Top Places to Run in San Diego

San Diego is home to one of the largest running communities in the world. It offers any daily runner the opportunity to exercise in beautiful beach settings, awe-inspiring nature, and wonderful communities that are rich in culture. Yes, locals may be spoiled with endless locations, but some places stand out above the rest. These unique places offer immaculate scenery and an unforgettable experience. Here are the top five running spots in San Diego that’ll make you ditch that sweaty treadmill at the gym and get running outside. 

San Diego Bay

The city is on one side, the horizon on the other. The San Diego Bay is truly hard to resist. The city is well within walking distance for the San Diegan city dweller, and if one should need help finding it, just look for the big ships on the harbor. Enjoy a run alongside the harbor, past the USS Midway and towards the Convention Center steps. Don’t forget about the beautiful parks along the harbor or the shops nearby. Great times to run are in the morning before work or at night just before the sun sets. The 100 steps of the convention center are perfect for finishing a nice run with some challenging interval workouts. Of course, if it gets too tiring, Seaport Village is located nearby where you can find a nice bite to eat or even grab an ice cream cone.

La Jolla Coast

Enjoy a run on the outskirts of the Village of La Jolla, along the cove, or towards the La Jolla Shores. Don’t miss out on the sea lions that are a few feet away, and stop by the beach. With warm sand, it’s perfect for a barefoot run (and maybe a post-workout ocean swim). Great running times are early mornings, throughout the day, and until sunset. The challenge—at first glance—may be the various up-hill trails, but you might find it more challenging to resist the eateries and shops after a long run. With such wildlife and beautiful shores, La Jolla is truly the Jewel of San Diego and an ideal place to run.

Sunset Cliffs

From Adair Street to Ladera Street. Sunset Cliffs is not only the place for a destination wedding, but it’s ideal for the perfect sunset run. The beautiful scenery is breathtaking and begs for that high resolution sunset picture. Take in the beauty after a long run, or get your feet wet on the sandy shores. What’s the best time to run? You guessed it! Running at sunset is the only way to do this route any justice. Sunset Cliffs is the place for the more peaceful runner looking to experience the unique views of San Diego.

Mission Bay

Between the city and North County lies Mission Bay. For many, it’s home to aquatic sports, picnics, and the famous Sea World. For the runner, Mission Bay is a twelve mile loop with a beautiful finish. The Mission Bay Loop can be run all at once or one mile at a time. Smaller routes within the loop are located on all sides of the bay. People can enjoy running to Pacific Beach and Mission Beach on the West Side, or they can run along the beautiful parks and Sea World on the East Side.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park holds 65 miles of running trails and the culture of San Diego in its hands. Any runner can enjoy the beautiful venues displaying art and history without having to pay a single dollar. Along the outskirts of the park, San Diegans can enjoy trail running through the treeline, or alongside museums. The park offers 19 different trails for all levels of runners and signage to help runners navigate each trail. There are hundreds of things to do in Balboa Park, and running has become an extremely popular choice. 

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