Parking in Balboa Park lots is free. Park in the
Inspiration Point parking lot
(on the east side of Park Blvd., between Presidents Way and the Balboa Park Activity Center) for easy access to the heart of Balboa Park via the free tram (please check the Tram Page for current operation schedule).
Can you walk around Balboa Park for free?
Free Things to do at Balboa Park
One of the very best things about Balboa Park is that
it's free to enter
. With grounds open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you can always walk right in.
What parts of Balboa Park are free?
Yes! Admittance to the park grounds is free. Once inside the Park, explore the lush gardens and trails.
The Botanical Building and Timken Art Museum
are always free.
How do you drive through Balboa Park?
You can drive through the park and there is plenty of parking, especially at the Inspiration Point parking lot on Park Blvd.
A tram will take you up to the heart of the park
. It runs every 15 minutes or so. I use Lyft (or Uber) all the time to get to and from the park.
Can you walk around Balboa Park?
Balboa Park offers a whopping 65 miles of hiking trails
. There's something for everyone, whether you're looking for a single-miler or a longer trek.
What part of Balboa Park is open?
The historic
Central Mesa
of Balboa Park is OPEN to visitors (face mask and social distancing required): All Balboa Park parking lots are open at full capacity.
Is Balboa Park worth visiting?
Now, it's open and visitors can climb to new heights. It's 125 steps up but
is worth the workout as it gives you unparalleled 360-degree views of the park and San Diego
– from the beaches to the bays as well as from Mexico to the mountains.
Are the gardens in Balboa Park free?
What is this?
The Balboa Park Rose Garden is free to enter
and is open all day. To get to the Rose Garden, walk the El Prado walkway all the way to the Natural History Museum, where you will see a path to the pedestrian bridge across the road.
How much is Balboa Park tickets?
0 – 0
Is the safari park better than the San Diego Zoo?
San Diego Zoo is near downtown San Diego and is home more to more animals in a smaller space.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park is located in Escondido and focuses more on larger African and Asian animals because it has significantly more acreage
.
Is Balboa Park a national park?
Balboa Park was declared a National Historic Landmark, and a National Historic Landmark District in 1977
. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as, one of the Great Places in America.
How do you get to Balboa Park without a car?
The best way to get from Downtown San Diego to Balboa Park without a car is to
line 7 bus
which takes 7 min and costs $1 – $5.
How far is Balboa Park from the beach?
The distance between Pacific Beach and Balboa Park is
7 miles
.
How long does it take to go through Balboa Park?
Balboa Park has enough arts, culture, and attractions to fill days, weeks, months! But sometimes you only have an hour or two. If your time is limited, use this tour to find Balboa Park highlights.
Can you drive around Balboa Park?
You can drive through the park
and there is plenty of parking, especially at the Inspiration Point parking lot on Park Blvd. A tram will take you up to the heart of the park. It runs every 15 minutes or so.
What is free at Balboa Park today?
Balboa Park
admission, parking, and shuttle bus
are free. The Botanical Building, Timken & Gem Society museums are too. 15 more cultural institutes are free to residents on select Tuesdays and in February. Anyone can enjoy no-cost concerts, gardens, walking tours, hiking, yoga classes, bike racing, and more.
Can you smoke in Balboa Park?
Smoking is not permitted
in Balboa Park. Alcohol Permitted: Alcohol is permitted from noon until to 8:00 p.m. in the following locations: Botanical Building East Lawn and West Lawn; House of Pacific Relations Lawn; International Lawn; Mall Lawn; Moreton Bay Fig Lawn; Pan American Plaza Lawn; Recital Hall Lawn.
Are scooters allowed in Balboa Park?
Balboa Park does have scooter and wheelchair rentals
, however, they have a limited inventory and you can only rent a scooter or wheelchair on a first-come first serve basis. You also can not create a reservation with them in advance to make sure they have something available.
Are masks required at Balboa Park?
Following the guidance of health and safety from the county, state, and national government, cultural institutions in Balboa Park have taken measures to ensure the safety of their visitors and staff.
Most institutions will require masks
, temperature checks, and social distancing.
What is special about Balboa Park?
Balboa Park boasts
17 museums and cultural institutions with an incredible diversity of collections
. From local San Diego history, to the history of flight, trains, or automobiles, to the workmanship of the old masters, and the arts, crafts, and culture of people near and far, recent and historical.
Is Balboa Park bigger than Central Park?
Balboa Park, at nearly 1,200 acres, is bigger than New York's Central Park
. It's home to our planet's greatest zoo. And with multiple theaters including the Old Globe, and 17 museums, Balboa Park boasts more cultural heft than any American parkland outside the National Mall.
How do you spend the day in Balboa Park?
- #1 Wander the Japanese Garden. …
- #2 Admire the succulents in the Desert Garden. …
- #3 Be enchanted by the Rose Garden. …
- #4 Visit the Botanical Building. …
- #5 Discover treasures at the Museum of Art. …
- #6 Pop into the Timken Museum of Art. …
- #7 Visit the Spanish Village.
How do you walk into Balboa Park?
To enter the park, you'll
walk through gardens and fields to cross the Cabrillo Bridge
. While you walk over the bridge, take in the views of the city on your right and the San Diego Zoo to the left. You may also drive into the park from 6
th
Ave over the Cabrillo Bridge and through the Plaza de Panama.
What is there to do in Balboa Park at night?
- Cinema Under the Stars. 2.0 mi. 198 reviews. …
- ALTITUDE Sky Lounge. 1.7 mi. 1551 reviews. …
- The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park. 0.7 mi. …
- Screen on the Green. 0.2 mi. …
- Coin-op Game Room. 1.6 mi. …
- Balboa Park. 0.2 mi. …
- Rooftop Cinema Club Embarcadero. 1.9 mi. …
- Room 56. 1.4 mi.
Are the cherry blossoms blooming in Balboa Park?
10 AM,
ongoing daily from March 11, 2022 until March 13, 2022
. The Cherry Blossom Festival is the Japanese Friendship Garden's largest annual event and is an experience you don't want to miss.
