Ski Beach Park

Visit Ski Beach San Diego for awesome family fun and water sports. Have a picnic, go kayaking or ride a jet ski on Mission Bay.
Todd Sarouhan
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means if you make purchases through them, I may be compensated at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Why you'll love this beach
Why you'll love this beach
Have a Picnic and a Blast with Friends & Family at Ski Beach Park
Ski Beach Park
Overview
Things to Do
Bundle & Save
Popular Activities
Get There & Parking
Featured Activity
Know Before You Go
Stay Nearby
Similar Beaches

Highlights

Things to Do
Tips
How to get there
Parking
Things to Do
Tips
How to get there
Parking

Overview

Boardwalks Throughout Ski Beach ParkJet Ski at Ski Beach Park

If you’re looking for the perfect spot for a California picnic, Ski Beach Park has you covered.

This beautiful park within Mission Bay Park offers lots of green grass, blue skies and sandy beaches. It’s one of the best places for laid-back and free family fun, with a playground, shelter, restrooms and areas for grilling.

The south end of the park is popular with water-sports enthusiasts, and it has an easily accessible boat launch.

Ski Beach Park is located on Vacation Isle, on an island in the middle of Mission Bay. Visitors love to explore the island, taking selfies and family photos with the bay’s amazing colors in the backdrop. With plenty of grass-covered spaces, kids can play to their hearts’ content, tossing a Frisbee or kicking around a soccer ball.

The views from Vacation Isle are incredible, so taking along your camera is a must. Ski Beach Park looks out over the eastern half of Mission Bay Park, offering breathtaking vistas of the sunrise above San Diego’s skyline. Capture vacation pictures of Fiesta Island, West Ski Island, Crown Point Beach and the Fishermans Channel Bridge.

Things to Do

Bikes Allowed
Bikes Allowed
Jet Skiing
Jet Skiing
Kayaking
Kayaking
Running
Running
Sailing
Sailing
Sunbathing
Sunbathing

Ski Beach San Diego Highlights

There are endless ways to have fun at Ski Beach Park. Its easy going and wide-open spaces are great for spending time with friends and family members. If you’re into adrenaline-pumping activities, the park’s boat launch gives you even more opportunities for excitement:

Water Sports

One of the biggest draws of Ski Beach are its water sports. Make some waves at this aquatic playground with water skiing, wakeboarding, boating and jet skiing. The calm waters of this Mission Bay park create some of the best conditions for water skiing and wakeboarding in San Diego.

If you’re into laid-back vacation adventures, you can explore Mission Bay at your own pace with a kayak, sailboat or canoe. From Ski Beach, it’s only about a mile north to the open waters of San Diego’s marvelous Northern Wildlife Preserve. You can also kayak a half-mile south to see Fiesta Island’s Stony Point, Perez Cove or flocks of birds near SeaWorld San Diego.

Local Tips
Great Place to Launch your Boat
The parking lot by the boat launch area has parking spaces to accommodate vehicles with boat trailers. There is a boat launch and ski area on the south side, but no swimming is allowed.

Family Barbecues

Whether you’re traveling with your kids or a large group of extended family, Ski Beach is worth a trip. Organize a casual soccer game and feast on fresh watermelon afterwards. Finish things off with a spectacular evening barbecue, showing off your burger-grilling skills and sharing an unbelievable sunset with the people you care about.

Must-See Festivals

Ski Beach Park is home to the annual Pacific Islander Festival, a celebration of the food, music, art and customs of the South Pacific. Observe the traditional dress and dances of Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia. This two-day event features over 100 different booths with tasty island treats and energetic live music. Best of all, it’s free to the public.

Another event that draws crowds is San Diego Bayfair’s World Series of Powerboat Racing. This is the trophy championship of H1 Unlimited hydroplanes, powerboats that can reach speeds of 160 mph. Watch the fastest racing boats in the world face off at the 2.5-mile aquatic racecourse around Mission Bay. Ski Beach is the place to be to see the sport’s biggest international competitors going head to head.

Bundle and SAVE!

USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum
Explore the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum with your All-Inclusive Go City pass! Check out the hangar deck and flight deck, plus over 60 exhibits, displays and interactive experiences. Enjoy an authentic tour narrated by Midway sailors!
Buy Now
Local Tips
What attractions are included with a Go City San Diego pass?

Attractions that you can visit with a Go City San Diego pass include:

The San Diego Zoo, Birch Aquarium, SeaWorld, Safari Park, LEGOLAND, Harbor Cruise, USS Midway Museum, the NAT Museum, Whaley House, PETCO Park Tour, iFLY San Diego and many, many more!

Want to save more? Use our exclusive discount code GVSD5OFF to save an extra 5%!

