Main Gate: 24 hours
San Luis Rey Gate: 24 hours
Del Mar Gate: Open:6am-8pm Closed: 8pm-6am
San Onofre Gate: 24 Hours
Cristianitos Gate: 24 Hours
Las Pulgas Gate: 24 Hours (Outbound traffic closed Monday - Friday 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.)
All commercial vehicles must enter Camp Pendleton via the Las Pulgas Gate only.
CAMP PENDLETON VISITOR CENTER
Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Phone: (760) 763-8435
Visitor center services are available from 0730 through 1530 Monday through Friday.
Marine corps base, Camp Pendleton (MCB CAMPEN) official visitors, volunteers, command guests, guests of base residents, marine corps community service patrons, and recreational bicyclists should report to the visitor center for service.
MCB CAMPEN official visitors, volunteers, command guests, and guests of base residents will be given priority service over other customers, who can expect very long delays.
The visitor center and base access control may stop accepting customers as early as 1400 to ensure all existing customers are provided service by closing time.
Visitors who have not been pre-sponsored should expect long wait times or should arrange to have their sponsor meet them at the main gate for escorted or Trusted Traveler access.
Unescorted access:
U.S. Government sponsors should submit the files to: mcbcampensponsoredvisitor@usmc.mil
Unescorted access requires a person to provide acceptable base access credentials or identification and provide an acceptable purpose for their presence on the installation.
Acceptable base credentials include:
- Common Access Card
- Uniformed Services ID (Family / Retiree)
- Federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) enabled for Camp Pendelton access
- Camp Pendleton enabled Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) visitor pass or credential
To obtain a DBIDS pass or credential, a visitor must present ONE of the following:
- Valid (unexpired) Real ID compliant Driver’s License
- State Identification Card
- U.S. Passport or Passport Card
If individuals requesting a DBIDS pass or credential do not have any of the credentials listed above, they must present all three documents below as an alternative.
- Original or Certified Birth Certificate (Raised Seal)
- Social Security Card
- Driver’s License
State IDs and driver’s licenses may not contain the markings:
- “Not Valid for Federal Purposes”
- “Not for Use as Federal Identification”
- “Federal Limits May Apply.”
- Any similar phrase to the above
All documents presented must bear the same name or a former name as documented on acceptable name change documentation such as a court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree.
MCB Camp Pendleton Sponsored Visitor Roster (DBIDS) (Rev. 1-19)
MCB Camp Pendleton Sponsored Volunteer Roster (DBIDS) (Rev. 9-18)
Click here for specific information on what facilities you can access on Camp Pendleton.
Trusted Traveler visitors are ONLY authorized between the hours of 5:30am and 8:00pm.
Trusted Traveler Program
Trusted Traveler access allows a person with DoD affiliation to present their approved credential and simultaneously vouch for up to five adult co-travelers. Co-travelers must be 16 years of age or older, and can be on foot, in the same vehicle, or in a single vehicle following immediately behind the sponsor’s vehicle.
The co-traveler(s) must have an acceptable purpose for their presence and establish their identity through acceptable credentials or identification when prompted. Co-travelers may not be foreign nationals. MCO 5530.13 requires that sponsors notify the Visitor Center 96 hours prior to the foreign national’s arrival on Camp Pendleton. This allows the Visitor Center sufficient time to submit their information for background checks and screening. Once screened, the Visitor Center will issue the foreign national a visitor pass (DBIDS credential with restricted markings to identify the visitor as a foreign national). The foreign national must then be escorted by the DoD Affiliate sponsor at all times and is not permitted unescorted access.
Sponsors must know the following information about their co-travelers for them to utilize the Trusted Traveler Program.
- Co-Travelers Identity
- Co-Travelers Criminal History
- Co-Travelers Purpose of Entry
- Co-Travelers Citizenship Status
If these four items are not known by the co-travelers' sponsor, the co-traveler does not meet the criteria of the Trusted Traveler Program and must be escorted.
Escorted Access
Escorted access allows an individual without acceptable base access credentials or identification to be granted access if sponsored and accompanied by a credentialed DoD affiliate. All escorted personnel must be associated with official government business and be always within eyesight of their escort while aboard the installation.
Escorts must be U.S. citizens at least 16 years of age, have DoD affiliation, and be granted unescorted access. Individuals being escorted may not be foreign nationals.
