Tips for visiting Belmont Park

Belmont Park is special because it's made up of many smaller rides and attractions, meaning there's something for the whole family. Read on for our top tips on spending a day here.

By Lindsay Eagan
Belmont Park

Heading to San Diego for a vacation? You've got to add a stop to Belmont Park to your itinerary. Belmont Park is a whimsical amusement park located on the boardwalk of one of the area's most popular and active beaches, Mission Beach. Belmont Park embodies California beach living and entertainment with an authentic historic chronicle.

Check out our helpful guide for visiting San Diego's Belmont Park, packed full of ways to save on admission, tips for visiting, other nearby attractions, and much more.

Save up to 50% on San Diego attractions

All-access Belmont Park combo passes are available on all Go City® San Diego passes. 

☀️Compare San Diego passes☀️ – 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 –  ✈️ Buy a pass ✈️ 

Tips for visiting Belmont Park

giant-dipper-roller-coaster-belmont-park

 

  • Plan on breakfast or lunch at the park. You will find everything from acai bowls, Belgian waffles, hot dogs, burgers, salads, freshly squeezed lemonade, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Dole pineapple whips.
  • The area has an abundance of swimming, surfing, body boarding, and sunbathing, and Belmont Park offers a fun place to stroll around while enjoying an ice cream cone or a few amusement rides before hitting the sand and ocean.
  • If you need beachwear, plan on shopping for it at Belmont Park. The shops offer some of the best selections of swimsuits, beach cover-ups, towels, beach toys, boogie boards, sunscreen, and anything else necessary for an entertaining day at the beach.
  • Parking can be a challenge, but the Park does have a parking lot. Street parking is available but frequently at capacity. Mission Bay Park also has parking lots a short walk away and is easier to find a spot.
  • If you love the ocean, plan on trying the wave machine at the Wave House. The attraction allows you to try surfing without having to invest in a board and bodysuit.

Best times to visit the park

Belmont Park is open all year, although many of the rides do not operate during weekdays in the winter months. Early spring and autumn generally offer perfect sunny weather along the coast. June can bring classic San Diego “June gloom,” which is coastal fog early in the morning that burns off by afternoon. Weekends in the summer are very busy, as are holidays all year long.

What you should bring
 

  • Belmont Park is directly adjacent to the sand and surf at Mission Beach, so bring the appropriate articles for a trip to the beach.
  • Sunscreen is a must, especially in the spring and summer months.
  • A camera, especially if you enjoy people-watching and sunsets over the ocean.

Things to do at Belmont Park

Roller_Coster_San_Diego_Belmont_Park

Belmont Park is made up of many different attractions, and each can have different hours depending upon the activity. Probably the most famous attraction at Belmont Park is the Giant Dipper, a vintage 1925 wooden roller coaster that still provides thrills for visitors who enjoy a fast ride. The ride can be a bit bumpy due to its vintage construction, so be prepared. Your All Access Combo Pass includes an entire day of fun on the following ocean front Rides & Attractions...
 

  • Giant Dipper Roller Coaster (Riders must be 50 inches tall to ride)
  • Octotron
  • Beach Blaster
  • Control Freak
  • OverDrive
  • Tilt-A-Whirl
  • Liberty Carousel
  • Vertical Plunge
  • Krazy Kars
  • Crazy Submarine
  • Speedway
  • LazerBlast
  • Tiki Town Mini Golf
  • Sky Ropes
  • Rock Climb
  • Speed Wall

The carnival-like park also offers such attractions as the WaveHouse, which operates the FlowRider and FlowBarrel, which are surf machines producing a continuous perfect wave for bodyboarders and surfers to perfect their sport. Belmont Park also has a wide array of arcade games that are fun for all age groups, including single-player and multi-player options 

Belmont Park funfair rides

The carnival-like park also offers such attractions as the WaveHouse, which operates the FlowRider and FlowBarrel, which are surf machines producing a continuous perfect wave for body boarders and surfers to perfect their sport. A 1 hour FlowRider session is included with the Go San Diego Card) Belmont Park also has a wide array of arcade games that include both single player and multi-player competitions. The arcade is fun for all age groups from kids and teens to adults.

