Rides and games at Belmont Park

Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are the two most popular beach neighborhoods in San Diego. Nestled between the ocean and the man-made Mission Bay, this area is packed with tourists in the summer months who come to visit Sea World, the seaside amusements of Belmont Park, or just to hang out at the beach.

Understand

Mission Beach is on a narrow strip of land between the ocean and Mission Bay, only a few blocks wide. It leads from more upscale Pacific Beach to the north to Belmont Park with the famous "Giant Dipper" roller coaster at its south end. It gets funkier the further south you go on the ocean-side boardwalk, though gentrification is slowly creeping through the area. It is a (somewhat) tamer version of the Los Angeles' famous Venice Beach. Its population soars in the summer with out-of-town surfer dudes, dudettes, wanna-bes, and "Zonies" (Arizona residents trying to beat the heat), packed like sardines into expensive, often beaten-up (but who cares?) summer rentals.

Pacific Beach (PB for short) is one of San Diego's many beach towns, bordered on the south by Mission Beach and Mission Bay, to the north by La Jolla, to the east by I-5, and best of all, to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Dotted with restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as clothing stores, beachwear stores, surfboard, bike and rollerblade rental places, it is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon, of which there are plenty. Many PB residents are in their 20s and 30s, as a result of the booming nightlife. PB is dominated by Garnet Avenue, a large commercial street that runs from the 5 freeway west to the Pacific Ocean.

Get in

By car

From Downtown and areas south get on Interstate 5, referred to as “the 5,” exit onto westbound I-8 and exit at West Mission Bay Drive. Stay on West Mission Bay Drive to get to Mission Beach, or you can access Mission Bay by taking Ingraham Street or Sea World Drive. If you want to get to Pacific Beach, take I-5 to Mission Bay Drive and hang a left on either Grand Avenue or Garnet Avenue and follow them into the heart of Pacific Beach. Be prepared to sit in traffic during rush hour and busy weekends, this is the one of the few entrances to Pacific Beach and it creates an absurd bottleneck.

From La Jolla and areas north you can take the 5, exit at Garnet Avenue and make a right. From coastal La Jolla, it might be faster and definitely more scenic to take the surface streets. Follow La Jolla Blvd. south until it intersects Mission Blvd. and you’re in North Pacific Beach. Make a right on Mission Blvd. and you’ll be driving south, parallel to the beach with the ocean on your right.

From Ocean Beach, take Sunset Cliffs Blvd. to West Mission Bay Drive which will take you through Mission Beach to the west part of Pacific Beach, or to Ingraham Street which will lead you into the central part of Pacific Beach. All the overpasses and underpasses can get confusing. After you go over the dry San Diego River, loop around once for Ingraham or stay right and loop around again for West Mission Bay Drive.

By public transit

The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), San Diego's public transit service, has a few frequent bus routes serving the area: Routes 8 and 9 connect Pacific Beach to the Trolley station in Old Town, with the 8 traveling along Mission Blvd through Mission Beach and the 9 crossing Mission Bay and stopping at Sea World. Additionally there's Route 30, which runs along Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach and connects to La Jolla to the north and Old Town to the south, as well as Downtown on weekdays. Lastly, there's the less frequent Route 27, which travels up Garnet Avenue through PB to the suburban neighborhoods of Clairemont and Kearny Mesa to the east. Blue line Trolley stops include Clairemont Dr. and Balboa Ave.

Get around

Once you're in PB, the best way to get around is by any means other than a car. Beach cruisers are the vehicle of choice in PB. Rent a beach-cruiser or roller skates or buy a skateboard. It's more fun and you don't have to worry about parking. There are many facilities that rent all of these and more by the hour, day and even week. One of them is Cheap Rentals which has a Mission Beach and Pacific Beach location.

At night, taxis are readily available all along Garnet ave or Mission blvd near the bar areas. If you are outside of those areas, and need to go down to the bar areas, the best way is to call a taxi for pickup. Generally taxis will arrive in under 30 minutes to residential or hotel properties. Most locals walk or take taxis at night.

