This place is beautiful! I used the free entry weekend during the 4th of July holiday to visit. On normal days, you'd have to park entrance fee, but for this weekend, it's free. You can check their website to get other dates when it's free to visit. I chose to run there instead of driving in because I heard that they have very scenic trails and they sure were! There were 2 trails from the main park and each one lets you go down closer to the water while enjoying spectacular view. The trails are short (about 2-3 miles round trip each) and it's basically dirt road/packed sand all the way. The gift shop is a delight and highly recommend stopping by to get a trinket or two and also get your National Park passport stamped! read more

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Nice park with great facilities. I love it here, but, unfortunately, it wasn't such a great experience this time. The main reason for this visit was to entertain my 19 year old history buff grandson, but it just didn't move him. I'm sure attributable to his mood more than the park. read more

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Location: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive San Diego CA 92106 Fee: $10-$250; $10-20 for day pass. $35 for annual pass. There's a few annual membership passes to choose from and it cost up to $250. Cabrillo national monument has a visitor center, decent amount of parking, bathroom use, tide pools, old Point Loma lighthouse & coastal trail. Such a beautiful place, get your steps in and learn about the history and culture. I also had my citizenship ceremony here. No cell service at the tide pools. I can stay here for hours and enjoy the view. Highly recommend to visit at least once. read more

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Cabrillo National Monument is awesome and needs to be top of the to-do list for a visit to San Diego. There is so much to see and do at the Park. The views of the bay, ocean, beaches and city are spectacular. The Visitors Center is packed with historical information about the landing of the first European, explorer Juan Cabrillo, at the bay. Naturalists offer special programs throughout the day about wildlife and other features of Point Loma. We saw a gopher snake during our visit. An overlook at the site offers explanation of ships and sea life that can be observed from the point. We found plenty of nearby parking at the Visitors Center. A short walk from the visitors center is a massive statue of Juan Cabrillo, the first European explorer to set foot on what is now San Diego Bay in 1592. The statue was created by sculpture Al Varo De Bree of Lisbon in 1939. We took photos by the statue. Old Point Loma Lighthouse is another prominent feature of the Monument. The lighthouse was one of the first lighthouses commissioned on the west coast of the U.S. During low tide, tide pools, on the north west side of the park, offer visitors a glimpse of ocean wonders. You can see sea-life up close. The tide was high during our visit, but I will return to check out the pools. Numerous trails lead up and down the point. The trails are somewhat steep, but offer spectacular views of the ocean and bay. Plan at least a four hour visit. Bring water and snack. Hiking stick is useful if you want to hike. Bathing gear is handy if you want to explore the tide pools. Go mid week to avoid the crowds. Wear hat and sunscreen. We found plenty of parking. read more

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Nice smaller National Monument, visitor center, hiking trails, tide pools, whale watching and great views of San Diego and the Pacific. Car admission is $20 unless you have an America The Beautiful pass, which includes admission to this location as well as many others. Nice way to spend a few hours, open 9am to 5pm read more

Cabrillo National Monument - Back of two tokens available at visitor center - Parks Near Me - San Diego, California

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My family and I had a good time here. The views were breathtaking and it was nice to learn about the lighthouse and the locations history. We stopped by the tide pool area after exploring the monument and lighthouse. I think the lighthouse was fascinating. Being able to see the different rooms the gatekeeper lived in seemed so cozy. The volunteers near the tide pool were very friendly and my nephew had a neat time playing in their toy tide pool and learning some aquatic facts. The only experience we weren't too fond of was at the visitor center/ gift shop. But we didn't let that worker ruin our day. read more

