Ultimate Guide to Free and Cheap Fun in San Diego

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San Diego is a city that has something for everyone–whether you’re looking to relax on a beach or enjoy some museums, you can do it all. And one of the best things is that there are activities to fit any budget. There are plenty of free and cheap things to do in San Diego. Here are my favorite budget-friendly activities for your next San Diego vacation.

Make sure you check out this complete 5-day travel itinerary for your next San Diego trip as well.

Go to the Beach

San Diego is known for its beaches, and that is perhaps the cheapest thing you can do in San Diego. In fact, it doesn’t cost a thing. Most beaches are entirely free, including parking. Of course, in the summer time, you’ll want to plan ahead and arrive early to guarantee a parking spot.

Pack a lunch or grab sandwiches on the way and enjoy some free fun in the sun.

Check out my favorite Coronado beaches here, along with these gorgeous La Jolla beaches.

Visit a Museum – One of the best cheap things to do in San Diego

There are so many museums you can visit in San Diego. Balboa Park is home to popular museums such as the Natural History Museum and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Museum. But admission to these can add up quickly, especially for larger families. Note: If you’re a San Diego resident, you can take advantage of free admission to various museums on Tuesdays.

There are plenty of museums that cost much less, though and definitely qualify as some of the cheap things to do in San Diego. The San Diego Model Railroad Museum (also in Balboa Park) costs $19.50 for adults, but kids under 12 get in free. Kids who are 12 and over are only $9 with a student ID. The San Diego Museum of Art costs $20 for adults, but kids 17 and under get in for free.

The Cabrillo National Monument

Visiting the Cabrillo National Monument and tide pools is a great family activity that doesn’t cost a lot. It costs $20 for each vehicle to enter the park, which gets you access to the lighthouse and the tide pools (during low tides). Because this is a national park, you can get in for free if you have a 4th grade student and the free 4th grade national parks pass.

Old Town – One of the Free or Cheap Things to do in San Diego

Old Town is technically a free thing you can do in San Diego, but I’m adding it to this list because there are also a handful of inexpensive things you can do there. The Whaley House is an iconic San Diego landmark that has many stories of hauntings and paranormal activity from its sad history. It does cost money to enter (and prices do vary a bit), but tickets during the day are about $13 for ages 13 and up, and only $9.50 for ages 4-12. It’s free for kids under 4.

Even if you don’t pay to go into the Whaley House, you can walk around the yard a bit and visit other free attractions in Old Town. But you might not be able to resist getting a bite to eat at one of the many popular Mexican restaurants there.

Go to a Sporting Event

San Diego has a variety of sporting events you can enjoy, even on a budget. Bigger events, like a Padres or Aztecs game, will set you back a little bit more, but there are a variety of other options that are much cheaper. Catching a Seals game (lacrosse), a Strike Force game (indoor football team), a Wave game (women’s soccer), or even attending a San Diego rodeo are all options that are much more reasonable.

If you visit in the summer, going to the horse races in Del Mar is another popular option. It can add up quickly, but it is also something that can be done on a budget if you sit in the general admission seats and only do small bets.

Visit a Pool – Cheap things to do in San Diego on hot days

Visiting a waterpark in San Diego is not going to be one of the cheap things to do in San Diego, however, there are other options to cool you off without breaking the bank. For way less money than a full waterpark experience, the Tierrasanta Community Pool provides access to a pool and waterslides for only $4 (adults) or $2 (kids). There’s also a splash pad there, which is a big hit with the younger children.

Or you can strategically stay at one of these San Diego hotels with amazing pools or a hotel with a waterslide, and get instant entertainment included with your accommodations.

Get Julian Apple Pie

Driving to the cute mountain town of Julian won’t cost you anything other than the gas to get there, but if you do make the drive, I highly recommend that you also enjoy some famous Julian apple pie while you’re there. You can spend an entire day in Julian walking around the cute shops, grabbing a bite to eat and just enjoying the mountain air.

Go Hiking – A Cheap Thing to do in San Diego

San Diego has a lot of areas that you can hike and explore. We even have waterfall hikes here, as well as hikes that are right along the coasts. You can start your day with a quick hike, or you can head out for longer full-day hike. The options are endless. Some of our favorite hikes are Three Sisters Falls, Kitchen Creek Falls and of course the Mission Trails hikes, where you will find numerous trailheads.

Take a Day Trip To Balboa Island

I know this isn’t technically in San Diego, but visiting Balboa Island, up in Orange County, is one of my favorite day trips from San Diego. It’ll take you about 90 minutes to drive there and it’s the cutest beach town to visit. Enjoy sweet treats, harbor views, the beach, shopping and more. While there are opportunities to spend more money there, you can easily enjoy walking around, maybe riding the Ferris Wheel and getting a Balboa Bar without spending a fortune.

For more fun ideas, check out these awesome dessert places in San Diego along with these fun things to do during winter in San Diego.