See

Orcas pausing during a Sea World show

• 1 SeaWorld San Diego, 500 SeaWorld Dr, ☏ +1 619-222-4732, toll-free: +1-800-257-4268. Hours vary by season and day of week; typically 10AM-5PM in winter, 9AM-11PM in summer. A massive (200 acres) marine animal theme park with rides, lots of sea animals (dolphins, sea otters, arctic creatures, sharks, penguins, rays, manatees, etc.) and of course, shows of killer whales like Shamu. $89 adults, $83 children ages 3-9, free for children under age 3 (parking $16 for cars, $21 for RVs and campers, and $11 for motorcycles). (updated Aug 2015)
• Take a walk along the Boardwalk or walk out onto the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach and experience the ocean.

Do

• 1 Belmont Park, 3146 Mission Blvd, ☏ +1 858 228-9283. Open April–December, hours vary by season and day of week; typically 11AM-8PM. A seaside amusement park located near the southern end of Mission Beach, Belmont Park is a landmark with a number of shops, restaurants, an arcade, and a bunch of rides. The big attraction is the Giant Dipper, a historic roller coaster that is one of the only two remaining oceanfront roller coasters still operating on the west coast. Also popular is The Plunge, a historic indoor heated swimming pool that continues to be the city's largest indoor pool. Among the other rides is a FlowRider (a simulated wave attraction which you can bodyboard on), an antique carousel, bumper cars, slides, pendulum rides, tilt-a-whirl, and a trampoline. General admission free, ride tickets $1 each (rides take anywhere from 3-6 tickets each); unlimited ride passes available. (updated Aug 2015)
• 2 Mission Bay Aquatic Center, 1001 Santa Clara Pl, ☏ +1 858-488-1000. The aquatic center rents catamarans and other watercraft, as do several other franchises around the bay. Instructional lessons are available. The western half of the bay is "sail only" (powerboats 5 mph no wake) during the daytime. 
• 3 Mission Bay Park. Encompassing the entirety of Mission Bay, offering opportunities for sailing, boating, swimming, jet ski, and other water sports. You can also take advantage of the park space surrounding the bay for walking, bicycling, picnicking, etc. There are many miles of hiking, biking, and running trails that have a moderate level of difficulty for runners and an easy level of difficulty for bicyclists. There are marvelous views of the ocean and the bay along with numerous side trips. Starting at the Mission Bay Visitor Information Center (on East Mission Bay Drive near the Clairemont Drive exit from Interstate 5 Freeway) is a good idea, as there is parking (it can be scarce at times and is limited to one hour), and runners can choose a trail to match their fitness level.  
  • 4 Mission Bay Playground, East Mission Bay Drive on Mission Bay, south of Clairemont Drive. There are many playgrounds in the city, but this one is easily one of the best. For starters, it's a huge playground, with several elaborate play structures (one is built to resemble a pirate ship) and lots of elements for kids to explore. It's on the edge of Mission Bay and surrounded by expansive lawns perfect for kite-flying and playing sports. 
  • 5 Fiesta Island. This island in the middle of Mission Bay hosts the Fiesta Island Time Trial Series, hosted by the San Diego Bicycle Club. Competitors meet up to see who can ride the quickest 20k or improve the most. Single riders, tandems and teams are all welcome, and the event also hosts triathletes and world class road race athletes. There is always a waiting list for these trials, so early registration is vital if you want to take part in this very exciting aspect of cycling in Mission Bay Park. 

The Boardwalk along Mission Beach

• 6 Mission Beach. This beach is one of the calmest, easiest places to ocean swim in San Diego area. You can also go scuba diving (off the shore are several dive wrecks). Or you can bicycle or rollerblade along the boardwalk (several stores nearby rent equipment). 
• 7 Tourmaline Surfing Park, at the foot of Tourmaline Street in North Pacific Beach. A popular surfing spot for locals.  

Events

• The San Diego Crew Classic draws rowers from around the world for a huge regatta on Mission Bay on the first weekend of April.
• The yearly Over The Line Tournament takes place each July and is over-the-line in more ways than one. OTL is a locally-invented sport with three-player teams using softballs, known for its rowdyness.
• The area's annual fireworks show on the 4th of July is well-known, with the waters of the bay reflecting the fireworks in the air.
• Every September, the San Diego Bayfair draws huge crowds to Mission Bay, with powerboat races and a beach festival with vendors, concerts, and a kid's zone.
• The Mission Bay Boat Parade of Lights takes place in mid-December and involves a parade of boats decked out in holiday lights making their way through Mission Bay, coinciding with the lighting of holiday lights on the Sea World tower, which are visible from all around Mission Bay for the remainder of the holiday season.

