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Cabrillo National Monument

Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego: Hours, Address, Cabrillo National Monument Reviews: 4.5/5

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Cabrillo National Monument

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Cabrillo National Monument
4.5
4,855
#12 of 469 things to do in San Diego
Monuments & Statues
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9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
Stately monument honoring Cabrillo, discoverer of San Diego Bay, is located in Point Loma that overlooks the city and the Bay.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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The area
Address
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Restaurants
6 within 3 miles
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Attractions
197 within 6 miles
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
1,463
0.1 miCemeteries
Point Loma
1,927
0.2 miHistoric Walking Areas • Geologic Formations
Cabrillo Tide Pools
395
0.5 miBodies of Water • Hiking Trails
USS Midway Museum
25,212
Speciality Museums
Coronado Dog Beach
204
2.9 miBeaches
Coronado Island
3,019
Islands
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365
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Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
2,093
Parks
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0.7 miBeaches
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Theaters
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
4,856 reviews
Excellent
3,185
Very good
1,412
Average
226
Poor
22
Terrible
11
WanderingOttersons
Denver, CO696 contributions
Great city views and shore walk
Not just the Monument and lighthouse but also the coastal area park and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery nearby so take some time to explore the whole area while you're here. On the west side of the point is a nice and easy walk along the coastline and the Point Loma tide pools. The history of the monument is interesting and gives you some background to the beginnings of San Diego. The lighthouse is cool and also has some great history and stories to read over. On top of the hill and on the east side of the point are some great views of the city, the bay and Coronado with the naval base. It is a national monument and park so there is an entrance fee for a vehicle but if you take some time to explore everything, it is well worth the amount.
Written February 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Beth K
Shawnee, KS1,613 contributions
VERY enjoyable!
So many great things about this location and I'm so happy we were able to visit. The cost is $20 per carload at the gate, which is very reasonable. The ranger also mentioned a national parks season pass is $35, so take that into consideration if you travel to other national parks.

Our first stop was overlooking the water and climbing up some paths along the shore. Absolutely beautiful and breathtaking! We then went to the Visitor's Center to see a great view of Coronado Island and the water below. We also took a short five minute hike up to see the lighthouse. It was open for viewing, so we visited the lighthouse keeper's home and went up the steep staircase to the top.

Absolutely worth the trip!
Written March 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
GitchSup
Duluth, MN1,247 contributions
Views and history
Quite a beautiful National Park with views and history galore! Take the time to go to the visitor center for a map and some information before you head out. Right out of the visitor center you can see the ships on maneuvers just over the cliff edge, there is a poster about the various ships and boats you might see. The statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo is just a little bit further down the path and has more great views. If you continue up the hillside you will get to the old Point Loma lighthouse which you can walk around outside as well as inside. Remember it's a National Park so there will be a fee to get in unless you have a National Park pass.
Written May 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Anantha
Hamden, CT143 contributions
Exploring history
Family
Beautiful setting. The monument and the backdrop is splendid. There are exhibits which talks about Cabrillo. Very close to the Cabrillo monument is a small lighthouse which is very picturesque. Recommended to be here early in the day as later cars get backed up at the entrance where u pay fee (which is valid for 7 days).
Written January 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Katherine M
Houston, TX86 contributions
Beautiful Setting to See Where California Began and Where Veterans Have Been Laid to Rest
This national monument and museum are a great way to learn about the first discovery of California by the Spanish. It also discusses the native Americans who lived here first and how they influenced the Spanish settlers. Sadly, many died from disease after the "white man" came.

The views are fabulous. Take your binoculars so that you can identify any Navy ships that are coming into port or going out to sea. Enjoy the various trails around the monument and take in a good long look at the Rosencrans National Cemetery. Sobering to see so many lives lost in senseless wars.
Written August 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ian B
Silver Spring, MD202 contributions
Beautiful spot. You can see Mexico on a clear day! 360 degree views...
Although it can get very busy on weekend and holiday periods, this is great stop to see the best views of the city and learn the early history of the area. Be sure to run up to the lighthouse and see how a family used to run and see their living area. On a clear day run your eyes south down the coast and you can spot Tijuana, Mexico. Trails lead down to the coast if you want to hike a bit. Parking is easy and close by. If you have a national parks pass you can use it for free entry, otherwise it's currently $20 for a car.
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jeri B
13 contributions
Cabrillo
Definitely a must if you are visiting San Diego. On a sunny day, the views are just spectacular. Entrance into the park now costs $35 per carload (unless you have a senior federal park pass), but then everything else is free. There is a gift shop. There are several hikes down to the water (and straight up on the return), but even without doing the hikes, there is enough walking (or as little as you want) here. The old lighthouse is interesting...you can see most of the interior. If you don't have a car, Lyft can take you there, or a bus. We took Lyft there from the downtown area, then caught a bus to a place we could walk to sunset cliffs for the sunset, then caught another bus back to our room. Bus costs $2.50 for one ride ($1.25 for seniors) or $3.00 for all day, I think. Anyways, this is a very worthwhile place to visit.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Saluga
Wading River, NY2,463 contributions
Interesting to see
Apparently, Juan Cabrillo was the first European to set foot on the western coast of the United States. There's a large statue of him at the monument that overlooks the beautiful views of the bay. We took the short walk up to the Port Loma lighthouse and went inside. It was interesting to see all the artifacts from when it was operating. We also toured the lighthouse keeper's quarters. There are two trails that go around the area, the bay trail and the coastal trail.
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
FloridaSunDevil
West Palm Beach, FL835 contributions
Beautiful Views and History
We didn't visit the Monument until late afternoon after most of the fog had lifted. There is an admission fee for the park but is not necessary if you have a National Parks pass. Be patient, there was a long line of cars entering the park. The panoramic views of the harbor, naval air station and the cemetery are marvelous. There is a lot to learn in the museum about the explorer Cabrillo and some local history. There are two lighthouses if I recall right and there is a statue of the explorer. We also visited the tide pools which were very interesting. We weren't dressed for going in the water however and they closed at 4:30 the day we visited. Point Loma is definitely a must see when visiting San Diego.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chips57
Illinois227 contributions
worth the drive
We stayed in Coronado and decided to take a drive to Cabrillo Monument. Great decision. Scenic drive up there. There is a fee of about $20 to get in because it is a National Park unless you have a pass. It is worth it plus the ticket is good for a week so you can come back any time. The place closed about 5:00 so allow enough time to be there, like at least 2 to 3 hours. You can see the monument and then walk up to the lighthouse, there are a couple of trails you can hike and a pretty overlook on both sides to see the ocean and the Navy Base and even a place to sit if you want to be hopeful to sight a whale! Also while you are there drive down to the tide pools and get out and walk around there. Pretty coast line , too There is also a nice visitor center at Cabrillo Monument
Written March 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument is open:
  • Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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