California's Orange County is home to the American city of San Clemente. It's on California's southern coast, in the Orange Coast area. Camp Pendleton and the Trestles surf beach in nearby San Diego County border San Clemente to the south; Cleveland National Forest borders the city to the east; Dana Point borders the city to the northwest; San Juan Capistrano borders the city to the north; and CDP Rancho Mission Viejo borders the city to the northeast. The city is 19.5 square miles (51 km2) in size, according to the US Census Bureau. Of it, 0.8 square miles (or 3.89%) are water and 18.7 square miles are land.

Located in a Mediterranean environment, San Clemente often has temperatures in the 70s °F (20s °C). August is the warmest month, with an average high of 79 °F (26 °C), and December is the coldest, with an average high of 64 °F (18 °C). In 2010, there was a good 310 days of sunshine and 10.5 inches (270 mm) of annual rainfall in the city. The Pacific Ocean moderates warm winters and mild summers, creating a climate that is different from the usual Mediterranean pattern. The climate is characterized by little volatility in temperature, both seasonally and daily.

Three middle schools, Bernice Ayer, Shorecliffs, and Vista Del Mar, and six elementary schools, Truman Benedict, Concordia Elementary, Las Palmas, Marblehead Elementary, and Lobo Elementary, make up San Clemente, which is a member of the Capistrano Unified School District. San Clemente High School is known for its accomplishments in academics, music, and athletics. It also provides an International Baccalaureate Program and a wide range of advanced credit courses. A notable feature of Las Palmas Elementary is its dual immersion curriculum. In 2016, Avenida La Pata was extended to allow pupils to access San Juan Hills High School, which is nearby. Furthermore, Capistrano Connections Academy is a public K–12 virtual school with flexible hours. For locals, the closest public college is Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

Corporate headquarters for the medical equipment industries of Cameron Health and ICU Medical, fast-casual Asian eatery Pick Up Stix, luxury sandal manufacturer Rainbow Sandals, and socks and underwear company Stance Socks are all located in San Clemente. The city, also referred to as the "Spanish Village by the Sea," is a well-liked travel destination with landmarks including the San Clemente Pier and Casa Romantica, a historic cultural hub. While the areas feature a variety of architectural forms, downtown is home to lovely restaurants and stores with Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. The city's major employers include the Capistrano Unified School District, Ralphs, Target, ICU Medical, Albertsons, Walmart, the City of San Clemente, Glaukos Corp., Fisherman's Restaurants, and Lowe's. Renovations in North Beach have given the area new life. A large number of locals are employed at the adjacent USMC Base Camp Pendleton.