Presidio Park
Presidio Park
4
About
Manicured and pristine urban park is reminiscent of San Diego's intriguing heritage, with the Junipero Serra Museum being its most popular attraction.
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The area
Neighbourhood: Old Town
How to get there
- Old Town Transit Center • 7 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
53 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
28
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Mister-Markie
San Rafael, CA2,601 contributions
Aug 2021
Came here to visit the Serra Museum, but found some other cool things as well!
The park seems small at first, but then looking around I realized it is decent sized. There are several areas separated by roads, parking lots or ridges, and which each offer their own amenities. Tables and grass for picnicking, hillside grassy areas for relaxing and viewing Old Town San Diego or the city to the west, and a few minor hiking trails on its east end to get your cardio going.
Saw lots of couples, families and small groups this visit, all enjoying the park. I visited the Mormon Battalion memorial, the Fort Stockton site, and a ridge just above the museum itself which offered great views of the river valley below.
Definitely a place to come to relax by yourself or with friends, and enjoy some great views and natural beauty.
The park seems small at first, but then looking around I realized it is decent sized. There are several areas separated by roads, parking lots or ridges, and which each offer their own amenities. Tables and grass for picnicking, hillside grassy areas for relaxing and viewing Old Town San Diego or the city to the west, and a few minor hiking trails on its east end to get your cardio going.
Saw lots of couples, families and small groups this visit, all enjoying the park. I visited the Mormon Battalion memorial, the Fort Stockton site, and a ridge just above the museum itself which offered great views of the river valley below.
Definitely a place to come to relax by yourself or with friends, and enjoy some great views and natural beauty.
Written 11 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David W
Centreville, VA129 contributions
Mar 2023
This beautiful park preserves the location of San Diego's first European settlement. Make your first stop in the parking lot across from the museum to walk within the low yellow walls that mark the outline of Cabrillo's Presidio and settlement. Visit the site of Ft. Stockton, where the Mormon Battalion stayed during the Mexican War. It's also a beautiful picnic spot.
Written 1 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David L
Murray, UT1,768 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
A peaceful place just off major freeways, and above Old Town. We like to stop here after a long drive to San Diego to unwind and rest a bit. I have never seen it crowded. Some great views of the harbor and coastline. Also a few interesting historical markers to read. Access just up the hill on the north end of Old Town or from the west end of Hotel Circle.
Written 29 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
catlady8888
Colbert, WA27 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
After looking around Olde Town San Diego we trekked up to Presidio Park hoping to see the actual Presidio...big mistake. The walk up was precarious due to no edge along road. Once we got to the park, the first part green and nice but walking up to building, not so nice. The Pesidio smelled like urine and feces. Guessing due to it not being open to public as museum, poor homeless folk have made it a destination.
Not pleasant and no real signage about history there so skip the hike up the hill.
Not pleasant and no real signage about history there so skip the hike up the hill.
Written 17 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sasha G
Tucson, AZ4 contributions
Oct 2017
I often forget about this particular little hidden gem. If you're a person who likes to get in touch with nature in a surrounding that isn't saturated with people, this is your spot. It's location is convenient, as it's located near the intersect of two major freeways, but when you get up to this paradise on the hill, you can't hear any of the noise from the hustle and bustle of San Diego. I can truly be calm and at peace here. It's always a pleasant, serene experience.
Written 12 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
clmatthe05
Atlanta, GA14 contributions
May 2017 • Solo
There's a path you can access from Old Town San Diego (which is of course also worth a visit) that seems to have been created some time ago. It has markers with bits of information on them but some of them have worn away and some are actually in brush and not accessible by a trail anymore. The area was a bit confusing on foot because it was not marked very well but it was still worth the trip. It offers amazing views of the city and is a wonderful historic site as the birthplace of San Diego. The Mission Junipero Serra looks beautiful but it is only open on weekends. You can still enjoy views from the mission on all sides. There's also a brick cross and statue across the street that are not marked that could be easily missed behind all the trees.
