Mission Bay Guide: Fiesta Island
San Diego’s Mission Bay is one of the city’s prime attractions. There are all kinds of water-based activities and 27-miles of shoreline. This is our guide to Fiesta Island.
- Location: 1590 E Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
- Parking: Plenty of free parking on the road and several dirt/sand lots.
- Facilities: None
- Lifeguards: None
- Rentals: None
NOTE: Pictures in the original article were taken during summer 2020. Updates include pictures taken during winter 2021 at low tide.
Fiesta Island is a surprisingly large island in the southeast corner of Mission Bay. Access is from a bridge directly off the Sea World Dr exit of the I-5.
Fiesta Island is the most rustic area of Mission Bay. It is popular with campers and people that want to drive on the sand. There are large sandy areas but no restrooms or other facilities.
Fiesta Island Rd runs one-way counter clockwise around the perimeter of the island. There is almost always plenty of parking along the side of the road. Many people pull off directly on the sand. There are also several dirt lots.
The south west side of the island is popular for motor sports including water skiing and jet skiing. The water ski area of Hidden Anchorage Cove requires a special permit.
A dedicated jet ski/personal watercraft (PWC) area is located by the Fiesta Island bridge running north to Tecolote Shores and south to South Shores.
The official map here shows the areas for PWC and water skiing around Fiesta Island.
The north east side of Fiesta Island has Enchanted Cove. This is a great area for kayaking, standup paddle boarding and canoeing. There is even a smaller island, Enchanted Island at the entrance to the cove.
The Fiesta Island Youth Camp and Youth Aquatic Center are located on Enchanted Cove. The camps are closed to the public, but this is where many San Diego children learn basic watersports.
In July Fiesta Island is home to the Over-the-Line softball tournament. The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) has been holding OTL tournaments since the 1950s. Unfortunately, in 2020, COVID meant the canceling of OTL.
The large open field where OTL is held is also the premiere place in San Diego for launching model rockets. Because of the extreme fire danger in Southern California a permit is needed. Permit information can be found here.
On the west side of Fiesta Island, across from the OTL fields, is a popular dog area where dogs can run free without a leash.
The big disadvantage of Fiesta Island is the lack of facilities. Occasionally there will be porta potties around the island, but as a general rule Fiesta Island is mostly undeveloped.
For our full guide to Mission Bay go here.
For our guide to Mission Bay Beaches go here.
For hotel suggestions in the area check out our guide to Where to Stay in Central San Diego Beaches.