Shopping near Belmont Park

Belmont Park also has some great beach shopping experiences, and you can find the best in surf, skate and bike apparel. Wings offers beach clothes, swimsuits, sandals, shoes, and accessories as well. You can get temporary tattoos and create your own design at the Henna Heaven, then show them off while sunbathing on Mission Beach.

More attractions in the area

Mission Beach

Mission Bay Park is adjacent to grassy picnic areas, water sports, and playgrounds. SeaWorld San Diego is just a short drive from Belmont Park and offers extensive fun and educational opportunities to learn about sea life. The downtown harbor area is just 15 minutes away, with many unique attractions such as The Midway Museum, The Maritime Museum, The Gaslamp District for shopping and clubbing, and Seaport Village.

Just north of Belmont Park in Mission Beach is the beautiful resort town of La Jolla. In La Jolla Cove, you'll find some of the best snorkeling, a protected underwater park, and a marine life refuge area. The village has many upscale boutiques for shopping and great dining spots overlooking the ocean.

Places to eat near Belmont Park

The park hosts a wide variety of restaurants and other eateries if you get hungry from all the fun. You can grab a burger and beer at the Wavehouse Bar and Grill while watching the surfers and boogie boarders practice on the FlowRider, or you can indulge in comfort food such as fish and chips or chili cheese fries. Belmont Park is in the heart of the Mission Beach business district with dozens of restaurants and kiosks to grab a bite to eat.

  • Cane’s Bar and Grill is located at the south end of Belmont Park, and its menu includes pizza, salads, Mexican dishes, and burgers, as well as some awesome veggie burgers. The club also has live entertainment.
  • The Beachcomber Bar will give an authentic taste of beach life with its live music, grub, pool, darts, and free popcorn.
  • La Playa Taco Shop has a wide array of tacos, shrimp, horchata, burritos, carne asada and pico de gallo.
  • The North Shore Café offers breakfast all day, and the Patio Grill serves pizza and submarine sandwiches.

Need to know details

Hours

  • Daily, 11:00 am–5:30 pm. Operating hours vary by season.
  • Check the Belmont Park site for current hours of operation or call (858) 228-9283
  • Closed during inclement weather, Christmas Day, and various weekdays from October to February.

Directions & Address

3146 Mission Blvd San Diego, CA 92109 

Driving: I-5 S to Sea World Drive. Follow the signs to West Mission Bay Drive. I-5 N to Hwy. 8 W. Follow the signs to West Mission Bay Drive. 

Public Transportation: Old Town or Mission Trolley on ‘C’ Street and 3rd Avenue to Old Town Transit Center. Transfer to Bus 34 or 34a to Belmont Park.

Can't choose? No need, see it all with Go City® 

With an All-Inclusive Pass from Go City, you can visit both attractions for a fraction of the cost. Plus, you could save up to 50% on all your San Diego must-sees. Or pick an Explorer Pass, if you've chosen your fave and have a specific bucket list you're dreaming of ticking off.  

☀️ Compare San Diego passes ☀️– 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 –  ✈️ Buy a pass ✈ 

