The charmingly old-school Belmont Park has thrived on San Diego’s Mission Beach since the 1920s with good reason: it blends classic roller-coaster and bumper-car fun with timeless views of the beach.
The park first opened in 1925, as a project of local sugar magnate John D. Spreckels—whose name is on various landmarks around San Diego, including the famed outdoor organ in Balboa Park. After a lull in the 1960s and ’70s, when the park almost met with the wrecking ball, Belmont Park was reborn in the late 1980s. That included a total makeover for the Giant Dipper roller coaster, thanks to some assistance from the folks behind its cousin coaster, also called the Giant Dipper, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Another piece of the original park still remains, right next door: dating back to 1925, the old Plunge Pool has been renovated and rechristened The Plunge San Diego. The heated, 60-by-175-foot pool, housed in a Spanish Renaissance building with a retractable roof and floor-to-ceiling windows, is now part of a cutting-edge Fit Athletic Club & Gym location and welcomes swimmers of all ages.
What else can you expect when you visit this beachfront boardwalk park? Teens will opt for stomach churners with names like Control Freak and Vertical Plunge, while little ones might prefer to climb aboard decorated steeds on the Liberty Carousel—which is especially pretty at night when it’s illuminated. You can also compete for a hole-in-one in the mini-golf area, let the kids scramble up the climbing wall, take a spin in the go-karts, or make your way through the arcade. And of course, steps away is always Mission Beach. Dining options include plenty of carnival-style kiosk food, as well as Dole Whip, tacos, and a menu that features American fare along with 60-plus craft beers on tap at Draft.
If you’re looking to make the most of your time on the beach or in the ocean, spots like Mission Beach Rentals at Belmont and Mission Beach Surf Rentals can hook you up with everything from bikes (single and tandem) to scooters to surfboards and wetsuits.
Admission into Belmont Park is free, and you pay as you go for rides or attractions; visitors are free to come and go from the beach or elsewhere as they please. Check the online tickets page for day passes that bundle access to some attractions; The Plunge San Diego has separate admission. There are several free parking lots nearby.
Insider tip: If you are able to make a springtime visit, starting in late March and stretching until late May, Belmont Park celebrates the season with the Belmont in Bloom! annual event. Dance to live music, stroll amidst gorgeous floral arrangements and sculptures, or take part in creative workshops and interactive art performances. It’s all done in the name of San Diego community pride.
