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Cabrillo Tide Pools

Part of San Diego Beaches, our guide to San Diego beaches, coast and safety rules.

The Cabrillo National Monument tide pools are open until 4:30 p.m. in the park’s regular season, and nothing may be collected. The park is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entrance fee is $20 per vehicle or $10 on foot or bike, with ages 15 and under free. Low tide is best.Checked October 23, 2026.

4:30 p.m.tide pools close
$20per vehicle
0.7 fttide or lower is best
Nothingmay be collected
Tide pools and rocky ledges at Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma
Tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument. Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Park hoursDaily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The main gate closes at 5:00 p.m.
Tide pool hoursClose at 4:30 p.m. In extended summer hours: 30 minutes before sunset or 7:30 p.m., whichever is earlier (NPS).
Visitor center10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.
Fees$20 per private vehicle; $10 on foot or bike (15 and under free); $35 annual pass.
Address1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
PhoneRanger line (619) 523-4285

Tide Pool Etiquette

The National Park Service prohibits collecting any natural item, living or dead, including organisms, shells and rocks. Touch animals as gently as you would touch your own eyeball. Do not pry off attached animals, flip rocks or throw rocks. Containers, nets and tools are not allowed. Wear closed-toe shoes with good grip, keep small children close, and expect no cell service at the tide pools.

The Reserve

The pools sit in the Cabrillo State Marine Reserve, where it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource. See Marine Protected Areas.

Tides

The National Park Service says a tide of 0.7 feet or lower is best for tide pooling. The pages read list no scheduled ranger tide pool program.

Cabrillo Tide Pools Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Entrance fees were read on the NPS fees page during the events check, but not on the page used for the tide pool research. Confirm before you go.
  • Ranger tide pool programs are not confirmed.
  • Cabrillo Festival: the NPS special events page says it was put on hold and has not resumed, so no festival is listed.

More in San Diego Beaches

FAQ

Can I take shells from the tide pools?

No. The National Park Service prohibits collecting any natural item, and the area is a state marine reserve.

Sources

  1. National Park Service: Cabrillo Hours
  2. National Park Service: Visit the Cabrillo Tide Pools
  3. National Park Service: Cabrillo Fees
  4. CDFW: Cabrillo State Marine Reserve

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.