Lindsay Eagan
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

Blog

San Diego Neighborhood Guide

San Diego is a delightful vacation destination. Filled with top-notch cultural attractions, exciting sports teams, and sunny, sandy beaches—San Diego's neighborhood variety makes it practically perfect. It’s also, however, quite large, making it difficult to truly tackle the whole city in one single vacation. The best way to handle San Diego on any one single vacation is to target your explorations on a specific neighborhood or two to really get to know those areas. You’ll be able to visit more attractions in each neighborhood, too, since you’ll be cutting down on transit time by sticking within a few core areas. To help you plan your San Diego vacation, we’ve put together this helpful guide to the major neighborhoods in San Diego, including those that technically lie outside the city limits. And because you’re probably also looking for things to do in those neighborhoods, we’ve listed a few of the best attractions in each area, too. If you’re hoping to make one of these neighborhoods your home base, we also recommend a few for San Diego hotels, including: La Jolla Gaslamp Quarter Old Town Little Italy North Park Hillcrest And more! These neighborhoods are organized alphabetically. Carlsbad Coronado East Village A trendy downtown neighborhood anchored by the striking PETCO Park, you’ll find most of the bars and restaurants clustered around the ballpark. There are also, however, a number of top San Diego breweries in the area, so beer drinkers might want to check it out, too. Encinitas About 26 miles north of downtown, this neighborhood is artsy without being too rough around the edges. There are some great beaches here, as well as many shops and restaurants along Highway 101. Check out the San Diego Botanic Garden if you’re into plants or play a round of golf just to enjoy the outdoors. Gaslamp Quarter Hillcrest La Jolla Little Italy Mission Hills While predominantly residential, Mission Hills is also home to a wide variety of shops and restaurants, with something to please every palate. You can find everything from diners to chic New American cuisine, plus plenty of retail off the Pacific Highway. The “hotel circle” of budget hotels is also found around here and is a good place to look for deals. North Park This trendy neighborhood is populated by beer gardens and breweries, shops and boutiques, restaurants and food trucks—you name it, North Park probably has a few. Visitors can also enjoy many art galleries and a monthly evening art walk called Ray at Night. The San Diego hotels here are good for those looking to stay in a happening area. Ocean Beach A typical, laid-back beach town, Ocean Beach is filled with the best beachy things like surf shops, outdoor cafés, great dog parks, and more. It’s just north of Point Loma (with its historic lighthouse and famous tide pools) and a just south of the ever-popular Belmont Park. A charming little area, OB is also a nice place to look for hotels. Old Town San Diego Pacific Beach Right by the boardwalk, this beachfront neighborhood is known for its collection of casual bars, restaurants, and shops. If you’re interested in dining here, you can enjoy Mexican street food, French haute cuisine, or California casual fare. It’s a great place to hang out as an adult couple, or with friends. Save on Things to do in San Diego Once you’ve figured out what you want to do in San Diego and where you want to target your explorations, you’re sure to be looking for good deals. Save up to 55% on attraction admission with a Go San Diego pass. Visit the most popular attractions across the neighborhoods listed here, including many museums, tours, cruises, and so much more with a San Diego attraction pass! Share Your Adventure with Us Tag @GoCity or use the hashtag #GoCityPass in your vacation photos and we'll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook pages for competitions, special offers, and events and inspiration for your chosen destination, too!
Katie Sagal
Woman meditating on a rock at sunset in San Diego
Blog

