Park Map & Directions

Getting to the Park

Walk, bike, drive or ride: there are plenty of ways to get to Balboa Park.

• Drive

  Southbound from I-5
  Take the 10th Avenue Exit off I-5. Turn left on “A” Street and left again on Park Blvd. Follow the signs to Balboa Park.

  Northbound from I-5
  Take the Pershing Drive/B Street exit off I-5 to Pershing Drive. Take Pershing and then turn left on Florida Drive. Turn left on Zoo Place to Park Blvd. Left on Park Blvd.

  Southbound from Hwy 163
  Take the Park Blvd. exit off Hwy 163. Turn left on Park Blvd. Follow the signs to Balboa Park.

   

  For up-to-the-minute freeway driving times, transit routes, and ridesharing information, consult the 511 services for the San Diego area. This is a free telephone (dial 511) and web-based program.

• Parking

  The City of San Diego’s paid parking program in Balboa Park is in effect as of January 5, 2026, and will be enforced daily from 8 am to 8 pm, with the exception of the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Discounts are available for verified City of San Diego residents. The cost of each parking lot will vary, depending on how close it is to the center of the Cultural District. Parking rates are set by the City of San Diego. To view the City’s Balboa Park Lots map, click here.

  For questions about parking in Balboa Park, please see the City’s Frequently Asked Questions section on their website: https://www.sandiego.gov/parking/balboapark

  Learn More

   

• Ride Share & Taxi

  Ubers, Lyfts, and Taxis are a great way to get to and from the park. Have the driver drop you off or pick you up at the central traffic circle by the Pan American Plaza.

  GOGO Charters offers reliable San Diego charter bus rentals for easy, hassle-free travel to the park. Coming from farther up the coast? Sacramento charter bus services provide a comfortable, direct way to get to San Diego.

   

• Bike

  You can lock up your bike at one of the many bike racks throughout the Park. There are usually dockless rental bikes and scooters available, too.

  Lanes and Routes

  Regional Bike Map

• Walk

  The Park is located near Downtown and is within walking distance of such popular neighborhoods as including South Park, North Park, Hillcrest, Little Italy, Downtown, Gaslamp District, East Village, Banker’s Hill, and University Heights.

• Public Transportation

  Visit Balboa Park using the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), with easy access from Downtown and Mission Valley.

  Print out a handy map of the bus and trolley systems servicing Downtown, the San Diego International Airport, and Balboa Park.

  Review the times for routes Route 120 (Fashion Valley), Route 7 (City College), and Rapid 215, which are the main bus routes through Balboa Park.

  Download PRONTO, the free mobile ticketing app for an easy payment experience. Earn-as-you-go to get the best fare, every time! Load money into your PRONTO account or onto your card, then scan or tap with each trip you make to earn a Day or Month Pass as you ride. (COASTER excluded – will still require upfront payment for Day and Month Passes.). One-way fares on PRONTO will be valid for unlimited transfers within two hours of activation.

  Youth 18 and under ride free with the Youth Opportunity Pass.