Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument · CA
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only tells the story of this 16th-century exploration but also houses a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Exploration.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/cabr
- Location
- Cabrillo National Monument (32.672, -117.242)
Track your visit to Cabrillo National Monument
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Cabrillo Visitor Center & View Building
- Visitor Center and View Building
Hours
Cabriilo National Monumenttoday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sat Oct 39:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sun Oct 49:00AM - 5:00PM
- Mon Oct 59:00AM - 5:00PM
- Tue Oct 69:00AM - 5:00PM
- Wed Oct 79:00AM - 5:00PM
- Thu Oct 89:00AM - 5:00PM
- Fri Oct 99:00AM - 5:00PM
The park is open 365 days a year including holidays from 9 am until 5 pm. The Bayside Trail and the Oceanside Trail close at 4pm. The tidepools and the Coastal Trail close at 4:30pm.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
1
- Visitor Center and View Buildingtoday: 10:00AM - 5:00PMDirections
Self-guided tours
3
In-Depth Lighthouse Tour15–30 minutes · 12 stops
Tour the interior of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and learn about life and work in a lighthouse. Then visit the Assistant Keeper's Quarters and learn about the lighthouse's Fresnel lens and how it worked! Each of the map points represents a space inside of the lighthouse, but unfortunately are not completely accurate. Please follow the written/verbal directions within the tour itself.
Self-Guided Walking Tour of Cabrillo National Monument Hilltop40–60 minutes · 7 stops
This tour takes you through a short walking loop around the "upper" portion of Cabrillo National Monument - that is, the portion of the park that sits on the crest of Point Loma. Along the way you will learn about many of the major things to see at the park and be given a chance to find a greater personal meaning in them.
Walking Tour of Cabrillo National Monument Coastal Trail60–120 minutes · 9 stops
This tour takes you on a 1 mile walk on the Coastal Trail. This self-guided tour offers a view of many of Cabrillo National Monument’s resources. Explore the unique ecosystem the peninsula has to offer.
Entrance fees
4
- Private Vehicle — $20.00
Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle and all its passengers.
- Motorcycle — $15.00
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
- Per Person — $10.00
Admits one individual when entering by foot or bicycle. Groups of up to 4 people walking in or on bicycles are capped at $20 total. Individuals 15 years old and younger are admitted free of charge.
- Non-commercial Groups — $20.00
Organized Non-Commercial Groups include church groups, college/school groups, scouts, service organizations, military, etc. Vehicles with a capacity of 16 or less are charged the $20.00 vehicle permit fee. Vehicles with 17 or more seats will instead be charged the $10 per person individual rate for any passengers that are not free. The total fee charged for an Organized Non-Commercial Group will not exceed $100 per vehicle.
Commercial rates4
- Sedan