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It was a bright, shiny day. We were surprised by how few people were there. It was going to be DOWN DAY, but my Partner suggested going to the CABRILLO National Monument. As for me, it was all a surprise. We had an amazing time at the Cabrillo National Monument, beginning at the lower level. We spent about 15 MINUTES there, on the nice bench!!! I would like to thank them for having a disabled parking spot amongst their parking spaces. We then drove up to the LIGHTHOUSE. I was dropped off, and Gonzalo parked down below. We saw something for the very first time, lots and lots Military Helicopters flying by from North Island. I then walked around the mini Museum and Lighthouse. It was then off to the Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo Statue. It was particularly windy up there, and we loved it. It had turned into a nice day, even though it was meant to be a DOWN DAY. We started at Starbucks, moved to CABRILLO NM, and ended up at Poma Delicatessen. We were surprised the most by how few people were there at the CNM. I was at the Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo Statue, and there were ZERO PEOPLE. Indeed, there were more military helicopters than people!!! read more

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. A five hour drive from last Vegas felt like a smooth 180 minute sail. A holiday weekend where traffic and freeways were obverse in our favor. As this recommendated place of great expectations. Proved that the greatest reason for delaying. Was merely a fear of bad timing. As roads with good intended deeds indeed leads to a good expedition. Sometimes trips the least expectations can turn a bookmark into a monumental land mark. Like the distance between earth time and space. Closer than we think. And loved more than we realize. From what i sense. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 thousand feet. read more

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I've been here a few times and love this National Monument. Some people that have reviewed this place didn't think too much about the tidepools but I disagree with their reviews. I came here recently with Environment California as they were having a guided tidepooling event so I signed up. By attending the event, you also get the $20 entry fee waived so thats really nice. I came earlier than the tidepooling event around 10:30am and had an our to check out the visitor center and then made my way to the tidepool area. If you come earlier, parking is not an issue. But, when I left around 2pm, parking is pretty difficult. My suggestion is to come early. Low tide was from 12pm - 4pm on the day I came and the science educator and the lead from Environment California both did a great job explaining the wildlife in the tidepools and the importance of marine protection areas. I had a great time here looking at all the fun little organisms that live in the tidepools. I saw all sorts of hermit crabs, a Hopkins rose nudibranch, a crab that was eating a kelp pod, and so many snails and mussels and little fishes, tadpoles! The 2 hours flew by and I thoroughly learned so much and also met some great people fighting for marine protection. I would definitely come back here again to look at the amazing ecosystem and get a dose of sun and nature. And never mind all the birds I saw too! I was completely overwhelmed and at one point had a hard time fumbling between binoculars and phone to take videos and photos! I love this place, definitely will come back!! read more

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Great and breathtaking views! We came around 3:30pm on a Sunday so we didn't have much time to go hiking and see the tide pools, but it was more than enough time to enjoy the scenic views, learn about Cabrillo and marvel the Old Point Loma Lighthouse We used our America The Beautiful pass to get in, but I believe a day pass is $20/per vehicle, or $15/per motorist, or $10 per person that is traveling without a vehicle. Restrooms were clean and it was easy to find parking. I think I would come back another time to enjoy the hike and tide pools! read more

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What a beautiful place to visit if you're visiting San Diego or live here, we purchased a year membership the cost was $80 but it includes every national park in the United States if you're military you can apply for a free membership. There is so much history and the tide pools are beautiful so much to see and do, we hiked the bayside trail today it's a 2.5 mile round trip hike with lots of beautiful views of Coronado and downtown San Diego. Restrooms were clean and parking is included with the day pass fee. The gift shop is well stocked with many souvenirs. Will be coming back again next week read more

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Ending 2025 strong with one of my favorite local spots! Cabrillo National Monument is San Diego wanting to show off ! Bring relatives, friends, a date even! The views are ridiculously gorgeous. You get the ocean, city, Coronado, cliffs, planes flying overhead..it's like nature said, "Let me astonish you for a bit." I used to work nearby back in the day and still never got over how breathtaking this place is. Drawback? Parking and yes it can get touristy, but as a local, this spot is still worth checking out. The trails are short, scenic, and perfect for a leisurely walk without breaking too much of a sweat. Who isn't down for a lazy hike with maximum payoff? Just wear good shoes for the tide pools and bring water. Highlights? Stunning views in every direction! Large tide pool area with crabs, fish, anemones, and if you're luck octopus sightings! You can also check out the old Point Loma lighthouse and the mini museum. Get an educational history lesson while you're there! Easy trails, clear signage, great photo ops, and just a nice way to relax and unwind. There's a $20 parking fee which I find steep. You can get a pass as well. Bottom line: If you want epic scenery, cool history, ocean vibes, and zero pressure to "hike hard," Cabrillo is a must! read more

