As a retired Vet, it has an awesome hospital, commissary and the vacation beach villas (separate review) are priceless! There are multiple gates for entry since their footprint is enormous. On this day brought civilians to see their very worthy Mechanized Museum, as well as, the WWII/Korea LVT Museum. The kids were ages 14, 12 and 8. Unlike the 14 year old WWII buff; the other two "had to go." Within 15 minutes of our arrival, all three kids were all in! We literally spent hours here and they still rave about it!! The entire experience was exceptional; everyone on duty was absolutely the best example of the Marines and our National Defense. Semper fi! read more

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I was stationed here in 1976-1978 at Los Pulgas. Back then Los Pulgas was home to the 1st Tank Battalion, which I hear has been disbanded. Even so wasn't much back then. A few square barracks, a chow hall, motor pool, tanks, and a place for 10 cent beer. Now it's so fancy they could take recruiting pictures there. The civilians picked fights with us every time we went into Oceanside. We always beat the shyt out of them. All of them dumb as rocks. You wanna be tough? Join the Marines don't pick fights with them. read more

Camp Pendleton Marine Base - Buck Private - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oceanside, California

People are always yelling at you. The dining halls are subpar, I ordered a steak and it was like chewing on a leather shoe. If you like hiking with full gear up challenging and steep terrain, this place is for you, they dont let you stop to take in the view though. I guess they have to clear the trail for the next tour group maybe? They also have a hum-v following you, I dont see the point though, they wont let anybody take a ride in it! Just more yelling and calling you names if you even try. There must be a lot of animal attacks though, they make sure everyone is carrying an AR, I only saw a few birds though, so I dont know. Personally I dont think any wildlife would stick around for long with all the loud noises though, topped with all the yelling. If youre with he right group though, they'll take you for rides in their zodiac boats out on tbe ocean, its not very comfortable though because they're going full speed while you hang on for dear life stacked with 3-4 other people on each side of the boat. They'll take you to a beach, but they only let you stay there for about 10 minutes and make you run to some cliffs to climb up, run some more, then climb back down the cliffs, then more yelling to get back on the boats. They called it MEUSOC, probably because they're always yelling at you to change your socks. I think they have a shady deal with Hanes or something... 5 out of 5 stars though, would definately return. read more

I come from a military family and have so much respect for these military bases. I have a family member that has been serving in the Marines for the past four years and is stationed here. So I have been making frequent trips to nearby Oceanside to visit. He has given me a few tours of Camp Pendleton and I got to attend his SOI (School of Infantry) graduation. I'm always in awe of how huge Camp Pendleton is (over over 125,000 acres). They have a few stores, fast food options, and a couple gas stations. Camp Pendleton was established in 1942 during WW2 to train U.S. Marines. It became a permanent base right after the war ended. It is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the U.S. Camp Pendleton hosts year-round training for Marines. It is home to the I Marine Expeditionary Force. They also take in new recruits from nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego for a few weeks before they come back for SOI school. There are more than 42,000 active duty service members stationed at Camp Pendleton. There is civilian housing for military family members, high ranking officers, and retired military personnel. It is such an honor for me whenever I come on base and I am very appreciative all of those that serve our country. read more

Camp Pendleton Marine Base - South Entrance - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oceanside, California

