Why go
- City in California, United States.
- Served by McConville Airstrip.
History
Rancho Santa Margarita is a city in Orange County, California, United States. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a master-planned community. The population was 47,949 at the 2020 census, up from 47,853 at the 2010 census. Although it is named for Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, which was in San Diego County, the city limits fall within the borders of Rancho Mission Viejo. At 20 characters long, it is the longest city name in California.
Where to stay
2 Orchard Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630 · ihg.com
20768 Lake Forest Dr, Lake Forest, CA 92630 · ihg.com
27492 Portola Pkwy, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 · marriott.com
27102 Towne Centre Dr, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 · hilton.com
20251 Lake Forest Dr, Lake Forest, CA 92630 · extendedstayamerica.com
Restaurants & places to go
Restaurant · Opening hours: 17:00-21:00 · 20782 Trabuco Oaks Drive, Trabuco Canyon, 92679 · trabucooakssteakhouse.com
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-00:00 · 22022 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688 · bjsrestaurants.com
Ice Cream, Ice Cream · Opening hours: Mo-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00 · 22461 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688 · locations.baskinrobbins.com
Sandwich, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-20:00 Features: takeaway · 22411 Antonio Pkwy, 92688 · boardandbrew.com
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 06:00-23:00; PH off Features: step-free access · 20532 Regency Lane, Lake Forest, 92630 · locations.carlsjr.com
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 06:30-22:00; Su off Features: takeaway, delivery, step-free access, air conditioning · 27845 Santa Margarita… · chick-fil-a.com
Mexican, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: takeaway, delivery · 22349 El Toro Road, Lake Forest, 92630 · locations.deltaco.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th, Su 11:00-21:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access, air conditioning · 27695 Santa Margarita Pkwy · flippinpizza.com
Juice, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-19:00; Su 09:00-18:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · 22331 El Toro Road, Lake Forest, 92630 · juiceitup.com
Chinese, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Fr 09:30-22:00; Sa 09:30-22:30 Features: takeaway, step-free access, air conditioning · 27670-b Santa Margarita… · pandaexpress.com
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 04:30-20:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access, air conditioning · 22331 El Toro Road, Lake… · starbucks.com
Tex-Mex, Fast Food · Opening hours: 08:00-03:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access, air conditioning · 27770 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo, 92691 · locations.tacobell.com
Japanese, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00 Features: takeaway · 22331 El Toro Road, Lake Forest, 92630 · yogis-lakeforest.com
Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream · Opening hours: Su-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access, air conditioning · 27855 Santa Margarita… · yogurtland.com
Bagel, Fast Food · Opening hours: unknown Features: takeaway, step-free access, air conditioning · 27695 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo, 92691 · locations.einsteinbros.com
Wings, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:30-00:00 Features: takeaway · 22195 El Paseo, 92688 · wingstop.com
Breakfast, Lunch, Hawaiian, Restaurant · Opening hours: 06:30-14:00 Features: step-free access · 27762 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo, 92691 · alohastacks.com
Bubble Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa-Su 10:00-21:00 Features: vegetarian options, step-free access · 27744 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission… · momotteahouse.com
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 16:00-21:30; Fr-Su 11:00-21:30 · 27782 Vista Del Lago # 26, Mission Viejo, 92692 · peppinosonline.com
Thai, Restaurant · Opening hours: 00:00-21:00 Features: takeaway · 29851 Aventura · thaismilersm.com
Asian, Chinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su 11:00-21:00; Mo-Th 11:00-14:30; Mo-Th 16:00-21:00; Fr 16:00-21:30; Sa 11:00-21:30; Fr 11:00-14:30 · 30642… · wanfuchinabistro.com
Barbecue, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su 11:30-21:00; Mo-Th 16:00-21:00; Fr 16:00-21:30; Sa 11:30-21:30 · 22352 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688 · woodranch.com
Hot Dog, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 20652 Lake Forest Drive, Lake Forest, 92630 · wienerschnitzel.com
Mediterranean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-15:00,16:00-20:30; Fr 11:00-15:00,16:00-21:00; Sa 11:30-20:30; Su,PH off Features: step-free access,… · grillhut.com
Donut, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 05:00-16:00; Sa-Su 05:00-14:00 Features: step-free access, air conditioning · 27672 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission…
