San Diego’s Balboa Park attracts over 14 million visitors every single year who come to visit the world-famous San Diego Zoo, explore over 65 miles of hiking trails, and tap into a compelling history dating back to 1868. At 1,200 acres, the renowned urban park is widely considered to be one of the best urban parks in the country, outsizing even Central Park in New York and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
Balboa Park’s high concentration of museums, recreational activities, and gardens makes it stand out as one of Southern California’s most enriching attractions.
Here’s how to make the most of it.
History of Balboa Park
San Diego’s Board of Trustees began developing Balboa Park in 1868 as one of the country’s earliest large urban parks. The landscape remained largely untouched for several decades, but horticulturist Kate Sessions started to transform the land in 1892, earning her the title “Mother of Balboa Park.” Sessions planted 100 trees a year in exchange for land for her nursery, slowly reshaping the terrain into today’s lush, shady gardens.
Two major international expositions further influenced the landscape of Balboa Park: The 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition. These events resulted in the construction of gorgeous Spanish Colonial Revival buildings, additional sprawling gardens, and institutions that endure today. Balboa Park continues to be a cultural cornerstone of San Diego and is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Things to do in Balboa Park
With everything that Balboa Park has to offer, even many native San Diegans haven’t experienced all of its highlights. Here’s a quick overview of activities and attractions to consider making time for.
- San Diego Zoo – As one of the world’s most famous zoos, this Balboa Park gem showcases over 680 animal species across 100 acres.
- Museums – You’ll find a whopping 18 museums dotted around Balboa Park, but some of the most popular ones are the San Diego Natural History Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Fleet Science Center, and the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
- Gardens – From the scenic Japanese Friendship Garden to the tranquil Lily Pond, you’ll discover dozens of unique gardens throughout the park
- Hiking trails – Explore over 65 miles of hiking trails, ranging from smooth paved pathways, like the 1.5-mile Balboa Park Trail #1, to more varied, hilly terrain in Florida Canyon.
- Recreation – Parkgoers enjoy numerous recreation facilities, including a public golf course, disc golf, swimming pool, sports complex, and picnic areas.
The park’s proximity to downtown San Diego also makes it easy to access from the city center. Spaces are walkable and family-friendly, and you can bundle museum visits with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass to save some money.
Visiting Balboa Park from L.A.
🚗 By car: Balboa Park is situated about 120 miles from Los Angeles, and the trip down I-5 takes about 2-2.5 hours by car, depending on traffic.
🚂 By train: You can also reach Balboa Park via Amtrak’s scenic Pacific Surfliner route, which recently added additional trains in time for the summer. The journey from L.A.’s Union Station to San Diego’s Santa Fe Depot takes just under 3 hours, and you’ll then need to hop on a city bus, trolley, or rideshare to make the 2-3 mile trip to Balboa Park.