Buy

Garnet Ave, Mission Blvd, and the beach boardwalk are lined with all types of shops, from small clothing stores to large grocery stores.

• Cassea, 4125 Mission Blvd, ☏ +1 310-633-0225. Tu-Su 11AM-7PM, M 11AM-4PM. A specialist lingerie and swimwear store with a wide range of sizes, colors and styles in stock, including strapless bras, nursing bra and Basques. 
• 1 Pangea Outpost, 909 Garnet Ave, ☏ +1 858 581-0555. Boutique and gift shop filled with shirts, books, home decorations, and art. The store is organized into small sections that have their own theme and specialties featuring local San Diego artists. (updated Oct 2023)

Eat

Most of the restaurants take advantage of San Diego’s signature weather by offering outdoor and sidewalk seating.

There’s practically a Mexican joint on every corner in PB, most of them could be considered holes-in-the-wall but at least they don’t have wheels. None of them are bad, most of them are good and a handful of them are great. Every San Diegan has a place in their heart for their favorite Mexican restaurant. Ask a local and she’ll definitely share with you her opinion.

• 1 Bare Back Grill, 4640 Mission Blvd, ☏ +1 858 274-7117. Enjoy burgers made with organic New Zealand beef. 
• 2 The Broken Yolk Café, 1851 Garnet Ave, ☏ +1 858-270-9655. Daily 6AM-3PM. As you can guess, the Broken Yoke specializes in eggs and omelettes but they also serve the regular breakfast fare of pancakes and French toast. It’s great for sitting down and recapping the previous night’s events. If you’re hungry enough, you can try their 12-egg omelette, loaded with all sorts of goodies to make it hard to finish. If you do, it’ll only cost you $2 and your name will be forever engraved on the wall. 
• 3 The Fishery, 5040 Cass St, ☏ +1 858-272-9985. The retailer Pacific Shellfish Seafood Company was founded in 1979 but their attached restaurant debuted in 1998. With many different species of seasonal fresh fish in their cooler, you’ll be able to find something to tickle your taste buds from a simple tuna melt to a wild-caught Alaskan salmon. Since it’s a market too, you can verify that all the fish are fresh. And just in case you didn’t know what your particular entree looked like before it was caught, there are taxidermied models on the wall, displaying the fish in their full glory. 
• 4 The French Gourmet, 960 Turquoise St, ☏ +1 858-488-1725. Has been serving delicious pastries and desserts to San Diego since 1979. You can stop in and try one of their many desserts or you can sit down for a whole meal. Their main entrées are just as tantalizing as the desserts. The breakfast menu includes omelettes, crepes and French toast and is served on weekends from 8AM-2:45PM and on weekdays 10AM-2:45PM. Lunch is served until 3PM and dinner is served everyday except Sunday and Monday. They are also a full service catering and wedding cake company. 
• 5 Kono’s, 704 Garnet Ave, ☏ +1 858-483-1669. This eatery has the best budget breakfast in town, across from the entrance to Crystal Pier. A sign on the wall boasts how many days have passed since they last raised their prices; a figure which is easily over 365. On weekends the line outside gets so long you’d think it was nightclub, but the food is well worth the wait. They specialize in big breakfasts and breakfast burritos. 
• 6 Mr. Frostie, 1470 Garnet Ave, ☏ +1 858-274-9977. Su-Th 10:30AM-9PM, F Sa 10:30AM-10PM. A Pacific Beach institution, Mr. Frostie's has been selling soft serve ice cream since 1949. The simple, no frills menu also includes sandwiches and hot dogs, but it's the dipped ice cream cones, milkshakes, sundaes, and banana splits that will make this place outlast any trendy yogurt shop. 
• 7 Rubio’s, 4504 East Mission Bay Dr, ☏ +1 858-272-2801. Now a minor fast food restaurant chain in the western United States, but what’s significant about the one in PB is that it was the first. In 1983, founder Ralph Rubio capitalized on the unique flavor of Baja California taco stands by replicating one in San Diego (accommodating, of course, for local health codes). The beer-battered fish tacos, the carnitas and carne asada tacos were an immediate hit. 
• 8 World Curry, 1433 Garnet Ave. Great variety of world curries and great happy hour beverage deals. 
• 9 Oscar's Mexican Seafood (Oscar's), 746 Emerald St, ☏ +1 858-412-4009. Small, local Mexican seafood chain specializing in ceviche, tacos, and tortas. Vegetarian options available. $. (updated Oct 2023)
• 10 Crushed, 967 Garnet Ave, ☏ +1 858 230 6567. Brunch and dinner place known for their eggs benedicts and mimosas. Long wait time during the weekends. $. (updated Oct 2023)
• 11 Rocky's Crown Pub (Rocky's), 3786 Ingraham St, ☏ +1 858 273 9140. Small, local pub serving 1/3 and 1/2 pound burgers. Cash only. $. (updated Oct 2023)
• 12 Sushi Ota, 4529 Mission Bay Dr, ☏ +1 858 880-8778, Sushiotasd4529@gmail.com. Though a bit far from the beach (but not from the bay), this small Japanese restaurant offers teriyaki, tempura, and sushi combos. Lunch specials are available. Best to call ahead and ask for reservations. Limited parking available in parking lot. $$. (updated Oct 2023)
• 13 Olive Cafe, 805 Santa Clara Pl, ☏ +1 858-488-1224. Nested between the bay and the beach, Olive Cafe provides breakfast scrambles, burritos, pancakes, breakfast bowls, and baked goods. Sister establishment for Olive Baking Company, which is a small, quick casual bakery, less than a block away. Parking is tough around the area and can get busy in the weekends. (updated Nov 2023)

