Mission Bay is one of San Diego’s most popular outdoor destinations, a complex of waterfront parks, public beaches and grassy palm-lined recreational paths stretching along 27 miles of shoreline. This size makes it the largest man-made water park in the country.
Mission Bay is almost square in shape, with land on all four sides. Water enters through the Mission Bay Channel at the southwest corner. The west side is a narrow peninsula with only one street running north and south. In the middle are Fiesta Island and Vacation Island. Both can be reached by road.
Why you should go to Mission Bay
In Mission Bay, you can fly a kite, birdwatch or have a picnic, but water sports are the rule. The east side of Mission Bay is where people go to play with jet skis, jet skis, and more. The western, seaside side attracts sailboats and sailboaters. You can rent sailboats, jet skis, kayaks, and motorboats at the Mission Bay Sports Center on the west side of the park.
If you plan to go, you can check the water quality to make sure the beaches are open and safe. Just go to the San Diego County Beach Water Quality site. Select the “center” drop-down menu, zoom in, and click on any of the Mission Bay beaches to get the report.
Why you might want to avoid Mission Bay
You’d think there would always be plenty of room in a park that covers 4,200 acres, but it can get busy. Get there early. Bring plenty of food and drinks with you. Otherwise, a quick trip to a nearby store may result in losing your parking spot.
Mission Bay can be difficult to get around by car. The main streets are more like highways with few stops or places to stop to check the map. To make matters worse, the signs are hard to follow and sometimes insignificant. If you don’t know where you’re going before you hit the road and don’t take advantage of a GPS or navigation app, you’ll end up getting lost (or at least frustrated).
How to enjoy the beaches of Mission Bay
There are many beach areas in the park. The easiest way to find one you like is to drive around until you see one you like. In general, the spots along Interstate 5 generate a lot of buzz. After a while you learn to ignore it, but with quieter parks on the other side of the bay, why not go there? Ventura Cove and Bahia Point near the Bahia Resort (Gleason Drive off Mission Bay Blvd) are great, as is Mariners Point across the street.
Opening hours vary in Mission Bay parks, but most are closed for at least a few hours a day. Lifeguards are on duty on weekends, in late spring and early fall, and daily in summer. Alcohol is prohibited everywhere.
The water in Mission Bay is quite calm, but do not let it create a false sense of security. The shore breaks off sharply, and a child who is waist-deep in water can take one step and find himself above his head.