arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up play-button plus tab-indicator dots close menu search facebook google-plus instagram pinterest rss twitter tiktok youtube rss-two heart Check FeaturedBadge linkedin minus apps placeholder linkedin

Kid-Friendly Bike Rides Around San Diego

Perfect paths for kids of all ages

Warm weather coupled with beautiful scenery makes San Diego the perfect place for family bike rides.

By: Chelsea Gladden; Mommy Blogger at Breezy Mama

Plan Your Two Wheel Adventure

Beautiful beach paths, meandering lake trails and all-around gorgeous scenery make San Diego ideal for hoping on a bike and exploring near or far. With so many bike rental shops spread across the county, it's easy to pick up a few beach cruisers for the day and take in the sights. Many sections of San Diego have bike lanes, so depending on your child's age, the options can be limitless. Here are some of the best spots for family bike rides. You can also find San Diego bike rentals all over.

Carlsbad Coastal Rail Trail

Starting in North County, the Carlsbad Coastal Rail Trail runs along the train tracks, making it a whole lot of fun for the kids to see the trains up close! The path is wide and tucked away from the traffic, making it ideal for smaller children and stress-free for the bigger ones, too. Stretching only .7 miles, it’s ideal for smaller peddlers. Park on Tamarack Avenue or in Carlsbad Village and enjoy the ride!

Solana Beach Coastal Rail Trail

Similar to the Carlsbad trail, the Solana Beach option runs parallel to the train tracks. Starting at Via De La Valle where it meets the Coast Highway, the trail heads north and finishes at Ocean Street, for an approximately 1.7 mile stretch. Beach access can be found about halfway on Plaza Drive so riders can jump in the ocean and cool off. Safe and off the main roads, it's another coastal gem that's near plenty of fun food stops to fuel up.

La Jolla Bike Tour

A must-stop when in town, La Jolla is referred to as the "crown jewel" of San Diego for a reason. Stop in at any one of the local bike rental shops and choose from either their guided maps to find your trails or take a guided biking tour. Better suited for kids ages 12+, take in the scenery as you cruise south from La Jolla Cove past the Children's Pool to Windansea, Crystal Pier and the Pacific Beach Boardwalk. Or trek to the top of Mount Soledad (best for older teens)—at 822 feet and only 1.2 miles from the ocean, this ride is tough but the spectacular views offer ample reward.

Mission Bay Bike Path

Heading further south along the coast, Mission Bay has a safe, off-the-main-streets path that stretches 12 miles. Completely flat, it's ideal for both little and big kids alike who want an easier ride. Cruise along Fiesta Island, SeaWorld and more—all with breathtaking water views.

> Complete Guide to the Mission Bay Bike Path

Bayshore Bikeway on Coronado

There's something to be said for crossing the historic bridge into San Diego's very own little "island." This pedestrian- and bike-friendly trail begins at the Coronado Ferry Landing and continues for a full 9 miles to Imperial Beach. The path includes a ride past the legendary Hotel del Coronado and the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a 3,900-acre wetlands that hosts many endangered and migratory birds. Stop at either for a rest and some great sightseeing.

> Complete Guide to the Bayshore Bikeway

Mission Trails

Heading inland along Junipero Serra Road in Santee, get off the coastal path for some amazing mountain views at the Mission Trails Regional Park. Ride around Lake Murray while immersing yourself in nature for a 3.2 mile route or start at the visitor center for an easy 2.5 mile out-and-back to the Old Mission Dam, running parallel to the San Diego River. Keep an eye out for some fun bird watching along the way.

> Guide to Mission Trails Bike Paths

Lake Hodges Suspension Bridge

Just to be able to say you rode the longest stressed ribbon bridge in the world (and one of only 4 in the western hemisphere), head to Escondido for a fun ride above the water! A total of 990 feet long and 12 feet wide, take a ride across and continue onto the trails for a scenic route. Start at sunset near Via Rancho Parkway and take the mile-long paved route to get to the bridge.


Follow this link to discover more family friendly things to do in San Diego!

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

Things to Do

What's Hot|
Top Picks|
What's On

Save with Discount Passes to local Attractions

CityPASS and the Go San Diego Card provide multi-day passes for big savings on top attractions.  

Discover

Don’t Miss These Epic Events

Check out San Diego’s star-studded event lineup

Discover

Holiday Hotel Rates From $99

Find special hotel deals from Nov. 25 to Jan. 5.

Discover

The Capital of Craft

Hoppiness isn't far from happiness in San Diego. The craft beer experience is massive in this region, with more than 120 breweries, countless beer bars, innovative tasting rooms and a beer culture that's undeniably San Diegan.

Discover

Convoy Street - San Diego's Asian Restaurant Row

Home to Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese cultures and cuisines

Discover

Tiki Bars - Exotic rum punches and smoking volcano bowls

Exploring San Diego's tiki culture and scene reveals that it's not just a trend or lifestyle, it's a state of mind.