Click here for specific information on what facilities you can access on Camp Pendleton.
Service member retirees
All DoD retired uniformed service members may be granted base access with their DoD ID/Privilege card.
Veterans
DoD veterans may be granted access through any Camp Pendleton gate with their Camp Pendleton enabled Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC). VHIC holders are not authorized to sponsor visitors under Trusted Traveler or obtain a visitor pass for visitors.
Veterans must enable their VHIC at the Visitor Center (building 20255T), during working hours.
For service-connected disabled veterans, Medal of Honor & Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and authorized primary veteran caregivers.
Click the link below for required documentation and access instructions:
Select Veterans Access (marines.mil)
DoD Civilian retirees
Per DoD Memorandum, Department of Defense Civilian Retiree Identification Card Termination, the DoD is no longer issuing or reissuing civilian retiree identification cards. This change only applies to civilians retiring from federal service. NOT service members retiring from military service. Civilian retirees pursuing base access must obtain DBIDS credentials at the Visitor Center (building 20255T) by presenting their Retirement SF50 and a valid REAL ID compliant driver’s license or U.S. Passport.
Click here for specific information on what facilities you have access to on Camp Pendleton.
Command Sponsored Events
(Change of Command, Relief and Appointment, Retirement, and PME Graduation)
https://www.pendleton.marines.mil/Main-Menu/Base-Access/MCCS-Patrons/
The Command Sponsored Event process is for events where Trusted Traveler, command assigned escorts, or obtaining a DBIDS Visitor Pass are not practical due to the number of civilian visitors. The process allows PMO to conduct the criminal history backgrounds checks required IAW MCO 5530.13 before allowing the visitor to have unescorted access. This includes identifying Sex Offenders, Wanted Persons, and persons with disqualifying Felony Convictions. If the Command Sponsored Event process cannot be completed, commands may assign Escorts. Escort duties are defined in MCO 5530.13.
Below are the steps and information for Command Sponsored Events on MCB Camp Pendleton.
1. Review and complete the attached Command Sponsored Event Notification as well as the DBIDS Command Sponsored Event Visitor Roster. The Command Sponsored Event Notification must be signed by a Command representative with "By direction" signature authority for the unit Commander.
All adult visitors must be included on the DBIDS Command Sponsored Event Visitor Roster. Minors (under age 18) should not be listed, nor should persons who have unescorted base access such as military Retirees.
2. Submit at least seven business days (Mon-Fri) in advance to: PNDL_CMDSPONSORED_EVENTS@usmc.mil
3. If the submission is rejected, or an individual visitor does not meet base access requirements for unescorted access, the command representative will be notified by email.
4. If you need to add visitors, submit the additional visitor(s) for the event on a new roster to: PNDL_CMDSPONSORED_EVENTS@usmc.mil Submit only the new visitors. If PMO is not able to process the request in time, the visitor(s) may be escorted.
5. Send a command representative to the gate(s) with a by-name roster of the invited visitors. The command representative will coordinate with the Gate NCOIC to approve the visitors' access. Please note that for Command Sponsored Events, a command representative(s) is required to be at the gate(s) with an updated copy of the visitor roster for the duration of time that visitors will arrive.
6. Additional requirement for Foreign Visitors. Please provide a separate list of any foreign visitors who will attend the event to include their Full Name, Date of Birth and Country of Origin. Non-U.S. Citizens and Non-Permanent Residents visitors must be cleared through the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA), and once cleared must be escorted in person.
Recreational Bicycling
Bike Route Map
For recreational bicyclists riding along approved bike route
Per MCO 5530.13, identification cards marked not valid for federal purposes, federal limits may apply, or any other similar language may not be accepted by DoD for the purpose of unescorted access (i.e. to obtain a Visitor Pass or DBIDS Credential).
Recreational bicyclist will be required to obtain a DBIDS Recreational Bicycle pass/credential in person from the Visitor Center.
Recreational Bicyclists are only authorized to access the Base for bicycle transit and may not participate in any other activities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Recreational Bicyclists are only authorized to access the base for bicycle transit and may not participate in other base activities.
Recreational bicyclists may not sponsor other adult cyclists. Recreational bicyclists may be accompanied by minors who they are directly responsible.
Recreational bicyclists who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are prohibited from entering Camp Pendleton unless escorted in person by a Dept. of Defense affiliate.
