Mission Beach

Mission Beach stretches 2 miles between Mission Bay and Pacific Beach. It’s a favorite location for many locals and tourists, filled with upscale, pastel-colored condos and homes, old-style cottages and beach apartments. The boardwalk at Mission Beach offers a great place to jog, bicycle, roller blade or go for a casual stroll. It’s the place to be on the weekends, and local particularly like the beach and join in on the land and water activities.

You can watch boats enter and exit the harbor channel and fish off the jetty at the south end of Mission beach. During the day the beach is covered with sunbathers and people playing the surf. At the south end of the beach, Football and sand volleyball are popular group sports.

Activities

Recreational activities include body boarding, sunbathing, kayaking, swimming, surfing and picnicking. Swimmers and surfers use separate swimming areas, designated by City lifeguards. The southern part of the beach is a volleyball area and there is a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk behind the beach which extends nearly 3 miles to the north of Pacific Beach. There is an activity zone of bicycling, running, skateboarding, rollerblading, and much more. You are able to rent equipment at the end of West Mission Bay Drive adjacent to the boardwalk. Those looking for a bit more fun, can get their thrill on the beachfront rollercoaster at Belmont Park, located at the north end of Mission Beach. The 73-foot-tall wooden rollercoaster was built in 1925 and closed for restoration in 1976, but was finally reopened in 1990. The Big Dipper is still and exhilarating ride.

Bringing the Children

Kids love Mission Beach for the variety of water and land activities, which will keep them busy. Mission Beach Arcade arcade games, merry-go-round and even bumper boats. There is also an indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool called the “Plunge” at the arcade.

Parking

Mission Beach has plenty of free parking just across from Belmont Park at West Mission Bay and Mission Boulevard. Parking lots can fill up on summer days and on weekends at any time of the year, so it’s best to arrive prior to 10 am to get a good spot. There is also street parking available along Mission Boulevard.

Directions

Take Highway 8 West and follow the signs to West Mission Bay Drive.

Tips

The Mission Beach Boardwalk has been widened for walking and riding. The boardwalk extend for miles along the beach and around Mission Bay. The uncrowded paths can mean a more relaxed ride but for more serious bike riders, they can begin at Mission Beach on the boardwalk and continue all the way to La Jolla. For more information on bike routes, visit the San Diego Bicycle Education and Advocacy Group.

For surfboard, bicycle and other gear rentals, check out Cheap Rentals at 3685 Mission Boulevard.

Due to the size of the Big Dipper rollercoaster, it is not for the faint of heart and isn’t advised for anyone with physical limitations that would be aggravated under sudden or severe movement.

You’ll find plenty of places to eat nearby as Mission Boulevard (two blocks east of the beach) has coffee houses, fast food chains, breakfast joints, taco shops and some ethnic foods. For finer dining, try one of the nearby hotels.

Nearby Attractions:

Belmont Park - is a amusement park with an indoor children’s play center, attractions, rides and features the famous The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster. Website