Discover South Bay San Diego

Located south of downtown San Diego and just north of the Mexico border lies the area known as San Diego's South Bay, the gateway to Baja California. This area is home to a number of exciting visitor experiences including the ARCO/US Olympic Training Center, Knott's Soak City water park, Chula Vista Nature Center, Cricket Wireless Amphitheater, Las Americas Premium Outlet shopping, golf, dining and a scenic harbor and waterfront park.

Additionally, South Bay provides easy access to Coronado and the Silver Strand State Beach, for a great spot for families looking to camp, swim, surf, bike ride and fish. Also in the South Bay is Imperial Beach, which hosts the annual U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition, and is home to the Tijuana Estuary, the largest salt water marsh in Southern California where many endangered birds and wildlife species live.

The National City neighborhood of the South Bay has a strong military presence; its three-mile port area along the San Diego Bay is part of Naval Base San Diego, the largest U.S. Naval base on the west coast.

Check out The Big Bay for information on South Bay's waterfronts.

For a brochure on 10 Points of Interest in South Bay, click here (PDF).

For more information on South Bay Tourism, click here.

What we Love: Taking a bike ride or run along the Silver Strand State Beach South Bay's commitment to the environment and eco-tourism The amount of affordable golf courses throughout the area Hiking through the natural landscape both on the coast and inland The Chula Vista Nature Center - a very low cost aquarium option for families

What to Know: Knott's Soak City is closed from October through April Visiting Tijuana can be an adventure; however there are inherent risks, so you should familiarize yourself with safety precautions if you plan to do so. More information on visiting Baja California Free tours of the Olympic Training Center are available on Saturdays at 11:00 am

Getting to South Bay

From the North: Take the I-5 and I-805 freeways south. Once you pass through downtown, you are in the South Bay Area.

Public Transportation: The Blue Trolley line is the main artery into South Bay. It runs from the Old Town Trolley Station to the San Ysidro Transit Center near the border with Mexico.