APPROVED BIKE ROUTE:
Cyclists are allowed to transit North/South from the Las Pulgas gate to the Main gate (Stuart Mesa Rd to Vandergrift Blvd) and South/North from the Main gate to the Las Pulgas gate (Vandergrift Blvd to Stuart Mesa Rd).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the process for sponsoring a foreign visitor?
MCO 5530.13 requires that sponsors notify the Visitor Center (building 20255T) 96 hours prior to the foreign national’s arrival on Camp Pendleton. This allows the Visitor Center sufficient time to submit their information for background checks and screening. Once screened, the Visitor Center will issue the foreign national a visitor pass (DBIDS credential with restricted markings to identify the visitor as a foreign national). The foreign national must then be escorted by the DoD Affiliate sponsor at all times and is not permitted unescorted access.
Who is allowed on Camp Pendleton?
Any person who has provided acceptable credentials and identification, command or representative sponsorship, an escort, or a DBIDS pass.
What IDs are accepted for base access?
1. Common Access Card
2. Uniformed Services ID (Family / Retiree)
3. Federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) enabled for Camp Pendleton access
4. Camp Pendleton enabled Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) visitor pass or credential
Can I meet my visitor at the gate to bring them on base?
Those who wish to escort a visitor through the Trusted Traveler program, or escorted access are encouraged to meet their visitor at the Visitor’s Center parking lot and physically escort them through the main gate affirming to the sentry on post who they will be escorting.
What are the processes for command guests, teachers, volunteers or NFEs?
Command guests, teachers, volunteers, members of non-federal entities, and non-DoD base residents will apply for a DBIDS pass as determined by their access requirements and sponsor. Command guests are authorized to participate in the specific base activity for which they were sponsored. This process is coordinated by the Visitor Center.
Who is considered a visitor to the base?
Any person who does not have DoD affiliation or a valid base access credential.
Can I access Camp Pendleton to utilize the Naval Hospital?
Those with acceptable credentials and official business at NHCP may be granted access to the installation. For more information contact NHCP at 760-725-1288/1289/1290.
What might keep a visitor from getting on base?
Persons requesting access to Marine Corps sites will be denied access to the site and/or debarred from the site if:
(1) Marine Corps personnel are unable to verify the individual’s claimed identity based on reasonable belief the person submitted fraudulent identity information in the attempt to gain access.
(2) The individual has a conviction for espionage, sabotage, sedition, treason, terrorism, armed robbery, or murder.
(3) The individual has a felony conviction for a firearms or explosives violation, regardless of the date of conviction.
(4) The individual has been convicted of crimes encompassing sexual assault or rape.
(5) The individual has been convicted of crime encompassing child molestation, or the possession or production of child pornography.
(6) The individual has been convicted of trafficking in persons.
(7) The individual is a registered sex offender.
(8) The individual has been convicted of drug possession with intent to sell or distribute.
(9) The individual has an active arrest warrant from federal, state, local, or other civil authorities, regardless of offense or violation.
(10) The individual has a felony conviction within the last 10 years, regardless of the offense or violation.
(11) The individual’s name appears on any federal or state agency watch list for criminal behavior or terrorist activity.
(12) The individual is debarred entry or access to a Marine Corps site, other DoD installations or facilities, or other federal site or facility.
(13) The individual engaged in acts or activities designed to overthrow the U.S. Government by force.
(14) The individual is known to be or reasonably suspected of being a terrorist or belongs to an organization with known terrorism links/support.
(15) The individual is identified in the NCIC KST file, or the TSDB report as known to be, or suspected of being, a terrorist or belonging to an organization with known links to terrorism or support of terrorist activity.
(a) If an individual is identified on the NCIC KST files or TSDB, PMO/MCPD or other designated site security personnel will immediately call the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Multiple Threat Alert Center (MTAC) for further coordination. The MTAC will coordinate with the
Department of Justice (DOJ) or FBI and provide handling instructions to PMO/MCPD or other designated site security personnel.
(b) Site access control personnel shall strictly follow the DOJ/FBI engagement protocols as directed by MTAC personnel.
(16) The individual has criminal arrest information that the site commander determines the person presents a threat to the good order, discipline, or health and safety on the Marine Corps site.
Who do I contact for more questions?
For more information contact the Visitor Center at (760) 763-8435