Popular Activities

San Diego Harbor Cruise
San Diego Harbor Cruise
$36 per person
Buy Now
The World Famous San Diego Zoo
The World Famous San Diego Zoo
Discounts Available
Learn More
Visit SeaWorld San Diego
Visit SeaWorld San Diego
Discounts Available
Learn More
Guided La Jolla Sea Cave Kayak Tour
Guided La Jolla Sea Cave Kayak Tour
$144 per 2 people
Buy Now

How to Get There & Parking

Free Parking
Free Parking
Lot Parking
Lot Parking
Neighborhood Parking
Neighborhood Parking
Street Parking
Street Parking

Getting to Ski Beach Park

To get to Ski Beach Park, follow Ingraham Street to Vacation Isle and look for Vacation Road. Turn east on Vacation Road and you’ll see Ski Beach Park right away. Vacation Isle and Ski Beach are only 1 mile north of SeaWorld.

Parking at Ski Beach Park

There are two large parking lots at Ski Beach Park, and they offer plenty of room all week long. One parking lot is located on the north side of the park, near the playground and picnic area. The other parking lot is next to the public boat launch area.

Featured Activity

San Diego Harbor Cruise on San Diego Bay at Sunset
San Diego Harbor Cruise
Enjoy this ‘San Diego Top Pick Award’ winner as you set sail on a three level luxury ship providing 360-degree views of San Diego’s scenic beauty. Relax for a 1-2 hour narrated tour, learn about the city from the bay.
Buy Now

Know Before You Go & Tips

Boat Launch
Boat Launch
Firepits
Firepits
Large Group Gatherings
Large Group Gatherings
No Alcohol
No Alcohol
No Glass Containers
No Glass Containers
No Motorized Vehicles
No Motorized Vehicles
No Smoking
No Smoking
Picnic Tables
Picnic Tables
Playground
Playground
Public Transportation
Public Transportation
Restrooms
Restrooms
Shade
Shade
Trash Cans Available
Trash Cans Available

Things to Know at Ski Beach Park

In addition to the water sports and family activities that make Ski Beach famous, the park offers a few well-kept San Diego secrets that can make your trip really special.

They’re totally free, so all you need is your sense of adventure. Here are a few Ski Beach Park hidden gems:

Beach bonfires

Visit Ski Beach before sunset to make your own beach bonfire. Enjoying the crackle of the fire and listening to the calm waves splashing against the shore can be very romantic. A warm fire is also a great way to finish the perfect family day.

Picnics

Take your ski beach picnic to the next level by spreading out a tablecloth on one of the park’s green overlooks. Share a tender kiss with an incredible view, eat a romantic lunch and lie back to look at the clouds together. There’s just one thing to keep in mind: no glass or alcohol is allowed at the beach or park, so leave the champagne at home.

Biking

One of the best experiences is to take your bike to Ski Beach. Start at the bottom edge of the park and cycle your way all around Vacation Isle. Not only do you get awesome views, you also get some nice exercise. If you’re especially adventurous, you can cross Fishermans Channel and take a 4-mile ride to Mission Beach and the Pacific Ocean.

Fireworks

SeaWorld San Diego hosts fireworks shows several times a year, such as Memorial Day weekend, 4th of July and Labor Day weekend. If you’re in San Diego for the show, there’s no better place to watch the fireworks than Ski Beach. Catch breathtaking colors reflecting on the waters of Mission Bay.

No Swimming

There are also several rules you need to keep in mind. For example, no swimming is allowed at Ski Beach. This is to make sure kids stay safe with all the boating going on. Also, pets are prohibited until after 6:00 pm in the summer and 4:00 pm in the winter.

Ski Beach Park
is Known For:
Jet Skiing
Jet Skiing
Know This:
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
Fire Pits
Fire Pits
Restrooms Available
Restrooms Available
Trash Cans Available
Trash Cans Available
This Month's Forecast
56°F / 73°F
Sunny in November
Dec
51°F / 68°F
Sunny in December
Jan
51°F / 67°F
Sunny in January
Feb
53°F / 68°F
Sunny in February

Stay Nearby

Bahia Resort Hotel
Family Friendly
3 Star Rating3 Star Rating3 Star Rating
Bahia Resort Hotel
from $199 / night
View Hotel
The Dana on Mission Bay
Bayfront
3 Star Rating3 Star Rating3 Star Rating
The Dana on Mission Bay
from $179 / night
View Hotel
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina
Bayfront
4 Star Rating4 Star Rating4 Star Rating4 Star Rating
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina
from $179 / night
View Hotel
San Diego Mission Bay Resort
Family Friendly
4 Star Rating4 Star Rating4 Star Rating4 Star Rating
San Diego Mission Bay Resort
from $259 / night
View Hotel
Show more San Diego Hotels >>