Guidance and Tips for Transportation and Parking
Parking and Accessibility
Cabrillo Memorial Drive is the only road leading into the park, with a large parking lot near the Visitor Center Complex. Accessible parking is available for people with disabilities in the North Bay of the parking lot closest to the Visitor Center. There is parking for passenger cars, buses, RVs, and motorcycles. Wide, paved paths and sidewalks lead visitors to the Visitor Center Complex, Lighthouse area, Whale Overlook, and Military History Exhibit, all within 1/3 mile or 1,700 feet of the Visitor Center. If a member of your party is unable to walk to the Lighthouse area, there are three handicap-accessible parking spaces at the Lighthouse. You must display a valid state handicap parking placard on your dashboard. If your party does not have a valid placard but needs to borrow one for the day, ask at the entrance station or Visitor Center for a handicap parking pass.
Tidepool Parking
There are three parking areas at the tidepools located on Cabrillo Road. These lots often reach capacity on weekends, holidays, and during low tides. We recommend arriving at least an hour before low tide to secure a parking spot and encourage carpooling. Walking on Cabrillo Road is not recommended, as there is no shoulder or sidewalk.
Cell Service and Rideshare Services at the Tidepools
Cell service is not available at the tidepools. If you use a driver for hire, make arrangements for pick-up at a specific time and location. Otherwise, you may have to hike up the road (approximately one mile) to the top of the park, which does not have a sidewalk or shoulder and is not a safe route.
Due to the lack of cell service, ride-share services and apps are not recommended for arriving at the tidepools. If using an app for transportation, schedule a pick-up in advance. Rideshare apps work well for visiting all other areas of the park, with no additional fee for drivers to drop off or pick up visitors.
General Information on Ride-Sharing to the Park
Ride sharing is a great way to get to the park. Here are some helpful tips when considering this mode of transportation:
- Any visitor arriving at the park via a ride share service must pay the entrance fee or show a valid pass to enter the park.
- Ride share services entering the park to pick up a visitor will not be charged an entrance fee.
- Please be aware that there is no cell phone service at the tidepools. If you use a ride share to visit the tidepools, make arrangements to be picked up at a pre-determined time and location. Otherwise, you will not be able to reach anyone, and you may have to hike up the steep road (approximately one mile) to the upper portion of the monument.
Pets and the Park
Pets, with the exception of service animals, are not allowed in any area of the park except for the Coastal Trail accessed from the tidepool parking area.
Traffic and Travel Tips
- The line to enter the park using a vehicle can be long, especially on weekends after 11 AM, holidays, and days with low tides.
- Pets are not permitted in the park, except on the Coastal Trail in the tidepool area. Only dogs classified as service animals, trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, are permitted in all areas of the park. Emotional support or comfort animals are not considered service animals.
- Rideshare apps work well for arriving at the Visitor Center at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, CA 92106. However, they are not recommended for arriving at the tidepools due to the lack of cell service. If using an app to ride to the tidepools, schedule a pick-up in advance. There is no additional fee for a rideshare driver to drop off or pick up park visitors.
- Wide, paved paths and sidewalks lead visitors to the Visitor Center Complex, Lighthouse area, Whale Overlook, and Military History Exhibit, all within 1/3 mile or 1,700 feet of the Visitor Center.
- Please watch for pedestrians while in Cabrillo National Monument.
- Watch the roadways for wildlife – cottontails, squirrels, snakes, and lizards are frequently seen on the roads in and around the monument.
- Fog, low clouds, or mist can occur at any time of the year and reduce visibility considerably. Use headlights and caution.
- Catalina Blvd., the road approaching Cabrillo National Monument, has a maximum speed limit of 35 MPH, which is reduced to 15 MPH as you near the entrance station.
- The road leading to the tidepools, Cabrillo Road, has a maximum speed limit of 25 MPH.
- Many bicyclists, walkers, and joggers use Catalina Blvd. and Cabrillo Memorial Drive daily. Keep an eye out for them and use caution when they are nearby.
- Please be aware that the monument is surrounded by Navy property, and access to those areas is strictly limited.
- Catalina Blvd. / Cabrillo Memorial Drive are also known as State Highway 209.
