Hotels near Cabrillo National Monument

Cabrillo National Monument sits at the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula and commemorates the 1542 landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to set foot on the West Coast of what is now the United States. The 160-acre park is managed by the National Park Service and combines three main sights: the 1854 Old Point Loma Lighthouse restored to its 1880s appearance, the panoramic overlook of San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline, and the Point Loma tide pools on the west-facing shore. The park is open daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; entrance fees in 2026 are $20 per vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, or $10 per pedestrian or cyclist (valid for seven days), and the America the Beautiful annual pass covers admission. The visitor center runs a 15-minute introductory film and holds a small exhibit on Cabrillo's expedition and the region's military history. The tide-pool area at the western base of the peninsula (accessed by a separate road down to sea level) has some of the best rocky-shore ecology in Southern California; check NOAA tide charts and plan your visit for a low tide of 0.6 metres or less.

Pro Tip: December through February brings the Pacific gray whale migration past Point Loma, and the monument's whale overlook is one of the best free viewing spots on the coast. Bring binoculars, dress for wind, and check the daily sightings board at the visitor center.