Looking for the best San Diego pickleball courts to play at? Here is what you need to know from a fellow pickler.
As my pickleball obsession grows, it follows me as I travel. When we recently visited San Diego, one of the cities we used to live in, I had to see what the pickleball scene was like here.
We checked out four courts, cross-referenced many forums and sites, and talked to the local players to find the best pickleball courts San Diego has to offer.
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Last Updated: March 6, 2024
7 Best Places to Play Pickleball in San Diego
California is The Ultimate Playground and one of the ways we play is pickleball. In addition to that, we love climbing, trying new experiences, and trying local food spots. Check out their new Play Style Quiz here. My play style is Creator and Jacob’s is a Director.
When it comes to local pickleball courts, everyone has a different pocket of players and preferred spot to play. Let us know if you have any recommendations or tips for visitors or those newly moved to San Diego!
San Diego Hotels with Pickleball Courts
1. Coronado Island Marriott Pickleball Courts
2000 2nd St, Coronado, CA 92118, map
Number of Courts: 10 Dedicated Courts
Hours: 8 AM – 6 PM
Fee: $8-26
Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Spa had our favorite pickleball courts of the four courts we checked out. The views and facilities were beautiful, and Esther loved that you could get food and drinks delivered to you on the court. It wouldn’t have taken me a year to convince her to play if all courts had that.
They book courts for 2-hour time slots starting on the even hour, and it’s available to guests and the public. They also have $8 open play on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 AM to 12 PM and Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 PM to 6 PM.
There are seating areas with overhangs, and you can also take lessons. I’ve read reviews that on windy days, some of the courts are in the middle of a wind tunnel, but haven’t experienced that ourselves.
Local Tip: Mondays are the most consistently busy if you want to jump in on open play. When arriving, you will park in the gated area and enter through the Wellness Center. Bring your ticket to validate it for two hours of free parking, or you can find free street parking.
See More: Most Popular Instagram Spots in San Diego
2. San Diego Mission Bay Resort
1775 E Mission Bay Dr., San Diego, CA 92109, map
Number of Courts: 8 Converted Courts
Hours: Mon – Fri 9 AM – 9 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM – 5 PM
Fee: $32 for 2 hrs up to four players (additional players are $8/person)
Mission Bay Resort had the busiest courts, managed by San Diego Pickleball. Guests can reserve courts for free. If you’re not staying here, you can book courts online for $32 for up to 2 hours, including up to four players. You can have three additional people on your court for $8 per person.
On Monday to Friday between 1-5 PM, open play is $8 per person collected at check-in. There is a court monitor on-site to ensure everyone gets to play, and they separate courts by skill level when there are enough players. They also have an intermediates open play every Tuesday and Wednesday night from 7-9 PM. Registration is required to join the intermediates.
In addition to all of that, you can book lessons, join leagues, and more. See all the details here.
Local Tip: Weekends are extremely busy. If you’re trying to play on a weekend, book a court ASAP.
See More: Torrey Pines Hike in La Jolla
3. Omni La Costa Carlsbad
2100 Costa Del Mar Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92009, map
Number of Courts: 10 Dedicated Courts
Hours: 8 AM – 6 PM
Fee: $25 for 1.5 hrs
The Omni La Costa is a stunning property to stay at. In addition to all the amenities on the property, they have pickleball courts for guests to rent. It is $25 for 1.5 hours, and they have Head paddles and balls if you don’t have your own.
Their private tennis and pickleball club holds an open play every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-5 PM. Guests are welcome to join in for open play. I stayed until about 2:15 on the Tuesday we stayed there, but no one had shown up yet. The staff at the tennis shop mentioned there are usually 10-15 members who regularly show up for open play.
If you play tennis, they have beautiful hard courts, clay courts, and a championship court pictured below.
Local Tip: The only way for the public to access these courts is through private lessons or coaching through the tennis shop.
See More: 15 Popular Day Trips from San Diego
Outdoor Pickleball Courts in San Diego
4. The Hub Pickleball San Diego
9545 Campo Rd, Spring Valley, CA 91977, map
Number of Courts: 25 Dedicated Courts
Hours: Mon – Fri 8 AM – 9:30 PM, Sat 8 AM – 8 PM, Sun 8 AM – 6 PM
Fee: $20 all-day pass
The Hub San Diego looks like a fun place to play. When I was scouring Reddit forums, people often suggested the Hub. They have 26 courts and a pro shop. You can drop in and play anytime for $20 and stay all day. If you’re interested in reserving a court, you must become a member. They also host multiple open plays, ladders, tournaments, and more. Check their events page for the most up-to-date info.
