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Mission Bay Park

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

Mission Bay Park covers over 4,235 acres, about half land and half water, with 27 miles of shoreline and 19 miles of sandy beach. The City designates eight official swimming areas. Lifeguards are mostly seasonal. Fiesta Island is the off-leash dog area at any time.Checked October 23, 2026.

4,235+acres (City figure)
27 milesof shoreline
8official swimming areas
Seasonalmost lifeguards
An aerial view of Mission Bay Park with its lagoons, green lawns and boats in the marina
Mission Bay Park from the air. Philkon (Phil Konstantin), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
SizeOver 4,235 acres, roughly equal land and water; 27 miles of shoreline, 19 miles of sandy beaches, close to 14 miles of bike paths (City).
Swimming areasBonita Cove (1000 West Mission Bay Drive at Mariners Way); Leisure Lagoon (1900 East Mission Bay Drive); De Anza Cove (3000 East Mission Bay Drive); Sail Bay (4000 Fanuel St.); Crown Point (3700 Crown Point Drive); Ventura Cove (1000 West Mission Bay Drive at Gleason Road); Tecolote Shores (1600 East Mission Bay Drive); Enchanted Cove on Fiesta Island, about a third of a mile north of the island entrance.
LifeguardsMostly seasonal. Summer: most beaches daily. After summer through October: weekends. None from November until spring break. Bonita Cove, Leisure Lagoon and De Anza Cove are the most consistently staffed.
ParkingMost beaches have free lots. Enchanted Cove and Sail Bay have none but have nearby parking. Parking in the park between 2 and 4 a.m. is prohibited.
Restrooms and showersAt all listed beaches except Enchanted Cove.
Fire ringsFirst come, first served, 5 a.m. to midnight. Only wood, charcoal or paper; fuel no higher than 12 inches above the ring; fully extinguish.
DogsOff-leash on Fiesta Island at any time. Elsewhere in the park: on leash before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m., and not allowed 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
AlcoholProhibited at all times, including the boardwalk, seawall and lots.

The Park

The City calls Mission Bay the largest aquatic park of its kind in the country and estimates annual attendance at 15 million. Restrooms, showers and lifeguard stations are in designated areas.

Fiesta Island

In summer, after 10 p.m., only pedestrians may enter Fiesta Island, and the gate closes overnight. See Beach Dog Rules for the leash-free area.

Boat Ramps

South Shores Park has a boat ramp and RV dump, open 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. Boaters may park up to 72 hours. There is no overnight camping, and glass and alcohol are not allowed.

Fishing

The state free pier list names the Mission Bay Jetty North, where a license is needed for the adjacent rock wall touching land. See Pier Fishing Rules.

Mission Bay Park Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Current City fishing rules for Mission Bay are not confirmed. An old 1994 master plan appendix, seen only in search results, said fishing is allowed in all areas except swimming areas, the watercraft area and bridges. Do not rely on it.
  • De Anza Cove boat ramp and the El Carmel Point kayak launch appear only in search results and are not confirmed.
  • Accessibility details and Bonita Cove-specific features are not confirmed.
  • Smoking is not covered on the Mission Bay page; see the City-wide rule on Beach Rules.

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FAQ

Is Fiesta Island off-leash?

Yes. The City says dogs may be off-leash on Fiesta Island at any time.

Are there lifeguards at Mission Bay in winter?

The City says none from November until spring break.

Sources

  1. City of San Diego: Mission Bay Park
  2. City of San Diego Lifeguards: Mission Bay
  3. City of San Diego: Mission Bay Facilities

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.