Cheap Date Night Ideas in San Diego, CA
Cheap date nights in San Diego, CA under $30/person include Air Track Park ($25), Axe Throw San Diego ($29.95), Axe Throw San Diego ($29.95), Balboa Park (Free (park & gardens)), and Belmont Park (Free entry; rides from $16). Look for weeknight specials and happy hour deals to stretch your budget further.
Four stories of dinos and live reptiles
1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 · Daily 10am-5pm, Fri until 11pm
Home to the Giant Dipper, a 1925 wooden roller coaster that's a National Historic Landmark
3146 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109 · Daily from 11am, closing 8-10pm depending on season
See all the way to Mexico — tourists miss it
5115 Soledad Rd, San Diego, CA 92109 · Daily dawn to dusk
Hand-carved carousel on the bay, $4
849 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101 · Daily 10am-9pm (10pm in summer) · Ages 0+
$48 intro week includes gear + belay lesson
10110 Mesa Rim Rd, San Diego, CA 92121 · Mon-Fri 6am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-9pm
Day pass works at all 3 San Diego locations
2074 Hancock St, San Diego, CA 92110 · Mon-Fri 9am-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-9pm
1925 heated indoor pool, 200 feet from the Pacific
3115 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, CA 92109 · Daily 7am-7pm
$4.25/game weekday afternoons, 40 lanes
8210 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92126 · Mon-Sat 9am-midnight, Sun 9am-11pm
Cheapest per-game rates in San Diego
7585 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111 · Mon-Wed 9am-midnight, Thu 9am-1am, Fri-Sat 9am-2am, Sun 9am-midnight
Ice skating in San Diego — $25 if you book online
4545 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92122 · Daily, session times vary — check schedule
$87 million community center with ice rink + pool
6737 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92115 · Public skating sessions vary — check schedule
$30 for an hour of coached axe throwing
9340 Dowdy Dr, Ste 105, San Diego, CA 92126 · Thu-Sun, check schedule for session times
Private rooms — no strangers, price drops with group size
3116 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109 · Mon-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sun 10am-10pm
Indoor surfing at Belmont Park, $20/hour
3146 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109 · Daily 11am-8pm (extended hours in summer)
Bouldering + yoga, no ropes needed
6060 Cornerstone Ct W, Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92121 · Mon-Fri 6am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-8pm
52 free rec centers, most with indoor gyms
Various locations across San Diego · Varies by location — most Mon-Sat
Walk-in VR arcade, more games than Sandbox
200 E Via Rancho Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92025 · Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm
VR games on trampolines + parkour area
8260 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111 · Mon-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm
17 museums, 14 free gardens, open 24/7
1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 · Park grounds open 24/7; museums typically 10am-5pm
16 blocks of rooftop bars and speakeasies
Fifth Ave & Market St, San Diego, CA 92101 · Open 24/7; most venues 11am-2am
Panoramic views from the tip of Point Loma
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, CA 92106 · Daily 9am-5pm (tide pools close 4:30pm)
Sea lions + best snorkeling in SoCal
1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037 · Open 24/7
Free adobe village + Cafe Coyote
4002 Wallace St, San Diego, CA 92110 · Daily 10am-5pm (Oct-Apr: 10am-4pm Mon-Thu)
1925 wooden roller coaster on the beach
3146 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109 · Daily 11am-8pm (extended hours in summer)
Free bayfront stroll with Coronado views
849 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101 · Daily 10am-9pm (10pm in summer)
Best sunset in San Diego — locals' pick
1253 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107 · Daily, dawn to dusk
Rarest pine on Earth + ocean overlooks
12600 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037 · Daily 7:15am to sunset
5,017-pipe organ, free Sundays year-round
1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 · Sunday concerts at 2pm; pavilion open daily
200+ tents every Saturday, arrive early
W Date St & India St, San Diego, CA 92101 · Saturdays 8am-2pm
145 steps into a sea cave — only one in CA by land
1325 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037 · Daily 9am-5pm (weather permitting)
World's oldest active sailing ship
1492 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101 · Daily 10am-5pm, last entry 4pm
100+ hands-on exhibits + IMAX dome, free first Tuesdays
1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 · Daily 10am-5pm
Four stories of dinos + live reptiles
1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 · Daily 10am-5pm, Fri until 11pm
Climb into cockpits, Wright Brothers to Space Age
2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 · Daily 10am-4:30pm
Private rooms, no strangers — $30/person for 6+
3116 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109 · Mon-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sun 10am-10pm
Coached axe throwing, $30/hour — great date night
9340 Dowdy Dr, Ste 105, San Diego, CA 92126 · Thu-Sun, check schedule for session times
Real Scripps science + Pacific views, $3 with EBT
2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 · Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-7pm
Ice skating in San Diego — $25 if you book online
4545 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92122 · Daily, session times vary — check schedule
Ferry ride + Victorian resort beach
1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118 · Beach open 24/7; hotel grounds accessible during business hours
Louis Kahn masterpiece, free courtyard
10010 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037 · Courtyard: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; tours by reservation