Old Town San Diego Guide: Parking, Museums & Trolley

Old Town San Diego is where the city began. Adobe homes, a shady plaza, small museums and a row of Mexican restaurants sit a few blocks from each other, just north of the airport. Many visitors make it their first stop after landing. Others come back for dinner on their last night. This guide covers the state historic park, museum hours, things to do, parking, the trolley station and the easiest way to get there and back.

Quick answer: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is at San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street, next to the Old Town Transit Center. The visitor center and most museums are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park’s official page lists no admission fee and offers free lots with a 4-hour limit, but those lots fill up on weekends. Old Town is about 3 miles from San Diego International Airport, often around 10 minutes by car. A private SUV can drop you near San Diego Avenue and pick you up again after dinner.

Book Your Ride

Old Town San Diego at a glance

Here are the basics in one place. Details were checked on the California State Parks and MTS websites in October 2026.

Topic	What to know
Location	San Diego Avenue at Twiggs Street, San Diego, CA 92110
Visitor center	Robinson Rose Visitor Information Center, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Museums	10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; some open daily, some only on weekends
Closed	Museums close on Thanksgiving and Christmas
Admission	No fee listed on the park’s official page
Parking	Free park lots, up to 4 hours; they fill fast on weekends
Transit	Old Town Transit Center: Trolley Blue and Green Lines, COASTER, Amtrak and MTS buses
From the airport	About 3 miles; often around 10 minutes by car outside rush hour

Why Old Town is a good first stop after landing

Old Town is one of the closest visitor areas to San Diego International Airport (SAN). The drive is short, the streets are flat and easy to walk, and you can eat well without a reservation on most weekdays.

Close to the airport: about 3 miles from the terminals. That makes it an easy stop for lunch before you check in at your hotel.
Bags stay in the car: on an hourly booking, your luggage stays locked in the SUV while you walk the plaza and eat.
A gentle start: after a long flight, an hour or two of history and tacos is easier than a full theme-park day.
Good last stop too: on your way back to the airport, Old Town is almost on the route.

If you are still planning the arrival itself, our San Diego Airport (SAN) guide explains terminals, curbside pickup and ground transport options.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

The state historic park is the heart of Old Town. It preserves buildings from San Diego’s Mexican and early American years, around a large open plaza. Some original adobe buildings now hold museums, shops and restaurants. You can walk the whole park in about an hour, or spend half a day if you go into every museum.

Museum hours

California State Parks lists these hours. The park notes that museums open depending on staffing, so call the museum line (619-668-5422) between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. if one building matters to you.

Building	Days	Hours
Robinson Rose Visitor Information Center	Every day	10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Machado Silvas Adobe and Machado Stewart Adobe	Every day	10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
San Diego Union Building	Every day	10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Iipay ~ Tipay Kumeyaay Mut Niihepok (Land of the First People)	Every day	10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
La Casa de Estudillo and Seeley Stable Museum	Saturday and Sunday	10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Blackhawk Livery Stable Blacksmith Shop	Thursday to Saturday	10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission and tours

The park’s official page lists no entrance fee, and you can walk the plaza and streets freely. Guided tours start from the Robinson Rose Visitor Information Center. Ask there for the day’s tour times, or check the park’s events calendar before you go.

Accessibility

The park publishes accessibility details and an accessible parking map on its official page.

Things to do in Old Town

Old Town works best as a slow walk. Here is a simple plan for a two- to three-hour visit.

Start at the visitor center. Pick up a map and ask about tours.
Walk the plaza. The open lawn is the center of the park, with shade trees and benches.
Visit two or three museums. On a weekend, La Casa de Estudillo is the one most people remember. On weekdays, the adobes and the San Diego Union Building are open.
Watch the blacksmith. The Blackhawk Livery Stable shop opens Thursday to Saturday.
Browse the shops. Small stores sell crafts, pottery, candy and souvenirs along San Diego Avenue.
Finish with a meal. Old Town is known for its Mexican restaurants, with patios that stay busy into the evening.

If you have more time, Presidio Park sits on the hill just above Old Town, and Balboa Park is a short drive east. Our Balboa Park guide covers its museums and gardens.

Mexican food in Old Town

For many visitors, dinner is the main reason to come. Restaurants line San Diego Avenue and the streets around the plaza, from casual taco counters to large sit-down places with music and patios.

Weeknights: most places seat walk-ins without a long wait.
Friday and Saturday nights: expect waits at the popular spots. Book a table if the restaurant takes reservations.
Groups: large tables fill first, so call ahead for six or more.
Evening plan: walk the park in late afternoon while the museums are open, then sit down to eat around sunset.

Since you are not driving, you can enjoy a margarita with dinner and let your chauffeur handle the drive back to the hotel.