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Ok where should I begin, I've been to many bases in San Diego, but this one by far the biggest with some history dated back in 1975 where it become a temporary refugee camp for the Vietnamese who left by boats, the base provided them all for the first 3 months, nowadays the base is known for everything you could ask for from a small isolated city, minus the drive since it was so big, it has a hospital, a gas station, a bunch of restaurants including my favorite Panera Bread although it still missing the vanilla syrup at the coffee station, the main thing for me here is the movie theater, which took another 10 miles to drive after passing the main gate. I was late about attending these special events they offered at the theater here, although smaller in sizes compared to North Island, it has the best celebrity guests you could imagine, and I said I missed a lot of big names such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and many more, if I knew sooner. Of course like any bases, I have to get a sponsor to gain access, most people get in to shop and eat because it's cheaper obviously, for me I want to watch movies. Apparently I didn't know I could get a visitor pass which lasted me a week at least or one month maximum depending on my business, so I am glad I got the help from a friend to stay on base multiple days. My first time here was back in 2018, I went to see Clint Eastwood movie Richard Jewell. Then Covid happened, I never get a chance to come back until recently I attended 2 days of movies screenings with both Mike Rowe and Kevin Costner appearances. The theater also provided free refreshments for everyone who attended. I never seen any bases that well organized and cleanliness compared to this one, and that speaks from my experience at 32nd street and Miramar. Getting in and out was just a breeze, no traffic congestion, just smooth opened road if you're willing to drive, then you'll be right back on the 5 freeway. Definitely keeping myself updated with all the stuffs going on here at Pendleton and will visit again. read more

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Camp Pendleton was established in 1942 to train members of the USMC. It is a massive base and of the bigest USMC outposts in the country at over 125000 acres. The base exists to basically train marines. From Sea to shore and all other aspects of amphibious assault are taught here. Getting on the base is impossible unless you have business there. However, as you run along the highway the plane spotting is pretty impressive. In the first 5 minutes I was able to pull over and get fantastic shots of a USMC CH-53 practicing combat landings . Aside from that as noted unless you have access to the base there is little else to do but spot. read more

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Visitors center is overflowing with cars. No where to park and get your business taken care of. This place isnt accommodating to visitors who are genuinely here to assist the US government and Marine Corps. The police, not helpful. The civilians not helpful. Bad experience for a lot of people who have to come here read more

Camp Pendleton Marine Base - Overflowing cars at the Main gate. Get a bigger parking lot already - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oceanside, California

Driving through here is a crawl and it's a beautiful view when you get close to the Pacific Ocean!! I wish there was a way to see the marine base. I think it's only open to the military? Thank you all for serving our country!! read more

Camp Pendleton stands out as a base to me mostly because it's near the ocean. I also really like the dining options that they have on this base. I'm used to either fast food or Subway. So nice to have other healthy options like Panera Bread and sushi. No crazy traffic on this base and although morning traffic can get backed up pretty far the line a totally moves quick. The neighborhoods are pretty nice too. read more

Funny/embarrassing story. Running low on gas, and Mapquest gave us this exit yesterday for a gas station. The exit was a nightmare you never want to encounter. Literally hundreds of cars, and we inadvertently took a right towards the base, instead of a left. No way to cop a U-turn, so we headed to a closed lane. The (sergeant, or whoever he was manning the lane) was super helpful. We explained the situation and he allowed us to U-turn out of there. So very nice, because it would have taken us forever. God bless our men and women who choose to protect and serve!! read more

