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Mission Bay

4,600 acres of equal parts water, shoreline and good times

San Diego's Water Wonderland

The largest water park of its kind in the world, Mission Bay Aquatic Park beckons water sports enthusiasts to this fantastic water nirvana.  From kayaking and stand up paddle boarding to water skiing, sailing, kite surfing and everything in between, Mission Bay is a water playground without compare. Whether you're a novice at water sports, or an experienced professional, there's something for every age and skill-level to enjoy in the water. And on land, families can bike ride, picnic, barbecue or celebrate with bonfires right next to the water.

Mission Bay is also home to SeaWorld San Diego, one of the most popular marine-life parks in the world.

Where to Go

  • Crown Point is a favorite spot for volleyball games.
  • Ski Beach a hot spot for family parties, casual picnics and beach bonfires.
  • Santa Clara Point with its excellent Aquatic Center offering water sports rentals and instruction.
  • Sail Bay with its wide running path, Fanuel Park playground, and nightly live music at the adjacent resorts.
  • Quivera Basin offering daily fishing and scuba diving charters and a sampling of waterfront shops and restaurants.
  • Dana Landing is the busy marina, boat launching ramp, sailing, whale watching and sport fishing center.
  • East Mission Bay Park with its information center, endless grass parks, playgrounds and boat launching ramps.
  • Fiesta Island is a multi-purpose, dune-covered island enjoyed by recreational enthusiasts of all kinds – offering plenty of small watercraft launch options and an off leash dog beach.

Parking

  • There are plenty of parking lots around Mission Bay and surrounding beaches.

Lifeguards

  • Lifeguard service on weekends in the late spring and early fall, becoming daily throughout the summer.

Popular Activities

  • Dogs are allowed on Fiesta Island only, which closes at 10:00 p.m. nightly.
  • Surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding.
  • Jet skiing, jet boating, water-powered jetpacking, waverunning, water skiing, sailing on the seaward half of the bay.
  • Biking, skate boarding, skating, jogging and walking along the beach boardwalk and around the paths surrounding the bay.
  • Sunset cruise on the Bahia Belle sternwheeler paddleboat.
  • Belmont Park amusement park, including the Giant Dipper Rollercoaster, located at adjacent Mission Beach.

Directions

  • Mission Bay is bordered to the east by the I-5 freeway and East Mission Bay Drive, to the west by Mission Blvd, to the north by Grand Avenue and to the south by West Mission Bay Drive and Sea World Drive. Ingraham Street runs north-south dead through the middle of the park via a series of islands and bridges. Check a map to determine where you're heading and how best to get there.

Mission Bay

What to Love

  • Moonlight cruises around the bay on the Bahia Belle, a ternwheeler Mississippi-style riverboat docked at the Catamaran Resort on Mission Bay.
  • Bike riding around the bay and the adjacent beach boardwalks at Mission and Pacific Beach.
  • Riding the "Giant Dipper" roller coaster at the adjacent Mission Beach Belmont Park.
  • Learning how to sail at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center.

What to Know

  • The parking lots at Mission Bay fill up quickly during the summer so come early. Street parking restrictions are strictly enforced. 
  • Swimmers should stay clear of boat ramps, bridges and other heavily trafficked areas, well inside buoys and close to shore.
  • There is no lifeguard supervision October - March and limited supervision the rest of the year.

Find a place to stay

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

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