A memory of an explorer. Juan Cabrillo known for putting California on the map. A destination for history buffs and heavenly beauty. read more

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Sunday morning stroll on bayside and Tide pool trails on a cloudy quiet day Talked To the docents about the wwII searchlights and the ground bees read more

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Stunning place! Friendly staff in the park store and visitor center and friendly volunteers throughout the park. Quite the view. A go to place to take out of towners. Highly recommend. read more

Cabrillo is a beautiful park with tide pools and hiking trails. It is best to visit between 12-3pm so you can see sea life. The views are completely breathtaking. I highly recommend going to see this park. read more

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While I wish more people knew about and visited Cabrillo, I absolutely love enjoying the quiet tranquility on this national monument! Well maintained paths and roads, extremely helpful and friendly staff, and incredible views for days. Treat yourself to the tidepools during low tides! read more

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Very stunning and beautiful place! It was $20 for our vehicle to enter and was completely worth the entrance fee! Things start to close between 4:00-4:30pm (some of the trails you must start before 2pm) and they will start to escort people off the monument shortly before 5pm! So plan accordingly if you want to visit more than one location or do a hike. The park rangers are super helpful and kind so don't be afraid to approach them if you have any questions or just want to know more about the area! read more

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Driving up the hill to this was amazing and then once you get to where the statue actually is, the views are incredible. Love the history, love the view. It's easy to see 100 miles in all directions.! I WOULD RECOMMEND read more

The views and trails at Cabrillo National Monument are spectacular. Whether you chose the Bayside Trail or the Tidepool trails below the experience is memorable. There are so many vistas to explore just allow plenty of time to see as much as you can. Wear trail shoes and bring water. read more

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A beautiful place to visit even if you have a short amount of time in the area. I didn't know about Cabrillo National Monument until some of my family members recommended it. It's a bit of a drive down south of La Jolla and the downtown area, but worth the trip for the views and the up close views of the tidal pools. I went with family members who all have some limited mobility (we can all walk but not very steep terrain, and we didn't bring hiking or water shoes). It was easy to drive into the park ($20/car) and take the paved pathways around the Cabrillo statue (comes with an expansive view of the bay and city), and then walk around the original lighthouse. It was a quaint little place that you can climb up to nearly the top, with rooms set up to show how the original lighthouse keepers and their families had lived. It was actually quite spacious for a small structure. The very top of the lighthouse is roped off, though. We didn't have a lot of time or firm footedness for the steep hike down the cliffs, so we drove down to the tidal pools on the ocean side of the peninsula. I wish we had looked at the tide calendar before coming! The tide had started to come in about an hour before we got there, so the tidal pool was starting to fill up. But we still could walk down to the boulders and get good views of the ocean, even if our view of sea life was more limited to various types of kelp. I would definitely come back again for the refreshing views and to explore the tidal pools more closely. (I would recommend good shoes.) We didn't go inside the visitor center, but did talk with one of the volunteer guides down at the pools. He was very friendly and informative. read more