My visit to Camp Pendleton filled me with pride, and left me in tears for Camp Pendleton Marine Base is a waaaay cool base for several reasons. Here's the four that impressed me the most when I was there. Security is tight so I was only admitted here due to my DOD (US Department of Defense) id. The first cool impression I got was the statue of E-6 out of 9 ranks SSgt. Reckless, U.S. Marine Corps, who's life-sized bronze statues greet everyone to Virginia's National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center since 2013 and at Camp Pendleton since 2016 and at the Kentucky Horse Park since 2018. An Illinois brewery now serves a SSgt. Reckless American pale ale in honor of her. Marines christened their new recruit "Reckless" for the work she would do in resupplying recoilless rifles, known as "reckless rifles" in Marine jargon. She carried 24-pound ammunition shells and other supplies across the rugged, remote terrain of the Korean Peninsula that was inaccessible to trucks. Reckless routinely donned flak jackets to shield herself as well as her fellow Marines. SSgt. Reckless" lugged rounds up a mountain and evacuated wounded Marines back down for medical treatment--even after sustaining two shrapnel wounds that would earn her a pair of Purple Hearts. SSgt. Reckless slept in the Marines' tents and dined with the Marines in the mess hall. Marines taught her to step over communication lines and barbed wire, what 'Incoming!' meant and she would run to a bunker and get down. She learned how to lay down in a trench for cover. She would always find her way to her fellow Marines all by herself. She understood hand signals. She traveled alone on 51 round trips through a hellish no-man's land and scaling a 45-degree incline with bowed head and quivering legs, this solitary figure fought the natural instinct to flee and relied on training and fortitude and Duty to her fellow Marines to deliver some 9,000 back-aching pounds of ammunition from the supply point to the Marine gun teams. She Served for 8 years. She was retired and brought to the United States after the war, where she made appearances on television, participated in the United States Marine Corps birthday ball and had four children. SSgt. Reckless was originally named "Ah Chim Hai" (meaning "Flame of the Morning") for she was born a Mongolian racehorse destined for a distinguished racing career until the outbreak of the Korean War, for beginning in 1952, at age 4, she became a beloved and famous warhorse. She was first horse in the Marine Corps known to have participated in an amphibious landing. The second cool impression Camp Pendleton gave me is that several of we women Veterans met in San Diego to celebrate a women Veterans event where we learned about Corporal Tillie Medvid, U.S. Marine Corps. When asked why she joined the Marines during WWII, her response was, "because it's the toughest." Her job was repairing radios for it was a time when women were encouraged to join the Service to free up men for combat. She used her GI Bill to get her Masters Degree. As Guest-of-Honor, Marine Tillie Medvid age 94, attended by her husband, received a rousing and heart-felt reception at the Camp Pendleton Marine Ball in 2015. The Marine Ball is held November 10 for that is the date in 1775 the Marines were established, which is before the United States came into existence. Justice, Judgment, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Endurance, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, and Enthusiasm is what makes a Marine; not gender, not being human or even having two legs. The third cool impression Camp Pendleton gave me is the very large size of this base. Some 38,000 military family members occupy base housing, expanding to daytime population of 70,000 military and civilian personnel. The fourth very emotional impression Camp Pendleton gave me is that it still remembers the murder of one of its own. Corporal Allan "AJ" DeVillena was stationed here, a proud Veteran of Afghanistan War Operation Enduring Freedom, recipient of a Good Conduct medal. Police Mike Heron and Chad Nordman murdered Cpl. DeVillena on November 10, 2012, who was celebrating the birthday of the Marine Corps and the November 11th Veterans Day weekend. Police interviews were made public which proved these police officers deliberately escalated with Cpl. DeVillena resulting in this unarmed Marine's murder from six police point blank shots after Nordman jumped through the passenger-side window with drawn gun, landed in Cpl. DeVillena's lap with legs sticking outside the window and his gun poking Cpl. DeVillena's face. City of Palm Springs, CA used their citizen's taxpayer's dollars to pay $2.6 million to settle with Cpl. DeVillena's family, the third Palm Springs settlement involving Nordman. Never Served City Attorney Patrick Desmond described it as "business decision," "stands behind" police's actions and blamed Cpl. DeVillena. read more

I love the Navel Exchange on Camp Pendleton. There are several restaurants and many things to do of course you have to have military identification. I love shopping tax free. read more

I got a private tour of this military base and loved it. I've joined the Navy and leave for basic training soon so a Marine at this base offered to give me an inside look at the life inside of a military base and all the different buildings and activities they do on a regular basis. Absolutely loved it and I'm glad they allowed visitors. Made me even more excited to start basic. read more

Top security right here !!!! Leave all drugs and weapons at home !!! These people don't mess!!!!!

I was intimidated coming here at first because I'm in the Air Force. But love the view of the base. This base is huge. My thoughts were I could have be here if the marines recruiter in Simi would have been faster to recruit me. Def will be coming back to enjoy it. read more