Mission Bay Guide: Mariners Basin, Bonita Cove and Mission Point Park
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 the Mariner’s Basin area in the southwest corner of Mission Bay in the Mission Beach area.
- Location:
- Bonita Cove, 1000 West Mission Bay Dr at Mariners Way
- Mariners Cove/Mission Point, 2600 Bayside Ln, San Diego, CA 92109
- Parking: Several large free parking large on north end at Bonita Cove. Small parking lot at Mission Point on south end of basin
- Facilities: Public restrooms at Bonita Cove and Mission Point
- Lifeguards: Seasonal lifeguards at Bonita Cove (Daily during summer, weekends except November to spring break), none at Mission Point Park.
- Rentals: Plenty of nearby rental locations at Bonita Cove. Limited rentals at Mission Point Park.
Jump Ahead To
Overview
NOTE: Pictures in the original article were taken during summer 2020. Updates include pictures taken during winter 2021 at low tide.
Mariners Basin is in the southwest corner of Mission Bay, 3 blocks from the Pacific Ocean. The basin is separated from the rest of Mission Bay by Mariners Point in the north and Mission Point in the south. This makes it a perfect area for kayaking and standup paddle boarding (SUP).
The north end of the basin is home to Bonita Cove and Mariner’s Point. The south end is Mariners Cove and ends at Mission Point. On the south side of Mission Point is the Mission Bay Entrance Channel and the San Diego River.
In summer this is a busy area. Mission Beach is one of San Diego’s most popular beaches, with a boardwalk and the Belmont Park amusement center.
Bonita Cove
Bonita Cove is directly across the street from Belmont Park and the boardwalk. There are several large free parking lots, but they can fill up quickly on hot summer days.
There is a large grassy area at Bonita Cove with picnic areas and playgrounds. The sandy beach area is wide and like all of Mission Bay the water is calm.
In summer there are plenty of lifeguards. There also is a new restroom facility opening in 2021.
Casual dining options are available across the street at Mission Beach and Belmont Park.
It is also possible to walk out along the long sandy area towards Mission Point Park. However, this area is a little rough around the edges. However it does provide nice views of the Mission Bay entrance.
Mission Point Park
Mission Point Park is a mile south of Bonita Cove at the end of Mission Bay. The sandy beach runs the length of the cove. However, parking between Mission Point Park and Bonita Cove is limited. Much of the beach is lined with vacation rental homes.
Mission Boulevard and Mission Beach end at Mission Point Park. At the end of Mission Boulevard, a left turn enters a small parking lot at Mission Point Park while a right turn puts you into the beach parking lot at South Mission Beach.
Parking is free, but both parking lots are relatively small and can quickly fill up on busy days.
There is a nice grassy area at Mission Point Park with a playground and picnic area. However, the main attraction is the large sandy beach.
A rock wall defines Mission Point, and this is a popular area for snorkeling. Mission Point is considered the best place in San Diego to learn to snorkel. The water is only a few feet deep and there are many fish that swim along the rocks.
Overall, Mission Point has one of the nicest beach areas in Mission Bay. There is limited boat activity, so the water is calm for kayaking/SUP. There is also a playground and nice grassy area for picnics.
The major downside is limited parking and the lack of nearby restaurants (a problem throughout Mission Bay)
Additional Resources
For our full guide to Mission Bay go here.
To find which beach is right for you check our guide to Best Mission Bay Beaches.
For hotel suggestions in the area check out our guide to Where to Stay in Central San Diego Beaches.