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San Francisco looks nice, but I wouldn't recommend this park if you were thinking of an actual hike. The park opens very late. 9 Am and if you arrive early there's no area to wait safely. We took an uber with traffic so we had no way of knowing when we would get there. We got there probably 15 min early and had the park pass but had to wait at exactly 9 to enter. So we waited on a bench behind the park gate and were approached multiple times about not being where we should be. But there was no where else to wait except in the middle of the road? I felt like we were breaking into a maximum security vault. The rangers just "warned us," but if they left a bench out front or somewhere safe we would have waited there. Or if they provided better information on the website we would have arrived waayyyy after 9 AM just to avoid being treated like criminals. I've been to A LOT of national parks and honestly I've never felt like this. I would get it if it was like a national park with a castle in it. (Eg Puerto Rico). You can't come into the castle early but you can walk around it and have a safe place to wait. I finally realized this is the only park I've ever been to with such strict rules. I would have to say this is really a pretend park. The advertised hikes were mid at best. It seems like they "hike" is mostly old military roads with "camouflaged" elements to make it look natural. I can see how cyclists would love the roads here but I would do a HARD pass for hiking. Unless you love old military history, or a not so great lighthouse, this isn't the hike for you. It's crazy to think that someone would pay to enter. Unless you have a park pass like I did. Do not go. Not worth it. I don't like the fake park nature of it. Just leave it as a military installation. Don't waste peoples time thinking they are really in nature and seeing nice things to pay to be there. read more

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San Diego is beautiful. San Diego Bay is beautiful. The Pacific Ocean is beautiful. Coastal California is beautiful. Migrating whales are majestically beautiful. Combine all of these things, some uniquely interesting military cemeteries, perfect weather, and a bunch of other things; and you get Cabrillo National Monument. If you have a car and are in San Diego, you need to visit. If you don't have a car, you can visit as well, because there's a bus line that comes here, and at least one of that bus line's stops holds the distinction for having the most beautiful view in the world from a public-transit stop. I thought that title belonged to the J-Church stop at the top of Dolores Park in San Francisco, but the bus stop near the visitor center wins. I'm sorry, but it's true. It doesn't get much better than this. read more

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Such a cool experience if you are in the area. You not only get to sight see but it is a great learning experience for the whole family. The drive up to the monument is beautiful. You get great ocean views and the coastal breeze. As soon as you get to the top, there is a huge parking lot. on holidays, the parking is free but I heard there is a fee on regular days, but not sure what that amount is. I highly suggest to go to the visitor center to get more information on the history of the monument before paying homage to the statue. Such a great story and surprising to learn about his quest. The statue stands tall along the edge of a cliff that overlooks the bay. On a clear day, you can see the bridge to Coronado and Downtown. Near the monument, there are numerous trails to finish off your visit with a great workout and more hidden areas throughout the grounds. Def a must see when you are in San Diego. read more

I enjoyed the history of the lighthouse and the nice walk this place offers. You also get a nice overview of the cliff onto the ocean. There is a nice overview since it is pretty high. read more

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Must visit place in San Diego, for locals and visitors. Beautiful view. Good parking. Wheelchair friendly. Great store! read more

Definitely worth a stop if you haven't been. Wish you could go all the way to the top at the lighthouse, but I understand why you can't. Good place for a short hike too. Can be very crowded on a summer weekend. read more

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If you live in San Diego and have not yet visited Cabrillo National Monument, do yourself a favor and make a visit. If you have visitors from out of town, it's one of the best places to bring tourists. Recently, our friends were visiting and we decided to make a morning outing to Cabrillo. Also, I have a friend who visits periodically, and she brings her National Park Pass, so sometimes we take a short hike, and drink coffee on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. If you don't have a National Park Pass, the cost is $20 per car which covers entry for a week. We happened to arrive on the Junior Park Ranger Day, and fees were waved. IF you look on the calendar, you can look up some of the fee-free days. Cabrillo National Monument has an almost 360 degree view just outside of the visitor center. If you go on a clear day, you can see San Diego, La Jolla, Coronado, Tijuana, and the mountains beyond. There is a lot of information about the history of Point Loma as well as a lot about the various military ships and marine life. You can also visit the old light house and learn about the original inhabitants. If you look at the tide calendar for the best low tide times, you can explore the tide pools and find all types of crabs and other creatures. The visitor center also has a lot of information and a decent gift shop with postcards and trinkets. Since we were there on Junior Park Ranger Day, they were doing some crafts, and my little niece was able to make free craft that highlighted the tide pools. I have always said that Cabrillo has one of the most beautiful views in all of San Diego, and it is one of my favorite place so go. read more