Drink

Entertainment is the business in Pacific Beach. Youngsters all over San Diego who aren’t fortunate enough to live in Pacific Beach come here day and night to enjoy themselves. The nightlife is the second biggest attraction next to the beach. The weekend nights are always busier than weeknights but the most loyal patrons will begin their weekend celebrations on Thursday. Early week drink and food specials are offered at most bars, especially along Garnet. As such, almost every night attracts a good-sized crowd in PB. Most of the bars are located on the west end of Garnet Avenue which gets the most foot traffic at night. For a more laid-back environment, try one of the bars that isn’t on Garnet, like Froggy’s or the Australian Pub.

The crowd is typically young and single and consists of college students and working professionals. Most bars don’t have dress codes and sandals are seen on men as frequently as they are seen on women. Men usually wear designer (sometimes ripped) jeans and either a t-shirt or an untucked button-down dress shirt. Women usually wear tank tops with jeans or miniskirts. A general rule of thumb is that if you’d wear it to the beach, then you’d most likely get away with wearing it at a bar in PB. Most bars in PB are notoriously strict on identification for locals and visitors alike. For international visitors, most bars do not accept international drivers licenses as a form of ID even if you are considerably over 21. Even though it is a pain, make sure you bring your passport along.

• 1 Cass Street Bar and Grill, 4612 Cass St, ☏ +1 858-270-1320. This comfortable, laid-back bar with deep sea fishing themed decor has a good crowd at practically any time of the day, night or week. It's a beer and wine bar, so cocktails drinks use a weak Asian vodka called Han Vodka, but the twelve or so beers on tap and various other bottled beers are enough to keep most customers happy. The profusion of TV screens make it a popular daytime sports bar, the pool tables and shuffle board table keep it popular at night. The menu has some great seafood and burgers, served until about 10PM, and has great breakfast options too. This bar has a much more neighborly feel compared to the meat-market atmosphere of some of the more popular Garnet Street bars. 
• 2 Lahaina Beach House, 710 Oliver Ct, ☏ +1 858 270-3888. Laid-back bar with a deck facing the beach and boardwalk in a bungalow-type house. Good selection of national and local beers. Both breakfast and lunch/dinner is served on most days. $. (updated Oct 2023)
• 3 Moonshine Beach, 1165 Garnet Ave, ☏ +1 858 999-0158. Sister location of Moonshine Flats in downtown, the Pacific Beach location offers the same activities but in a larger space - including open air sections. The club offers line dancing lessons (select days), live country bands, karaoke, and club music. On Fridays and Saturdays, there is a cover charge can be avoided by signing up for the free guest list on their website. $. (updated Oct 2023)
• 4 Mavericks Beach Club, 860 Garnet Ave, ☏ +1 858 999-0348. Two-story bar and restaurant with lots of TVs and an open-air area. Open for brunch on weekends with family-friendly menu. Converts to a popular club at night. (updated Oct 2023)
• 5 Backyard Kitchen and Tap, 832 Garnet Ave (close to the beach), ☏ +1 858-263-7850. Th-Su. Lunch, dinner, and brunch on weekends, complete with seasonal cocktails with events on weekday nights. On Fridays and Saturdays, it converts to another popular nightclub. (updated Nov 2023)