Old Town parking

Parking is the hardest part of an Old Town visit, especially on weekends and during events.

State park lots: the park lists free lots with a limit of up to 4 hours. EV chargers are in Lot B. These lots are close to the plaza and fill early on busy days.
Caltrans lot: for its Día de los Muertos event, the park points visitors to free parking at the Caltrans headquarters, 2994 Sunset Street, about two blocks away. Availability on other days can vary.
Transit center lot: MTS has a park-and-ride lot at the Old Town Transit Center. It is meant for transit riders, and overnight parking is not allowed there.
Time limits: a long lunch plus museums can push past 4 hours, so watch the clock in the park lots.

With a private SUV, none of this applies. Your chauffeur drops you near San Diego Avenue, Juan Street or Taylor Street, then meets you at the same corner when you are ready.

Old Town Trolley station and transit

The Old Town Transit Center at 4009 Taylor Street is one of the busiest stations in the county. It sits right next to the state park.

Service	What it does at Old Town
Trolley Blue Line	North to UTC and La Jolla; south through downtown to San Ysidro
Trolley Green Line	East through Mission Valley toward El Cajon; south to downtown
COASTER	Commuter train north along the coast through North County
Amtrak	Intercity trains stop on the way to and from downtown
San Diego Flyer	Free airport shuttle between SAN Terminals 1 and 2 and the transit center

A one-way adult Trolley fare is $3.00. The free San Diego Flyer is a handy link if you travel light: it stops at the airport’s transportation islands and runs to the transit center, where you can walk into Old Town. With several suitcases, children or a group, the shuttle-and-walk route gets tiring fast. A car from the terminal curb is simpler.

Día de los Muertos in Old Town (2026)

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park hosts a free, family-friendly Día de los Muertos celebration each fall. For 2026, California State Parks lists these dates and hours:

Saturday, October 31: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, November 1: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, November 2: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Expect altars (ofrendas), folkloric dancers, parades, face painting, sugar skulls and thousands of marigolds, plus art exhibitions this year. Crowds are large and parking is tight, so a drop-off saves a lot of circling. Ask your chauffeur to meet you a few blocks from the plaza, where traffic is lighter.

Getting to Old Town by private SUV

Trip Limo Service drives black SUVs only: Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon XL and Chevrolet Suburban. Each one carries up to 6 passengers and 5 large bags.

From the airport

Curbside pickup (standard): your chauffeur meets you at the curb outside arrivals.
Meet & Greet (+$30): your chauffeur waits inside at baggage claim with a name sign.
Flight tracking: we follow your flight and wait up to 1 hour after landing at no extra charge.

See our airport car service page for more on SAN pickups.

Hourly booking for Old Town

An hourly booking keeps the SUV and chauffeur with you. Hourly bookings have a 3-hour minimum. A common plan:

Pickup at the airport curb.
Drop-off in Old Town for a walk and lunch, with bags locked in the car.
Pickup at the same corner, then on to your hotel.

The same works for an evening: hotel pickup, dinner in Old Town and a ride home. Book it on our hourly booking page, or read more about our chauffeur service.

Price and policies

Fixed price per vehicle, shown before you book. It covers the vehicle, chauffeur, fuel and tolls.
Gratuity is not included. Tipping is optional.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
Child seats are $20 each, up to 2 per vehicle.

Old Town San Diego FAQ

Is Old Town San Diego free to visit?

Walking the plaza and streets costs nothing, and the park’s official page lists no entrance fee. Shops, food and private attractions nearby charge as usual.

What are the Old Town State Historic Park hours?

The visitor center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most museums keep the same hours, but some open only on certain days. Museums close on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

How far is Old Town from San Diego airport?

About 3 miles. By car it is often around 10 minutes outside rush hour.

Is parking free in Old Town?

The state park lists free lots with a limit of up to 4 hours. They fill quickly on weekends and during events, so plan extra time or use a drop-off.

Which trolley lines stop at Old Town?

The Blue Line and the Green Line both stop at the Old Town Transit Center. COASTER and Amtrak trains stop there too.

Can I take a free shuttle from the airport to Old Town?

Yes. The San Diego Flyer is a free airport shuttle between Terminals 1 and 2 and the Old Town Transit Center. Check san.org for current times.

How long should I spend in Old Town?

Two to three hours covers the plaza, a few museums and a meal. Add more time on weekends, when extra museums are open.

When is Día de los Muertos in Old Town in 2026?

October 31 to November 2, 2026, at the state historic park. It is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday.

Book your Old Town ride

Land at SAN, stop in Old Town for lunch, and reach your hotel without dealing with parking. Or plan a relaxed dinner and a ride home. Enter your pickup and drop-off on the booking page to see the fixed price for each vehicle before you pay.