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Mission Bay Park

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Highlights | Logistics | Getting There

Highlights

Mission Bay Park is San Diego’s biggest playground. This water wonderland boasts 27 miles of shoreline, 19 miles of sandy beaches, free parking, great playgrounds, picnic sites, barbecues, and basketball and volleyball courts. Plus, it’s minutes from the airport, Mission Valley, and downtown.

Since the park covers over 4,000 acres, it pays to stop at the San Diego Visitor Information Center located off I-5 at Clairemont Drive, right on Mission Bay. This attractive center, open from 9 a.m. to dusk, is a treasure trove of info with a gift shop, exhibits, and helpful maps. And it’s the perfect spot to begin exploring Mission Bay.

Walk down the wide path that curves around the bay, take off your shoes, and feel the warm sand or maybe dip a toe in the beckoning water. Or hop in the car and cruise East Mission Bay Drive to get a feel for the area.

Mission Bay Park is set up for a range of activities that make it fun for both kids and adults — swimming, skating, bicycling, kayaking, jet skiing and waterskiing, or just relaxing on the beach. You can also take some sailing lessons, rent a boat, or play golf or tennis. Youngsters can frolic in the water or playgrounds.

Logistics (Mission Bay Map)

Most of Mission Bay Park’s swimming beaches feature rest rooms with showers, along with seasonal lifeguards. Mission Bay’s numerous hotels and resorts bring you close to the action and offer much more than just a place to sleep. The park is also convenient to many other San Diego attractions, including Sea World.

Getting There (Mission Bay Map)

Mission Bay Park is right off I-5 at Clairemont Drive, a 10-minute drive from downtown San Diego and Mission Valley. From Mission Valley, take I-8 west to I-5 north. From downtown, just get on I-5 north.

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