POINT LOMA • NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Cabrillo National Monument

The tip of Point Loma — bay and ocean views, the old lighthouse, and tide pools when the water is low. Two hours is enough. Check tides before you promise the rocks.

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Hours, fees, and tide-pool access change. Confirm on nps.gov/cabr.

How to Use Cabrillo

Drive the peninsula. Parking fills on weekends and sunset. Viewpoint, lighthouse, and sometimes tide pools — not a secret beach day.

Views first

Upper area. City and bay. That’s the postcard.

Tide pools

Minus tide only. Wet rocks. No collecting.

Lighthouse

Short stop. Nice, not a half-day.

Afterward

Liberty Station or Shelter Island. Sunset Cliffs is a different stop.

What People Come For

The overlook

City, bay, Coronado, ocean in one turn.

Tide pools

Low tide only.

History

Cabrillo, lighthouse, coastal defense. Short.

Whale season

Winter from the point. Binoculars help.

Pair It With

Point Loma

The peninsula this sits on.

Point Loma →

Sunset Cliffs

Different stop. Don’t rush both at the same sunset.

Sunset Cliffs →

Budget / free-ish

NPS fee. Still cheaper than a park ticket.

On a budget →

Romantic

Overlook at last light if the lot isn’t full.

Romantic →

Add Cabrillo to the day

Tide pools, sunset, or a Point Loma loop with Liberty Station.

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Stay on Point Loma

If Cabrillo is the afternoon, sleep on the peninsula — then we can match a hotel partner in Point Loma or Shelter Island.

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