Sleep

Rooms can get pricey in the area during the summer months of June–September and they’re always cheaper during the winter months. They also have a tendency to fill up, so make sure you call ahead of time to make reservations. A general rule of thumb is that the closer to the beach your room is, the more expensive it’s going to be. Mission Bay is home to several luxurious full-service resorts which are spread over acres of reclaimed land, while accommodations in Pacific Beach are motels and a couple of hostels. A few vacation rental places are based along the beach. For cheaper options, look outside of the area, like Hotel Circle in Mission Valley.

• 710 Beach Rentals, 3865 Mission Blvd., ☏ +1 858-598-3137. (updated Apr 2017)
• 1 ITH Beach Bungalow Surf Hostel, 707 Reed Ave, ☏ +1 858-412-5878. A small chain of tropical-themed hostels. 
• 2 Beach Hut Bed & Breakfast, 3761 Riviera Dr, ☏ +1 858-272-6131. Offering free on-site reserved parking, free Wi-Fi, landscaped pool/patio, queen beds, flat screened TV/cable, faux fireplaces. 
• 3 Mission Bay Inn San Diego, 2575 Clairemont Dr, ☏ +1 619-275-5700. A kid-friendly hotel off I-5 nearby. 
• 4 Crystal Pier Hotel, 4500 Ocean Blvd, ☏ +1 858-748-5894. The closest that you can get to staying on the beach. Built on the historic pier, these rooms offer amazing views and soothing ocean sounds to put you to sleep at night. With a room, you can actually drive out on the pier and park in front of your quarters. 
• 5 Pacific View Inn, 610 Emerald St (at the end of Emerald street right above the north end of Pacific Beach), ☏ +1 858 483-6117. Rooms are reasonably priced and include kitchenettes. 
• 6 Surfer Beach Hotel, 711 Pacific Beach Dr., toll-free: +1-866-251-2764. Right on the Pacific Ocean and features a retro boutique-style décor, a popular onsite restaurant, and private guestroom balconies. 
• Bluewater Vacation Homes, 926 Turquoise St, ☏ +1 800 243-3588, info@bluewatervacationhomes.com. (updated Sep 2019)
• 7 Catamaran Resort Hotel (Catamaran), 3999 Mission Boulevard, ☏ +1 858 488-1081, reservations@catamaranresort.com. Large, Polynesian-themed 4-star hotel right between the beach and Mission Bay. The high rise kid-friendly hotel offers, pools, hot tubs, restaurants, bonfires, and parrot encounters. $$. (updated Oct 2023)

Connect

• 1 San Diego Public Library Pacific Beach/Taylor Branch, 4275 Cass St (between Thomas and Reed Avenues), ☏ +1 858-581-9934. M Th F 9:30AM-6PM, Tu W 11:30AM-8PM, Sa 9:30AM-3PM, Su closed. Free Wi-Fi available. (updated Aug 2015)

Stay safe

There are lifeguard towers all along the beach that are manned from 9AM till dusk during the summer months. The main lifeguard tower is staffed year round and is on the beach at the foot of Grand Avenue. They can administer first aid and contact the police and fire department if need be.

The west end of Garnet Avenue can be a rowdy place in the wee hours, generally populated by the 21 to 30 age group. Alcohol-fueled behavior can lead to rude and occasionally aggressive activities.

PB and Mission Beach are, like most of San Diego, considered very safe areas, even at night when the large rowdy bar crowds are out.

Go next

• La Jolla is just to the north.
• Ocean Beach is south of Mission Beach, across the dry San Diego River.