Hey there! Welcome to sunny San Diego, where we’ve got some seriously amazing parks for you and your family to explore. Picture this: lush green spaces, gorgeous coastal views, super fun playgrounds and plenty of opportunities for relaxation and fun. Whether you’re looking to unwind amidst nature’s beauty or create unforgettable memories with your little ones, this blog post is your go-to guide. We’ll reveal the best parks that are perfect for kids and parents alike, so get ready to kick back, enjoy the outdoors, and make the most of your time in San Diego.
What Makes a Park "the BEST"?
There are several things I considered when I compiled this list of the BEST parks in San Diego! I personally researched over 500 parks in San Diego, paying particular attention to the features people might want or need.
When it comes to what makes a park one of the best in San Diego, here’s what I considered:
Bathrooms: If you plan on spending a good amount of time at a park, restrooms are a must (especially with young children)! Most of these parks have bathroom facilities. Those that do not are noted in the description.
Accessibility: The best parks and playgrounds are accessible to everyone! The City of San Diego’s Parks and Rec department has a Master Plan for city parks that includes accessible play equipment. Many of the other Parks and Rec departments around San Diego are also ensuring parks are accessible. If a park on the list is not accessible, I’ve noted it below.
Playground: For many, the playground is the biggest draw of any park! It’s one of the main things I considered when compiling this list. I’ve included a detailed description of playground equipment for each park below.
Something Special: With so many amazing parks in San Diego, I was looking for something really unique for the parks that rise to the ranks of BEST PARKS in San Diego.
With all that in mind, here is my list of the very best parks in San Diego!
The Best Parks in San Diego!
Civita Park
Civita Park is my favorite park in San Diego. It is centrally located in Mission Valley, has a playground and splash pad, restrooms, gardens, a magic tunnel, and so much more! There is a map and more information about Civita Park in this post. And here are the Best things to do at Civita Park! The entire park is accessible (except “The Stairs”), along with parts of the playground.
Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park in downtown is a park and a FREE waterpark rolled into one! There are restrooms. Parking can be tricky, but look for metered spots on the perimeter. Here is a list of things to bring to Waterfront Park! The park is wheelchair accessible, as are parts of the playground.
Olympus Park
Olympus Park in Encinitas is pretty incredible. It has a very cool playground with a few features I’ve never seen before! It also has dog parks, skate park, a reflexology path, and a zipline! There are NO restrooms at this park, and parking is limited. The park is accessible, but there are limited accessible features in the playground.
Maruta Gardner/Bonita Cove
The Maruta Gardner playground at Bonita Cove in Mission Beach is super cool. It’s RIGHT on the bay and features a rope course designed to look like the Giant Dipper roller coaster at nearby Belmont Park. It’s a stunning (and very “San Diego”) park with restrooms. There are limited playground elements that are accessible.
Pacific Highlands Ranch
Pacific Highlands Ranch Park off the 56 in Carmel Valley has a fun playground (for different age groups) and an accessible Discovery Area with musical instruments. It’s the only park that I know about with a parkour area! There is a lot of parking available and it has restrooms.
Kit Carson Park
Kit Carson Park in Escondido has a fun playground, lots of parking and restrooms. This park has just about everything (ball fields, ponds, tennis, disc golf), but something TRULY unique is Queen Califia’s Magic Circle. Much of the park is accessible, but the playground is not.
Kellogg Park
Kellogg Park in La Jolla is a beautiful park, right along the beach in La Jolla (it’s also called La Jolla Shores). It has playground and a learning plaza made of tile mosaics. There are nearby restrooms. The grassy area and learning plaza are accessible, but the playground is not.
Mast Park
Mast Park in Santee has a fun playground, disc golf, basketball courts, nature discover center, dog parks, gazebos you can reserve, parking and restrooms. Much of the park is accessible, but only a few elements of the playground are.
Rohr Park
Rohr Park in Bonita has several fun playgrounds, gazebos you can reserve, basketball courts, adult fitness, AMAZING dog park, parking and restrooms. Also, there is a TRAIN that runs every second weekend of the month. The playgrounds have bark ground covering and are not wheelchair accessible.
Kate Sessions Park
Kate Sessions Park is a San Diego landmark! It has a playground, restrooms and parking. The unique feature of this park is the stunning view of San Diego. It’s certainly one of the best parks in San Diego!
NTC Park
NTC Park in Liberty Station/Pt. Loma is another great park! It has lots of parking and picnic tables, and restrooms.
Spreckels Park
Spreckels Park in Coronado is a special park! It has restrooms, lots of grass, a playground and parking. They have concerts in the park during the summer.
Vista La Mesa
Vista La Mesa Park in La Mesa is a cute park with restrooms, parking and a fun (trash truck!) themed playground.
Briercrest Park
Briercrest Park in La Mesa is a cute park with art and music elements. There isn’t much for a playground (there is a climbing rock), but it’s a gem and worthy of a spot on the list of best parks in San Diego!
The Best Park in Your Area
The parks listed above are great, but I understand that you might be looking for a great park near your home! I encourage you to use my parks database to find the perfect park for you. Here’s how to use it:
- Click here to go to the database.
- Under “Location,” click the box for your area. This will bring up all the parks in your area
- Under “Tags,” click the box for “Best (local)” OR you can click other boxes for features you’re looking for (bathrooms, reservable, playground, etc.).
Also, I wrote a whole planning guide for parties at parks! It’s available to you for FREE, just by clicking the link above. It comes with several checklists so you don’t forget a can opener for the beans or a knife to cut the cake. (BTW, my favorite thing to have for park parties is this cart to haul everything!) I hope you check it out and let me know what you think!
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