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.

Parking in Balboa Park remains free (except for December Nights) until the City of San Diego’s paid parking program is implemented starting January 5, 2026, unless the City of San Diego deems otherwise.

As this is a new City policy, we do not have a way to offer discounts or parking passes to Explorers at this time. If any additional parking options arise, Explorers will be the first to know.

Parking Rates
Paid parking lots within the Balboa Park Cultural District will be enforced from 8 am to 8 pm, with discounts available for verified City of San Diego residents. To view the City’s Balboa Park Lots map, click here.

The cost of each parking lot will vary, depending on how close it is to the center of the Cultural District. Parking rates are set by the City of San Diego. 

• Level 1 Parking Lots: Verified resident rate: $5 for up to four hours; $8 full day; Nonresident rate: $10 for up to four hours; $16 full day
• Level 2 Parking Lots: Verified resident rate: $5 per day; Nonresident rate: $10 per day
• Level 3 Parking Lot: Verified resident rate: First three hours free; $5 full day; Nonresident rate: First three hours free; $10 full day

View Available Paid Parking Lots at https://balboapark.org/plan-your-visit/parking/

We encourage Explorers to take advantage of the Lower Inspiration Point Parking Lot which will provide up to 3 hours of free parking. Expanded tram service will run every 10-15 minutes from 8am-8pm daily.

*Parking fee payments in lots within Balboa Park may be made at meter kiosks. However, to receive the City resident discount in the parking lots, users will have to register online and purchase parking in advance. For questions about parking in Balboa Park, please see the City’s Frequently Asked Questions section on their website: https://www.sandiego.gov/parking/balboapark

Free tram service will continue to serve visitors to the Balboa Park Cultural District. All trams are equipped with ADA-accessible ramps; ask the conductor for assistance. For more information, visit https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/balboa/tram

With stops in or near four parking lots (Alcazar Parking Lot, Organ Pavilion Parking Lot, Palisades Parking Lot, and Upper and Lower Inspiration Point Parking Lot), the free Balboa Park Tram loops around the Cultural District making 5 stops throughout the day to get you within a 10-minute walk to many of the Cultural District’s most popular destinations. Trams operate daily and leave from the Inspiration Point parking lot at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way every 10 to 15 minutes, from 9 am to 6 pm.

Beginning January 5, 2026, tram service hours will be expanded to run from 8 am to 8 pm. An on-call shuttle will also be available for park-based employees and volunteers from 7 am to 9 am and from 6 pm to 11 pm.

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 three four-wheel electric scooters, available on a first come, first serve basis for daily use within the Park (excluding the San Diego Zoo and parts of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum). Advanced reservations are not accepted. Rental rates are per day and vary based on the type of device being rented. The Balboa Park Visitors Center is located at the House of Hospitality in the center of the Park at 1549 El Prado, 92101. For a 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 museums.

(Currently closed) 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

(Temporarily closed) 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 Craft Taco 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 (Temporarily closed)

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