Discover

7 Spectacular Rooftop Restaurants

You don't come to San Diego to spend time in the great indoors. The weather, as advertised, is annoyingly perfect.

Discover

2025 San Diego Beer Week

Nov 7 - Nov 16, 2025

A 10-day celebration, promoting more than 150 independent craft breweries in San Diego County. San Diego Beer Week is brought to you by the San Diego Brewers Guild, with participation from the region's local craft breweries, allied and affiliate members. San Diego Beer Week is taking place November 7-16 with events being held throughout San Diego County at participating breweries, bars, restaurants and more!

Discover

2025 San Diego Beer Week

Nov 7 - Nov 16, 2025

A 10-day celebration, promoting more than 150 independent craft breweries in San Diego County. San Diego Beer Week is brought to you by the San Diego Brewers Guild, with participation from the region's local craft breweries, allied and affiliate members. San Diego Beer Week is taking place November 7-16 with events being held throughout San Diego County at participating breweries, bars, restaurants and more!

Discover

San Diego Crew Classic

Mar 28 - Mar 30, 2025

Regarded as the first major regatta of the year, the San Diego Crew Classic brings together thousands of athletes from more than 100 universities, clubs and high school programs across the United States. Spanning ages 14 – 84, the Crew Classic is a competition for future Olympians as well as for those new to the sport. This event is often a highlight of their competitive rowing careers. The Crew Classic is not only an athletic event with competitors at the peak of physical fitness, but a social gathering for enthusiasts to enjoy great local food, a beer garden with San Diego’s famous local craft breweries, and shopping. The event is held at Mission Bay, just a mile from the Pacific Beach.

Discover

Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

Apr 13, 2025

A San Diego sport fishing tradition, The Port Of San Diego’s Day At The Docks is the West Coast’s largest public celebration of sport fishing. Signaling the official start of Southern California’s spring saltwater fishing season, Day At The Docks takes place on Sunday, April 13, 2025 against the colorful and dynamic backdrop of world renown sport fishing fleet on San Diego Bay.

Discover

What's Hot

View More

Save with Discount Passes to local Attractions

Discover

Don’t Miss These Epic Events

Discover

Holiday Hotel Rates From $99

Discover

Top Picks

The Capital of Craft

Discover

Convoy Street - San Diego's Asian Restaurant Row

Discover

Tiki Bars - Exotic rum punches and smoking volcano bowls

Discover

7 Spectacular Rooftop Restaurants

Discover

What's On

View More Events

2025 San Diego Beer Week

Nov 7 - Nov 16, 2025
Discover

2025 San Diego Beer Week

Nov 7 - Nov 16, 2025
Discover

San Diego Crew Classic

Mar 28 - Mar 30, 2025
Discover

Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

Apr 13, 2025
Discover

Related Articles and Features

Deals just for you

Tours & Sightseeing

20% off Valentine's Premier Dining Cruises

City Cruises
Valid: Feb 14 - Feb 15, 2025

Book and save 20%* on all Valentine's cruises on February 14th and 15th with promo code VDAY20!

Restaurants

Couple's Night

The Butcher's Cut
Valid: Apr 19, 2024 - ongoing

Ignite romance at Couples Night at The Butcher's Cut! At $65 per couple, relish shared moments with deep-fried calamari, followed by a sumptuous Kobe Beef Carbonara for two. Conclude your evening with...

Accommodation

Advance Purchase Offer

Pacific Terrace Hotel
Valid: Oct 14, 2024 - ongoing

Start Your Summer Story Now & Save! Are you someone who likes to plan ahead, so you can enjoy a stay stress-free vacation upon arrival? Prepay your San Diego summer escape today, to lock-in...

Events to check out

Event

San Diego Crew Classic

Mar 28 - Mar 30, 2025

Regarded as the first major regatta of the year, the San Diego Crew Classic brings together thousands of athletes from more than 100 universities, clubs and high school programs across the United...

Event

Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

Apr 13, 2025

A San Diego sport fishing tradition, The Port Of San Diego’s Day At The Docks is the West Coast’s largest public celebration of sport fishing. Signaling the official start of Southern...

Event

San Diego Leprechaun Run

Mar 15, 2025

San Diego Leprechaun Run is BACK in Pacific Beach! We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 5th Annual San Diego Leprechaun Run 5K & Kids 1K on Saturday, March 15th!

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.

Sign Up

Partners

Explore

Plan

Stay

Follow Us

Language:

English | Change Language

Select your country or region

China
Germany
Great Britain
Japan
Mexico
Korea
Switzerland
Brazil
France
Australia
Canada
USA

Or use Google Translate

Afrikaans
Albanian
Arabic
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Croatian
Danish
Deutsch
Español
Estonian
Filipino
Finnish
Francais
Georgian
Greek
Haitian-Creole
Hebrew
Hindi
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Macedonian
Malay
Maltese
Nederlands
Norwegian
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Slovak
Slovenian
Swahili
Swedish
Telugu
Thai
Turkish
Ukranian
Vietnamese
Yiddish