San Elijo Hills is a master-planned community in the southwest of San Marcos, California, built by San Elijo Hills Development Company, and managed by HomeFed Corporation. San Elijo is home to three of the largest schools in San Marcos Unified School District. Unlike the rest of San Marcos, San Elijo Hills has its own town center, featuring a public park (including a stage and seating for community events), a clock tower, a fountain, and rows of shops and restaurants.
In 1769, the Portola Expedition named the area San Alejo in honor of Saint Alexius. The term "Elijo" is an Anglo-Saxon misspelling of a proper name "Alejo."
San Elijo Hills is served by California State University, San Marcos, located in San Marcos.
The San Elijo Hills Homeowners Association organizes a number of community events, including a golf outing, Concert in the Square, Oktoberfest, Tree Lighting Ceremony, Independence Day Celebration, and Easter Egg Hunt.
Double Peak Park features a 150-seat concrete, terraced amphitheater for interpretive ranger talks, a group picnic shelter, individual picnic tables, an adventure play area, restrooms, a resident park ranger, and a parking lot.
San Elijo Hills Park includes a soccer field, two baseball diamonds, picnic/barbecue areas, a children's water "sprayground", an enclosed dog park, jogging paths, and a plaza for large events. The park is also the main trailhead for a network of of trails. The park's Community Center, operated by the city of San Marcos, has facilities for classes, parties and special events.
San Elijo Hills has of trails that are popular for hiking, cycling and horseback riding.
AYSO Region 1505 is a volunteer-run youth soccer program in San Elijo Hills and the surrounding communities. The organization fielded 75 teams with more than 600 players in 2010.