Car Hire San Diego

Parking in San Diego

• There are plenty of on-street parking spaces in Downtown San Diego, usually with a maximum stay of 72 hours.
• Park your hire car for free at Balboa Park in Downtown San Diego. There are several car parks dotted around the area, with the biggest found close to Inspiration Point.
• Mission Beach has a number of free car parks in and around the neighbouring park – a great alternative to trying to find somewhere to park in the busy side-streets.
• Ocean Beach is also easily accessible, with two free Ocean Beach car parks on Abbott Street.
• Further north in the surfing haven on La Jolla, you’ll find plenty of on-street parking where you can leave your hire car while you explore the rugged shoreline, boutique shops and trendy eateries San Diego has to offer.

Traffic in San Diego

• Congestion is heavy during rush hour, particularly in Downtown San Diego and on the 405 Highway, so it’s best to plan your journeys to avoid hitting the worst of the traffic.
• Interstate 5 is generally busiest southbound during morning rush hour (6-9am) and northbound during evening rush hour (3-6pm).

San Diego Airport to San Diego

Getting to San Diego when you arrive at the airport is a breeze. Simply:

• Drive out of San Diego Airport and turn left onto North Habor Drive.
• After a couple of minutes, you’ll pass Waterfront Park on your left – take the next left-hand turn onto West Ash Street.
• Follow the one-way system, turning right onto Kettner Boulevard, left onto W A Street and right onto Columbia Street to reach the heart of Downtown San Diego.

Roads and motorways

• The glitz and glamour of Los Angeles is approximately two and half hours’ drive north on Interstate 5.
• Interstate 8 starts in Ocean Beach on the coast of San Diego, eventually leading to the desert city of Phoenix, Arizona.
• Closer to home on the Interstate 8 are the rolling mountains of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, which you can reach in 45 minutes from Downtown San Diego.

Driving rules and regulations

• In California, you drive on the right-hand side of the road in a left-hand driving vehicle.
• There are lots of one-way streets – particularly in Downtown San Diego – so make sure you follow the signs carefully.
• Many highways and freeways have four lanes. The lane furthest to the right is the slow lane, and the lane furthest to the left is the fast lane.

You can often make a right-hand turn at a junction when the traffic lights are red, giving way to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Just keep an eye out for the odd intersection where signs prohibit this manoeuvre.

What to see and do in San Diego

Discover the Old Town                                                                                  

San Diego is home to a unique blend of Californian and Mexican culture – setting it apart from fellow Californian metropoles, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Dive straight in at the Old Town, a registered historical landmark about 10 minutes’ drive north of central San Diego. Vintage carts line the streets and shops overflow with sugar skulls and homages to iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. There’s free parking on site for your hire car, too.

Explore Balboa Park

The city’s downtown oasis since 1868, Balboa Park is a careful curation of blooming gardens and architectural grandeur. Make a beeline for the Museum of Man – instantly recognisable by its mosaic dome and ornate stone carvings – and the beautiful curves of the Botanical Building. The park hosts a thriving schedule of events, including open-air theatre shows, so make sure you check what’s on during your trip.  

Watch live sports

Catch a game at Petco Park, widely acknowledged as one of the best baseball stadiums in the country. Enjoy America’s favourite pastime in the sun-kissed stands as you join the locals in cheering on the San Diego Padres. Sport doesn’t stop there either. Head to the city’s beaches where you’ll find year-round events, including California’s other favourite sport – surfing – in abundance.

Best beaches in San Diego

La Jolla

Head to the idyllic surfing community of La Jolla, where you’ll be transported to a serenity that feels worlds away from the buzz of Downtown San Diego. Swim in the sparkling waters of La Jolla Cove and hit the waves at surfing hotspot, Windansea Beach. Take a pair of binoculars and you might even catch sight of passing whales from the clifftops.

Coronado Beach

Venture out of San Diego, across the soaring bridge and into the welcoming arms of Coronado – the resort city that sits out in the rippling waters of San Diego Bay. Find a sandy spot and while away the hours or get stuck into watersports and volleyball. Make sure you stick around for the sunset too – it’s the perfect picture opportunity.

Hit all the best beaches in San Diego and beyond with our Surfing California Roadtrip.

Where to eat and drink in San Diego

Café Coyote

For a mouthful of Mexico, go to Café Coyote in the Old Town. Pull up a rainbow-painted chair in the bustling courtyard and feast your eyes on the traditional Mexican menu. Fill your table with nachos, tacos and quesadillas with a kick - and dig in while Mariachi singers lilt from table to table, ramping up the sense of authenticity that brings this eatery to life.

Little Italy

When you’re in the mood for pizza, the neighbourhood of Little Italy beckons. Isola Pizza Bar is a firm neighbourhood favourite – a stripped-back, industrial style restaurant where all the classics are wood-fired to perfection.

Charles and Dinora

For a slice of the San Diegan cosmopolitan dining scene, reserve your poolside spot at Charles and Dinora – the resident restaurant at The Pearl Hotel. This effortlessly cool venue serves up sumptuous seafood and sharing platters colourfully decorated with flower petals – with a side-helping of retro movie showings and bingo nights in the summer. It’s the perfect place to relax.