Overview
North San Diego is the northern region of San Diego, consisting mostly of hilly terrain and suburbs. For the purposes of this travel guide, "North San Diego" contains just about everything north of Mission Valley and east of I-5.
North San Diego contains the communities of:
- Carmel Mountain Ranch, a northeastern suburban neighborhood with some natural areas. West of Poway, south of Rancho Bernardo, north of Sabre Springs.
- Clairemont, a large suburban area east of Pacific Beach, west of Kearny Mesa, and south of SR-52.
- Kearny Mesa, a mainly commercial district known for its concentration of Asian businesses.
- Miramar, home to the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.
- Mira Mesa, a heavily Asian suburb just north of Miramar.
- Rancho Bernardo, a master-planned community in the northern part of the region, near Escondido.
- Rancho Penasquitos, a large suburban community west of Poway.
- Rancho Santa Fe, a bedroom community in the hills north of SR-56.
- San Pasqual Valley, the northernmost part of the city and the site of the bloodiest battle of the Mexican-American War. Home to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park as well as a number of vineyards.
- Sabre Springs, an upscale, northeastern neighborhood, with Poway to the east, I-15 to the west, and Scripps Ranch to the south.
- Scripps Ranch, a northeastern neighborhood, east of I-15 and south of Poway.
- Sorrento Valley, a commercial neighborhood popular with high-tech companies. Near the I-5/I-805 intersection.
- Tierrasanta, a neighborhood immediately north of Mission Valley, north of interstate 8, east of interstate 15
- University City (UTC), a neighborhood just east of the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla and closely associated with it. Contains numerous shopping centers and apartment complexes.
Communities closely associated with North San Diego but outside the city limits include:
- 4S Ranch, an unincorporated area west of Rancho Bernardo.
- Poway, a city located east of I-15 and north of Scripps Ranch.
3 sights · 6 things to do · 4 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about North
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sister park to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, the Safari Park is a massive (1,800 acres) zoo with large, naturalistic free-range enclosures containing animals from all over the world. Highlights include the huge Afric…
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
On December 6, 1846, one of the bloodiest battles of the Mexican-American war took place here. The visitor center on-site has displays on the history of the site.
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
A large park stretching several miles between the I-5/I-805 intersection and I-15, just south and roughly parallel to SR-56. There is very beautiful scenery which can be explored via the system of hiking, biking and eque…
Mission Trails Regional Park
This massive park along the San Diego River between San Diego and Santee is a hidden jewel among the city's park system. Consisting mostly of rugged, hilly scrubland, Mission Trails offers an excellent diversion from the…
Bernardo Winery
A winery that dates back to 1889 on what was a Spanish land grant.
Marian Bear Memorial Park
It's in the San Clemente Canyon along SR-52 from I-5 to I-805. This large park contains some very scenic trails.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 77°F; winter lows dip to about 50°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby San Diego)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SAN San Diego International Airport, San Diego — 6 mi away (major hub). Directions
- CLD McClellan-Palomar Airport, Carlsbad — 23 mi away. Directions
Interstate 5 and Interstate 15 are the main north-south interstates through the area, with I-5 marking the western boundary of the area and I-15 running through the central and eastern parts of the area. Additionally, SR-163 and I-805 connect the area to the south, with SR-163 continuing through Mission Valley to Downtown and I-805 heading through Mission Valley and the Mid-City area down to I-5 near the US-Mexico border. SR-52 is a main east-west highway, running from near La Jolla past Clairemont and Kearny Mesa out to Santee. Further north, SR-56 runs between I-5 near Del Mar and I-15 near Poway.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, San Diego Ice Arena, Vertical Hold
- Lunch 99 Ranch Market
- Afternoon Marian Bear Memorial Park, Tecolote Canyon Natural Park
- Dinner Karl Strauss Brewery Gardens
- Evening The WineSellar & Brasserie
Day 2
- Morning San Diego Zoo Safari Park, San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
- Lunch HIVE
- Afternoon Bernardo Winery
- Dinner K Sandwiches
- Evening O'Brien's
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
A surprise find is Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa, home to dozens of excellent Asian restaurants that cater primarily to the lunch crowd from the surrounding commercial areas. Having a job in the Kearny Mesa area can be a joy just for the ability to eat oneself from one end of Convoy to the other, and not hit the same spot twice in a month.
The boba scene in San Diego is thriving, especially up in the Convoy, Kearny Mesa, and Mira Mesa areas, where popular Asian restaurants thrive.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Interstate 5 and Interstate 15 are the main north-south interstates through the area, with I-5 marking the western boundary of the area and I-15 running through the central and eastern parts of the area. Additionally, SR-163 and I-805 connect the area to the south, with SR-163 continuing through Mission Valley to Downtown and I-805 heading through Mission Valley and the Mid-City area down to I-5 near the US-Mexico border. SR-52 is a main east-west highway, running from near La Jolla past Clairemont and Kearny Mesa out to Santee. Further north, SR-56 runs between I-5 near Del Mar and I-15 near Poway.