I'd recommend a visit.
I'd recommend a visit.
Written 5 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave_from_MN
Southlake, TX2,377 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
Presidio Park sits on a hill overlooking Old Town, the West end of Mission Valley, and Mission Bay. The park and the Presidio mark and commemorate the first settlement, founded in 1769, of what would become San Diego and the base from which the Spanish would colonize California.
This is a quiet and beautiful location for a walk and for nice views and photographs over the valley and bay. The Presidio in the park is a iconic San Diego landmark and houses the Junipero Serra Museum. This is a good stop (whether quickly for photographs and view, or lengthy for walk) to combine with Old Town given close proximity. In fact, there is a path that starts at the end of Mason Street in Old Town that you can take up the hill to Presidio Park and the museum. The museum itself is small, but worthwhile if interested in topic.
Note that the Presidio is not the Mission San Diego de Alcalá - that first mission was set up / moved further east down Mission Valley - so plan accordingly if that is your focus.
This is a quiet and beautiful location for a walk and for nice views and photographs over the valley and bay. The Presidio in the park is a iconic San Diego landmark and houses the Junipero Serra Museum. This is a good stop (whether quickly for photographs and view, or lengthy for walk) to combine with Old Town given close proximity. In fact, there is a path that starts at the end of Mason Street in Old Town that you can take up the hill to Presidio Park and the museum. The museum itself is small, but worthwhile if interested in topic.
Note that the Presidio is not the Mission San Diego de Alcalá - that first mission was set up / moved further east down Mission Valley - so plan accordingly if that is your focus.
Written 9 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris G
Minneapolis, MN179 contributions
Sept 2019
You definitely want to the Presidio Park to understand San Diego history, and have a great view of Mission Bay and the San Diego River. The kids can climb the tower for the best view (indoor access only); plenty of free parking with a $5 recommended donation.
Hint: just up the hill from the Presidio is Fort Stockton, a very important, totally forgotten part of San Diego History. Park on the loop to the east, and don't miss the plaque describing the 80 women and children who assisted the Mormon Brigade.
2 warnings: 1. There is NO WAY a wheel chair can access the museum: plenty of parking right next to very steep stairs (!!). 2. Their website says it's open on Friday: WRONG. Closed on Fridays. Please update the website!!!!!
Hint: just up the hill from the Presidio is Fort Stockton, a very important, totally forgotten part of San Diego History. Park on the loop to the east, and don't miss the plaque describing the 80 women and children who assisted the Mormon Brigade.
2 warnings: 1. There is NO WAY a wheel chair can access the museum: plenty of parking right next to very steep stairs (!!). 2. Their website says it's open on Friday: WRONG. Closed on Fridays. Please update the website!!!!!
Written 16 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wandersw
tucson30 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Skip the touristy restaurants in Old Town and pack a picnic lunch for the Presidio Park. Park has lots of shade and is in a quiet, upscale residential area. The Presidio was undergoing renovations when we were there, so we didn't go in. Great ocean views.
Written 25 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EC170608
Vacaville, CA288 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Just up above the Old Town area. Great little walk to raise your heart rate and burn off some of that lunch.
Too bad the trees have grown on the north side and are blocking the views.......
If you don't want to make the drive from Old Town to the beach but still want to catch a nice sunset, this is the place.
Too bad the trees have grown on the north side and are blocking the views.......
If you don't want to make the drive from Old Town to the beach but still want to catch a nice sunset, this is the place.
Written 22 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm going to San Diego in about three weeks my wife would like to visit the Presidio park and the Serra Museum, we'll be coming from the old town area. I should mention we won't have a car, I've read some reviews saying the walk is up a hill and might be difficult for someone walking if they have walking problems which my wife does. Just looking for suggestions how to get to the Presidio without killing my wife walking to the park.
Written 8 September 2017
You will definitely want to get a ride up if your wife had walking problems.
Written 27 July 2019
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