Relaxing Things to do in San Diego

What could be more soul-soothing than seeing the sun rise from the cliffs on the California coast, watching the world go by from a cute brunch spot or getting up close to some of the most colorful marine life this side of the tropics? Check out our guide to the 10 most relaxing things to do in San Diego. Take a Morning Walk by the Ocean Early morning is by far the best time to get San Diego’s golden beaches all to yourself. Ok, almost all to yourself. Stroll the sands with just fisherman and curious native harbor seals for company, as they vie for the morning catch. Strike out along the wooden pier at Pacific Beach for that perfect sunrise selfie before the crowds arrive, or stroll the deserted bluffs high above La Jolla Shores for sweeping views of the shimmering ocean below. Heck, you could even take your yoga mat along to achieve maximum morning serenity, soothed by the sound of waves breaking gently on the shore. Have Brunch in Ocean Beach Located just south of the river, Ocean Beach is San Diego’s most laidback boho enclave, chock-full of street art, surf boutiques, organic grocery stores, brewery taprooms and tattoo parlors. There are some excellent brunch spots here too, many with outdoor seating that’s perfect for people-watching as locals and vacationers go about their daily business along bustling Newport Avenue. Dishes at the popular Breakfast Republic are inspired by Southern and Tijuana cuisine and include such lip-smacking taste sensations as shrimp and grits with hot sauce and a belly-busting California breakfast burrito. Grab an outside table at The Old Townhouse Restaurant, where buttermilk pancakes and zingy grapefruit juice will start your day right. Visit a Garden Sprawling Balboa Park contains many of the best places to relax in San Diego, not least its formal gardens, of which the Alcazar is among the finest. Wander among ornate fountains, bright blooms and vibrant Moorish tiling, and enjoy the tranquil views from the garden’s shaded pergola, all within view of the striking California Tower. With nearly 200 varieties, the Rose Garden is a riot of scent and color at its peak in late spring, while the neighboring Japanese Friendship Garden’s tranquil koi ponds, tinkling water features, bonsai trees and beautiful spring cherry blossoms are all you need to achieve perfect zen. Spend the Day at Mission Bay With 27 miles of shoreline and 4,600 acres of waterways and beaches to explore, Mission Bay is the largest man-made saltwater bay in the world. Think of a water-based activity and you’re sure to find it here: there’s wakeboarding, paddleboarding, surfing, jet skiing and sailing to name just a few. The beaches here are also ideal for kids, with tranquil waters for little feet to paddle in and oodles of sand to make all their castle-building dreams come true. Pack a picnic and slap on the sunscreen for one of San Diego’s most chilled days out. Explore La Jolla Cove The huge kelp forests off San Diego’s coastline attract all manner of magical marine life. Rent a kayak and paddle gently out to the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, just offshore. On a good day with clear waters, you might spot bright orange Garibaldi (the California State fish, no less) as well as friendly leopard sharks, stingrays and sea turtles swimming underneath your boat. Watch out for seals darting sleekly through the water as you make your way across the bay to the seven secret sea caves, said to have been used by smugglers of alcohol and opium back in the Prohibition era. Picnic in Balboa Park There are dozens of great spots to spread out your gingham blanket and unpack your wicker hamper within the 1,200 acres of Balboa Park. Find a wild spot for a quiet, romantic lunch along one of the marked walking trails around the park’s perimeter. Or – if people-watching is more your bag – tuck in to your lunchtime feast on the east or west lawn of the picture-perfect Botanical Building with its peaceful lily pond. Pro-tip: alcohol is allowed here (and in a few other designated areas around the park). But remember to bring your San Diego craft beer in a can and your Californian wine in a box, as glass receptacles are a big no-no. Take a Hike Hiking is a great way to get to know San Diego’s unique topography. The wild canyons and vast nature reserves here provide dozens of great walking opportunities, with many offering staggeringly good views in exchange for very little exertion. Head up to Torrey Pines on the cliffs over La Jolla, where monolithic rock formations, endangered pine trees and panoramic ocean views are the order of the day. If you prefer your hikes a little more challenging, the ruggedly handsome Mission Trails Regional Park offers over 60 miles of pathways across its 7,000 acres, and features Cowles Mountain – the highest point in San Diego – as its centerpiece. The hard-won reward for your epic climb? Dizzying 360-degree panoramas of the city and beyond. Sink a Couple of Beers In case you haven’t heard, San Diego lays reasonable claim to the title of America’s craft beer capital, with dozens of independent breweries to be found strewn throughout its hip neighborhoods, from Ocean Beach to North Park, and everywhere else in between. The high concentration of taprooms around North Park’s University Avenue and 30th Street make it ideal for a bar crawl, where you can sample the full gamut of imaginative local brews, from citrusy IPAs through flavored pale ales to skull-cracking sour beers and chocolatey stouts. Don’t forget the Alka Seltzer for that difficult morning after. Visit an Aquarium High on a La Jolla hilltop, around 12 miles north of Downtown, is where you’ll find the Birch Aquarium, a superb low-key alternative to SeaWorld that’s affiliated to San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Visit the Hall of Fishes, where 60 huge tanks teem with critters that include a rescued loggerhead turtle and an elusive giant Pacific octopus. Be mesmerized by sharks and rays cruising their 13,000-gallon habitat and – for the ultimate in unusual experiences – head to Tidepool Plaza. Here, there’s plenty hands-on fun to be had with lobsters, leopard sharks and more. So far, so normal. But we’ll let you decide whether the sensation of hundreds of tiny cleaner fish nibbling your fingers is really as relaxing as some people claim. Watch a Sunset Nothing says romance and relaxation like watching the California sky glow various shades of purple, orange, red and pink as the sun disappears over the horizon. Grab a chilled bottle of bubbly and head to any one of dozens of perfect vantage points along San Diego’s whopping 70 miles of coastline. Favorite spots include – deep breath – Torrey Pines, the harbor in San Diego Bay, any rooftop bar along the Mission Beach Boardwalk, Pacific Beach’s picture-perfect Crystal Pier and the aptly named Sunset Cliffs south of Ocean Beach. Perfection. Save on relaxing things to do in San Diego Save on admission to San Diego attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Knott’s Berry Farm
Blog

Extend Your Day Near Knott’s Berry Farm

There’s plenty to explore before or after your Knott’s Berry Farm visit—here’s what’s nearby.

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.