Persian, Restaurant · Persian restaurant · Los Alisos Boulevard · missionranchmarkets.com
Seafood, Mexican, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-15:30; Sa 09:00-14:00; Su off · 27855 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo, 92691 · clubelevate.us
Sushi, Japanese, Restaurant · Sushi/Japanese restaurant · yamasushionthelake.com
Italian Pizza, Italian, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating
Fast Food · fast food
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-21:00; Sa-Su 11:30-23:00 · 22195 El Paseo, 93688 · hannasprimesteak.com
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu 19:00-23:00;We-Th 10:00-15:00,19:00-23:00;Fr 10:00-15:00,19:00-00:00;Sa 08:00-15:00,19:00-00:00;Su… · rosecafelakeforest.com
Ice Cream · handelsicecream.com 949-709-0096 Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating · 30622 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa…
Sandwich, Bakery, Fast Food · Opening hours: 07:00-20:00 Features: takeaway · 30642 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688 · locations.panerabread.com
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 06:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 26902 Trabuco Road, Mission Viejo, 92691 · mcdonalds.com
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 29840 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688 · locations.kfc.com
Mexican, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 22245 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688 · locations.chipotle.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo 11:00-23:00; Tu-Th 10:00-23:00; Fr 11:00-23:30; Sa 09:00-23:30; Su 09:00-23:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · 22335 El… · locations.papajohns.com
Juice, Fast Food · Opening hours: 08:00-18:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access, air conditioning · 27726 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo, 92691 · locations.nekterjuicebar.com
Chinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:30 · 22922 Trabuco Road, 92691 · little-chopsticks.com
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-19:00; Su 07:00-18:00 · 20025 Lake Forest Drive, Lake Forest, 92630 · bodhileafcoffee.com
Japanese, Restaurant · Japanese restaurant
Bagel, Fast Food · Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688
88 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
John Wayne Airport Orange County (SNA) 15 mi to the centre
Santa Ana, CA, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 13 airlines (Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines…) · direct flights to 21 destinations incl. Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves Los Angeles (34 mi) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 13 airlines, 21 direct destinations
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 737-800) · 8 routes: Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 737-700) · 7 routes: Denver*, Las Vegas, Mexico City, Oakland*, Phoenix*, San Francisco*, San Jose Del Cabo
- American Airlines AA (737, 737-800, A319, A320, A321) · 5 routes: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Portland*, Seattle*
- United Airlines UA (737-700, A320, 737-800, A319, 757-200) · 5 routes: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Newark, San Francisco
- Delta Air Lines DL (A319, 757, 737-700) · 4 routes: Atlanta, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Vancouver*
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-700, 737-800, 737-800) · 3 routes: Dallas-Fort Worth*, Portland, Seattle
- US Airways US (737-800, A319, A320, A321) · 3 routes: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix
- Interjet (ABC Aerolineas) 4O (A320) · 2 routes: Guadalajara, Mexico City
- Air France AF (757) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Alitalia AZ (757) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319) · 1 route: Denver
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (757) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- WestJet WS (737-700) · 1 route: Vancouver
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Riverside Municipal Airport (RAL) 23 mi to the centre
6951 Flight Rd, Riverside, CA 92504 — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Chino Airport (CNO) 23 mi to the centre
Chino, CA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
McConville Airstrip 10 mi to the centre
Lake Elsinore, CA, US
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is McConville Airstrip. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Bus · Orange County, California · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · San Diego, California · Schedules & GTFS data
Bus · Riverside, California · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Jet card, management · Managed fleet across US bases · Locally based jet card and aircraft management with private terminals in ~20 US cities.
Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.
Membership charter · King Air 350i, Citation, Hawker, Global · US membership and on-demand charter; Delta Air Lines is a major shareholder.
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.