By bus
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) runs buses throughout San Diego, with the premier service for this area being Rapid 235 serving destinations along I-15. Outside of that, bus service in these parts can be infrequent. As of February 2020, a one-way bus ticket is $2.50; you can use a PRONTO card/digital fare to reach a day pass of $6.
The North County Transit District (NCTD) operates bus routes through northern San Diego County and a couple of those routes serve parts of North San Diego. One such route is Flex Route 371, linking the San Pasqual Valley and the Safari Park to Escondido's transit center, where you can transfer to the Sprinter rail service to Oceanside or MTS Rapid bus service to Downtown San Diego. Be warned, Flex service is infrequent.
By train
Sorrento Valley is a stop on the Coaster, a regional rail line that runs along the coast between Downtown San Diego and Oceanside. From there, a number of NCTD shuttle routes connect the station to the immediate area, peak commuting hours only.
By plane
The primary commercial airport of San Diego is San Diego International Airport which is in Point Loma-Ocean Beach.
See
See San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly the San Diego Wild Animal Park)
Sister park to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, the Safari Park is a massive (1,800 acres) zoo with large, naturalistic free-range enclosures containing animals from all over the world. Highlights include the huge Africa area, the California Condor exhibit, and a tram ride which takes you past some of the large free-range areas (extra admission required).
Do
Do Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
A large park stretching several miles between the I-5/I-805 intersection and I-15, just south and roughly parallel to SR-56. There is very beautiful scenery which can be explored via the system of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. The park also contains a few historical landmarks, including the Rancho de los Penasquitos, one of the oldest surviving homes in the region, dating back to 1823. Tours of the house are available every Saturday at 11AM.
Do Mission Trails Regional Park
This massive park along the San Diego River between San Diego and Santee is a hidden jewel among the city's park system. Consisting mostly of rugged, hilly scrubland, Mission Trails offers an excellent diversion from the hustle and bustle of the city. Numerous trails criss cross through the park, and there's an excellent visitor center with exhibits on the flora, fauna, and the human history in the area. You can also see the Old Mission Dam, which once provided water to the original mission community of San Diego just to the west in Mission Valley. Cowles Mountain, the tallest point in the city (1,591 feet above sea level), offers a lovely view of the surrounding area clear out to the ocean and is popular with runners and hikers, with several challenging trails ranging from three to five miles (round trip) featuring steep climbs, wooden steps, and rock crossings. Mission Gorge is one of the most popular rock climbing spots in the area, with over 150 routes from 5.0 to 5.12 grades, and suitable for the novice and the experienced climber. In the summers the gorge can be extremely hot in the direct sun, but the crag stays cool and shaded in the until around noon or 1PM. The rest of the year you can climb all day. Also within the park is Lake Murray Reservoir, which is open to boating and fishing.
Eat
Eat 99 Ranch Market
A mostly California chain of Asian supermarkets. Here you can come face to face with your dinner - live! The entire back wall of this full-size supermarket is the fish department - and many of them are still swimming. This is such a special and unique market that a local cooking school offers group tours.
Eat Karl Strauss Brewery Gardens
Hidden behind the trees in the San Diego Tech Center, Karl Strauss Brewery Gardens feels more like a high-end sushi place than a brewery/restaurant complete with a koi pond. Lots of outdoor seating. Gets very crowded during the week for lunch & dinner. They serve their own beers on tap and have an extensive menu.
Eat HIVE
Korean food and a great place for karaoke.
Eat K Sandwiches
A local favorite, with incredibly good, cheap, and authentic banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches).
A surprise find is Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa, home to dozens of excellent Asian restaurants that cater primarily to the lunch crowd from the surrounding commercial areas. Having a job in the Kearny Mesa area can be a joy just for the ability to eat oneself from one end of Convoy to the other, and not hit the same spot twice in a month.
Boba
The boba scene in San Diego is thriving, especially up in the Convoy, Kearny Mesa, and Mira Mesa areas, where popular Asian restaurants thrive.
Vegan/Vegetarian
San Diego is blessed with excellent vegan/vegetarian restaurants.
- Sipz - Locations in Clairemont/Kearny Mesa and North Park. Vegetarian, with lots of vegan dishes available. They serve mostly Asian cuisine with mock meats and tofu options, and during the evenings, they have vegan sushi. They also serve boba drinks - make sure to choose a plant-based milk option if you are vegan.
- Veggie Grill - Vegan. Californian food, including burgers, sandwiches, pastas, salads, and fusion-style bowls.
Drink
Drink O'Brien's
This place has a great low-key friendly atmosphere. There is outdoor seating and a wonderful selection of Belgian local microbrews, with an extra emphasis on hoppy brews. They have a surprisingly good bar food as well.
Sleep
Nearby
La Mesa
City / town · 10 listings · 8 mi away
Coronado
City / town · 30 listings · 9 mi away
National City
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El Cajon
City / town · 17 listings · 11 mi away
Del Mar
City / town · 13 listings · 11 mi away
Poway
City / town · 4 listings · 12 mi away
Solana Beach
City / town · 13 listings · 14 mi away
Chula Vista
City / town · 43 listings · 14 mi away
My experience
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