Route 7, Route 215, and Route 120 are the three bus routes through the Balboa Park Cultural District.

From Downtown:

• From the City College Trolley Station take the 7 bus, heading north. The Park Blvd and President's Way stop, Park Blvd and Village Pl stop, and Park Blvd and Zoo Pl stop will leave you within walking distance of many Balboa Park attractions.
• From the City College Trolley Station take the 215 bus, heading north. The Park Blvd and Zoo Pl stop will leave you right in front of the Balboa Park Carousel and San Diego Zoo.

From Mission Valley:

• From the Fashion Valley Transit Center take the 120 bus, heading south, toward Downtown. Get off at the 4th Ave and Laurel St stop. Walk east along Laurel St/El Prado, across the infamous Cabrillo Bridge.

With the Youth Opportunity Pass (YOP) program, youth 18 and under in San Diego County can get to the Balboa Park Cultural District for free using public transportation! All they need is a Youth PRONTO card or a virtual Youth Pass on the PRONTO App for unlimited rides on the bus, trolley, SPRINTER and COASTER. Visit our community partner Mid-City CAN’s YOP page to learn more and start riding!

Use the MTS Trip Planner tool for more information and plan a custom route. 

​Ride sharing services are highly recommended due to limited parking access on busy days such as weekends, during the summer, and holidays. Use this address to be dropped off in the center of the Balboa Park Cultural District:

1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101

From the north:

• From I-5 take the B St/Pershing Dr exit, heading toward Pershing Dr. Turn left on Florida Dr. Turn left on Zoo Pl. Follow the signs to Balboa Park.
• From I-15 or I-805 take Hwy 163. Take the I-5 south/Park Blvd exit. Turn left on Park Blvd. Follow the signs to the Balboa Park Cultural District.

From the east:

• Take I-8 to Hwy 163 south. Take the I-5 south/Park Blvd exit. Turn left on Park Blvd. Follow the signs to the Balboa Park Cultural District.

From the south:

• Take I-5 to B St/Pershing Dr exit, keeping right to stay on Pershing Dr. Turn left on Florida Dr. Turn left on Zoo Pl. Follow the signs to the Balboa Park Cultural District.

With eleven free parking lots surrounding Balboa Park’s Cultural District, there’s sure to be a spot for you. Parking in front of the San Diego Zoo and smaller lots throughout the Park tend to fill up quickly. For easiest access in and out of the Park, Inspiration Point (on the east side of Park Blvd, at the intersection of President’s Way) is a great option.

The free Balboa Park tram can transport you within a 10-minute walk to many of the Cultural District's most popular destinations. Trams stop at each location approximately every 15 minutes. Trams are ADA accessible and include room for strollers. Summer tram hours in effect from 6/2 - 10/31 are from 9:00 am - 8:00 pm daily. From 11/2 - 5/31, tram hours are 9:00 am - 6:00 pm daily. Find tram stops on the Park map here.

If you have a flexible schedule, Old Town Trolley is a great opportunity to see more of San Diego. Start a tour from any of the convenient stops and hop off at the Balboa Park Cultural District. Enjoy on-and-off privileges as you take in historic sites throughout the city.

The Balboa Park Visitors Center has two manual wheelchairs and two three-wheel electric mobility scooters available for daily rental use within the Park (Zoo excluded). Rental rates vary depending on length of rental and type of wheeled device used. Reservations, though not required, may be made in advance through Mobility Source at (619) 234-9505. The Balboa Park Visitors Center is located at the House of Hospitality in the center of the park at 1549 El Prado, 92101. For wheelchair accessible entrance, enter via the north side along El Prado Rd.  

Many of the participating museums offer special hours, programming, or accommodations to assist visitors and ensure a positive experience. Please see each museum for their unique offerings.

• Fleet Science Center
• ICA San Diego, Central Campus
• Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
• Mingei International Museum
• Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art
• Museum of Us
• San Diego Air and Space Museum
• San Diego History Center
• San Diego Model Railroad Museum
• The San Diego Museum of Art
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• Timken Museum of Art
• The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park

Each Explorer participating museum has their own policy for Caregiver access. Be sure to contact each venue to learn about their Caregiver policy before visiting. 

The Balboa Park Explorer Pass does not offer a Caregiver Pass due to the requirements of the individual musuems.

Alaska Airlines Flight Path Grill at the San Diego Air & Space Museum

Balboa Park Visitors Center inside the House of Hospitality

Café in the Park inside the Casa de Balboa

CRAFT CAFÉ at Mingei International Museum

Craveology at Fleet Science Center

Daniel’s Coffee Cart at Spanish Village Art Center

House of Pacific Relations International Cottages (Participating houses sell food and drinks on weekends and during Lawn Programs)

Lady Carolyn’s Pub at The Old Globe (Open on performance days, one hour before showtime and during intermissions.)

One WorldBeat Cafe at WorldBeat Center (Vegan)

Prado Perk inside the House of Hospitality

The Flying Squirrel Cafe at San Diego Natural History Museum

The Tea Pavilion at Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum

ARTIFACT at Mingei International Museum

Panama 66 at The San Diego Museum of Art

The Prado inside the House of Hospitality

Centro Cultural de la Raza

Marston House Museum & Gardens

Mingei International Museum

Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art

Spanish Village Art Center

The San Diego Museum of Art

Timken Museum of Art

Fleet Science Center

San Diego Air & Space Museum

San Diego Automotive Museum

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

San Diego Natural History Museum

Balboa Park Visitors Center

United Nations Building

Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum