point[the main gate of Camp Pendleton](d,33080.58) with multiple lanes of access.  You want the one all the way to the right.  You will get in line with all the other cars and wait your turn to talk to one of Americas finest.  You will hand him your cool Camp Pendleton Bicycle ID Card, he will scan it, and you will ride onto the base.

Follow the cue instructions exactly while on base.  Do not deviate from the route.  There is a specific bike route through the base and if you deviate from it you will likely have a conversation with Americas finest that you won’t want to have because you are not supposed to be wherever you ended up being.

As you make the turn onto @point[Stuart Mesa Rd](d,35307.65) there will be a long climb.  However, the good news is that you are back on some long sections again with minimal stop lights and the whole thing has a bike lane.

Remember, you are on a major military base.  The possibility of encountering helicopters, Osprey aircraft, military vehicles, and even tanks is high.  There are signs at one point that say “Caution:  Tank Crossing.”  You will possibly also hear gunfire as you will pass a rifle range.

There is a gas station for the base on Stuart Mesa Rd and there is usually a @poi[porta-jon](9671639) there if you need one.  There are also a @poi[couple porta-jons](9671640) at the Las Posas gate as you exit the base.

## Runway To State Park
Eventually you will leave Camp Pendleton via Las Posas Rd.  You will go by a guard gate and descend toward a train bridge.  Turn right immediately after you go under the train bridge.  There will be a small parking lot there and a gate where there is room for bikes to go through and @point[access the trail](d,47690.45).

Once past the gate you will climb up onto what appears to be a short runway because I think it is.  On the left is a trail that most bikes ride on because there are lines painted over there.  However, I just ride out on the runway for fun and it has plenty of space.  I have never encountered anything landing there and I’m sure I would hear it coming long before it hit me.

This is again the beginning of no stop lights for a very long time.  No traffic either as you are now on a secure trail unless some of those military vehicles are out there.  So, you can start hammering it again if you like.

However, note that a little bit after the runway ends there will be a @point[short tunnel](d,50045.3) you have to go through under the freeway.  It is quite dark in there and can also be sandy and slick if it rained.  Take your time through this and it might even be a good idea to take off your sunglasses.  On the other side, turn right and it’s hammer time again.

## State Park
Once you pass a @point[gate](d,52946.81) and you are into the state park, this is the perfect place to test your legs to see what they can do on fast and flat and long.  It is a long stretch that is almost completely flat and there are still no stop lights.  You will just need to keep aware of the occasional camper, surfer, fellow cyclist in aero position or slow moving vehicle as they are required to drive very slow inside the park.

If you need a restroom break there is one about every quarter mile inside the park in addition to water as well.

## San Onofre Section
@point[As you leave the state park](d,58118.68) you still have plenty of miles of open pavement without anything to stop you from cranking until you get to what we locals call @point[Trestles](d,62458.13) which is a famous surfing spot.  You will need to cross the road, and go through a trail opening in the fence.  Once you do that, then there is a great descent followed by a climb up a trail that is usually filled with people walking back from the beach and other cyclists.

## Back To Carlsbad
At the top of the climb turn around and go back to Carlsbad without the deviation down the San Luis Rey River trail.
____
## Full Distance Triathlon Training Options
Upon arrival in Oceanside, head back out onto the San Luis Rey River Trail again.  That will add 15 miles to get you to about 80 miles.  Then head back to Carlsbad and ride down Pacific Coast Highway to Encinitas, turn around and head back to Carlsbad.  That will get you to about 100 miles.  If you want more, go further down Pacific Coast Highway to your hearts content. 
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## Running Portion of Your Brick
After your ride if you want to get “your run off the bike” in, then simply lace up and head South along Pacific Coast Highway.  The ocean will be on right for about as many miles as you want to run as well as people surfing, playing volleyball, or just chillin’ on the beach.  Great views and lots of people watching along the way.

Camp Pendleton/Coastal Triathlon Training Route

Route Overview

Route Details

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