Point Loma · San Diego · National monument
Cabrillo National Monument
Stand at the tip of Point Loma for a sweeping view of San Diego Bay, step inside an 1855 lighthouse, and walk down to the tidepools, all on one $20 vehicle pass.
Opens the park’s fees page on NPS.gov. One $20 vehicle pass covers everyone in your car for 7 days.
Details checked October 2026
Type
National monument
Run by the National Park Service
Admission
$20 per vehicle
Good for 7 days; America the Beautiful OK
Hours
Daily 9 am–5 pm
Gate closes 5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas.
Time needed
2–3 hours
Tripadvisor’s estimate
Parking
Bus/RV spaces in Lot 3
Tidepools lot on the Coastal Trail; limited
Lighthouse site
422 ft
Above sea level; first lit in 1855
What you’ll see
Ocean, bay and history on one point
Cabrillo packs three very different stops into a small park: a lighthouse on the ridge, viewpoints over the bay, and tidepools on the ocean side.
Photo: Gentletouch1954 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Start here
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse
The lighthouse went into service on November 15, 1855, at the tip of Point Loma, 422 feet above sea level, where its light could be seen from both the ocean and the bay. A new light station replaced it at a lower elevation in March 1891, and today the old tower is open as an exhibit until 5 pm.
RV tip: the trails close before the park does: the Bayside and Oceanside trails at 4 pm, and the tidepools and Coastal Trail at 4:30 pm. If the water is your priority, head down first.
More to see
- TidepoolsThe rocky intertidal area on the ocean side, reached along the Coastal Trail, is open until 4:30 pm. Pets aren’t allowed in the tidepools.
- Bayside TrailStarts just northeast of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and looks out over San Diego Bay; it closes at 4 pm.
- Oceanside TrailThe park’s newest trail connects the upper monument to the tidepools, with ocean views the whole way.
- ExhibitsCabrillo and the Age of Exploration, the military history exhibit and the Assistant Keepers Quarters stay open until 5 pm.
Why go
San Diego’s national park, at the end of the peninsula
Cabrillo National Monument honors Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the explorer who sailed into San Diego Bay under the Spanish flag in 1542. The park sits at the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula, between the Pacific Ocean and the mouth of the bay, and it’s run by the National Park Service.
For RVers it’s an easy half-day trip, about 23 minutes from the Mission Bay RV parks in usual traffic. Catalina Boulevard, the approach road, has a 35 mph limit that drops to 15 mph near the entrance station, and the main gate closes at 5 pm, so arrive by early afternoon.
Winter adds a bonus. The park’s overlooks are a favorite spot to watch for migrating gray whales, and the park hosts a whale watching weekend in January.
Photo: Brandon on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Why it made our list
- #9 of 946 things to do in San Diego on Tripadvisor
- One $20 vehicle pass covers everyone in the car
- America the Beautiful passes accepted
- An 1855 lighthouse you can walk into
- Tidepools, bay views and three trails
For RVers
Bringing the rig to Point Loma
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Park in the right lot
The Visitor Center lots at the top of the park are the main parking area, and traffic runs one way in some sections. The Park Service lists Tidepools Parking Lot 3, along the Coastal Trail, as having bus and RV parking, but it’s the farthest tidepools lot and space is limited.
Pay the vehicle fee
Entry is $20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, or $10 per person 16 and older on foot or bike, and passes are good for 7 days. Cards are preferred. An America the Beautiful pass or the $35 Cabrillo annual pass covers your entry.
Pets on the Coastal Trail only
Leashed pets are allowed only along the Coastal Trail. They’re not allowed in the tidepools, elsewhere in the park, or walking on Cabrillo Road. It’s a trash-free park, so pack out pet waste.
Mind the 5 pm gate
The main gate closes at 5 pm and everyone must leave then; there’s no entry of any kind before 9 am or after 5 pm. Drones aren’t allowed, and the whole park is smoke- and vape-free.
What visitors say about Cabrillo National Monument
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 24, 2026.
The perfect spot for a lighthouse.
National Park Service, on the tip of Point Loma · nps.gov
How the review sites rank it
Rankings the review sites publish
#9 of 946 in San Diego2–3 hour visit12,800+ Google reviews
Tripadvisor ranks Cabrillo #9 of 946 things to do in San Diego and estimates a 2 to 3 hour visit. Google and Yelp didn’t show topic highlights for it when we checked on October 24, 2026, so we haven’t summarized review themes.
What entry costs
Fees from the Cabrillo National Monument fees page on nps.gov; passes are good for 7 days, and the annual pass for 12 months. Checked October 24, 2026.
Good to know
Private vehicle$20 everyone inside, 7 days
Walk or bike in$10 per person 16+
Motorcycle$15 per motorcycle
Passes acceptedAmerica the BeautifulSenior passesCabrillo annual ($35)
Fees from nps.gov, checked October 24, 2026. Children under 16 don’t need a pass. The park plans to go cashless, so bring a card.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Cabrillo National Monument
- Address1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr., San Diego, CA 92106
- HoursDaily 9 am–5 pm
Gate closes 5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas. - Phone(619) 523-4285
- Fees$20 per vehicle, paid at the entrance station
- Getting thereThe park is at the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula. Catalina Boulevard, the approach road, has a 35 mph limit that drops to 15 mph near the entrance station.
- ParkingMain lots at the Visitor Center, plus tidepools Lots 1–3 along the Coastal Trail. Lot 3 has bus and RV parking; space is limited.
Trails close at 4 pm, the tidepools and Coastal Trail at 4:30 pm, and the gate at 5 pm. Check the park’s closures and alerts before you go.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Cabrillo National Monument
These are the San Diego parks we’ve written up that sit closest to Point Loma. The Mission Bay parks are about 23 minutes away in usual traffic.
Campland on the Bay
Big waterfront resort on Mission Bay with its own beach, a marina, pools and family activities.
Mission Bay RV Resort
Full-hookup resort on De Anza Cove in Mission Bay, with bayfront sites, a heated pool and lower winter rates.
Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay
Newer resort-style park on the Chula Vista bayfront with level concrete sites, a heated pool and a café.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Daily 9 am–5 pm · Gate closes at 5 pm
Ready for the view from Point Loma?
Arrive early for a parking spot, pay $20 at the entrance station, and reach the tidepools before they close at 4:30 pm.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Gentletouch1954 (lighthouse; CC BY-SA 3.0), the National Park Service (rocky coast; CC BY-SA 3.0), Visitor7 (bay views and sailboat; CC BY-SA 3.0), Frank Schulenburg (lighthouse staircase; CC BY-SA 4.0) and Brandon (lighthouse above the scrub; CC BY-SA 2.0); the images were resized. Video: Yellow Productions on YouTube. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Cabrillo National Monument unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the National Park Service’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the National Park Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Cabrillo National Monument at nps.gov/cabr or (619) 523-4285. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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