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Really great views and nice to just enjoy the afternoon . Not needing a lot of time . Can view the whole coastline . Even pass the cemetery on the way up which is like Arlington . Park rangers and volunteers were helpful . If you time it right there are free tours and depending to the time of year you might catch whales migrating read more

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The views are breathtaking. Different trails from easy to strenuous. Good place for all levels of activity read more

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Wonderful place to visit if you never been here! There's a light house which you can go into! It's located up on the cliffs at the southern most end of California on the pacific coast! You also have a view of the entrance of the bay and all the sail boats! Also the city of San Diego can be seen and it's neat to point out all the different places that most people don't know about! read more

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This is the second time we have visited this national monument in the last four years. If you don't have an annual or senior pass it costs $20 for a carload. It is not a big place but it has interesting history and the views when not foggy are great. You can also drive to the tide pools on the western part of the park or hike down on the eastern side. Or you can just hang out at the top and take in the history, sites and movies including its use during WWII. If in the area it's definitely worth a stop though do check the hours because access is limited due to the nearby military base you have to pass through to enter the park. read more

Such a beautiful spot with amazing views. You definitely get a different view point of San Diego and Coronado island. Must check is out when in the area read more

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Took a client here several times and viewed the city from the lookout, toured the museum and gift shop and watched a video presentation on the Spanish Conquistadors and there journey here to America. read more

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Lovely place for locals and tourists alike. There might be a bit of a wait at the entrance gate, as you'll have to pay for parking. Fortunate to have been here a handful of times with the family; we went on short hikes, enjoyed the beautiful weather and saw the tide pools. Tip: pets/dogs are allowed only on the coastal trail area... make sure they're kept on leash! read more

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A great view and history about San Diego's beginning. It was a busy area but I felt safe standing on the edge to take on the view and capture some of the pictures on the cliffside. read more

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After visiting some national parks, monuments, grasslands, seashores, and the like, it sort of became a trend in my travels to stop at these kinds of things if I happened to be near them. And so I found myself near Cabrillo National Monument and figured that I'd stop in. It's south of San Deigo and shares a chunk of land with a Navy base or something. You're definitely driving onto some kind of military/federal compound when you're approaching it so take that into consideration. Be on your best behavior and all that. It's a nice scenic spot with a museum that tells you a bit about the history of the area and this guy Cabrillo who is immortalized across from the museum with a big statue. 5 stars would do it again. read more

California 01-2024 Tony and I drove to San Diego and Damn, I will NOT do that again!! It took 6 days, but I was not in a hurry! We went to Cabrillo National Monument. It cost $35 for the car but with our pass we got in for FREE!! We drove out to the visitor's center parking lot which was high on a cliff over looking the Pacific Ocean and San Diego...extremely beautiful views well worth the drive!! Breathtaking views!!! Cabrillo Point is a statue of a Portuguese explorer who landed and discovered the area. The statue is white marble like Material and stands on point overlooking the ocean and San Diego Harbor. Definitely worth the visit. read more

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Enjoyed our visit to the Cabrillo National Monument. I always love visiting lighthouses, and this one had a lot of extra detail with being able to see the light of a previous lighthouse up close and see the decorated interior showing how the caretaker and their family lived at the time it was active. The tour is self guided and can be fairly quick if you are short on time. read more

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My husband and I wanted to go on more of a scenic walk vs hike, so we opted to visit CNM. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that retired military get in for free, along with a pass for other national parks. My husband was super excited about that!! We came on a Wednesday while it was overcast and windy, so it was a bit cold. However, we still really enjoyed our walk around the park! We only walked on the upper level near the visitors center, saw the Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo statue, and explored inside the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Despite the weather, we still had a blast! Can't wait to come back to explore more at the beachy area next time. read more

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