Local Tip: Their memberships give you unlimited open-play access and other benefits.
5. Barnes Tennis Center
4490 W Point Loma Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107, map
Number of Courts: 19 Dedicated Courts
Hours: 8 AM – 9 PM
Fee: $5-15
The Barnes Tennis Center is another popular pickleball spot. Not only do they have 19 dedicated courts, but they run a $5 per person open play every Monday to Friday from 9 AM – 12 PM, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1:30 -4 PM, and Saturday 12-3 PM, giving you a ton of options to drop in and play.
They also have ladder open play for $8 per person. Advanced games are on Tuesday from 7-9 PM and Thursday from 5-7 PM, while novice / intermediate games are on Tuesday from 5-7 PM and Thursday from 7-9 PM.
You can also rent courts for $15 per hour, which includes up to four players (additional players are $8 per person per hour).
Indoor Pickleball Courts in San Diego
You don’t often get rained out in San Diego; the weather is generally beautiful. But even on sunny days, if it’s windy, you may want to find indoor pickleball courts. These are the best options.
See More: Ultimate San Diego Bucket List
6. Carmel Valley Rec Center Pickleball
3777 Townsgate Dr, San Diego, CA 92130, map
Number of Courts: 6 Courts on Basketball Courts
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9-11:45 AM
Fee: Free
Check out the Carmel Valley Rec Center pickleball courts if you want a free indoor place to play. They have open play every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9 AM to 11:45 AM. I briefly stopped by to check out the games and chat with the locals.
I don’t love playing on basketball court floors, but it’s hard to beat free.
They typically play two on-two off unless more than eight paddles are lined up, then they’ll switch to four on-four off. One side was dedicated to intermediate players (3-3.5), while the other three courts had beginner players.
7. Balboa Park Activity Center
2145 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101, map
Number of Courts: 5 Courts
Hours: Tues / Thurs 11 AM – 2:30 PM, Wed 2-5 PM
Fee: Free
If you want to play pickleball in the most iconic park in San Diego, go to Balboa Park Activity Center. You can play multiple sports, including badminton, volleyball, table tennis, and pickleball. Pickleball Open Play runs from 11 AM to 2:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 2-5 PM on Wednesdays.
Local Tip: If they are holding events, they may be closed. They also regularly close during high school spring, winter, and summer breaks. events and closures here.
Comprehensive List of Pickleball Courts in San Diego
There are over 55 pickleball courts in San Diego. Use the map below to find the closest to you.
Public Courts
- Allied Gardens Recreation Center (3 Courts)
- Balboa Park Activities Center (5 Courts)
- Big Rock Park (8 Courts)
- Cajon Valley Middle School (2 Courts)
- Carmel Mountain and Sabre Springs (3 Courts)
- Carmel Valley Recreation Center (6 Courts)
- Clairemont High School (4 Courts)
- Colina Del Sol Rec Center (7 Courts)
- Collier Park (4 Courts)
- Coronado High School (8 Courts)
- Cottonwood Creek Park (8 Courts)
- Cypress Canyon Park (3 Courts)
- Grove Park (2 Courts)
- Highwood Park (4 Courts)
- Hourglass Field Community Park (3 Courts)
- La Mesita (8 Courts)
- Lakeside Community Center (2 Courts)
- Lindo Lake County Park (6 Courts)
- Mackenzie Creek Park (8 Courts)
- Meadowbrook Middle School (6 Courts)
- Millenia Park (1 Court)
- Nobel Recreation Center (5 Courts)
- Norman Park Senior Center (2 Courts)
- North Clairemont Rec Center (2 Courts)
- Ocean Air Rec Center (6 Courts)
- Ocean Beach Recreation Center (3 Courts)
- Pacific Beach Rec Center (3 Courts)
- PB Tennis Club (8 Courts)
- Pacific Highlands Ranch Rec Center (8 Courts)
- Poway Community Center (2 Courts)
- Rancho Bernardo-Glassman Rec Center (3 Courts)
- Scripps Ranch Rec Center (4 Courts)
- Standley Recreation Center (4 Courts)
Courts with Fees
- Barnes Tennis Center (19 Courts)
- Black Mountain Rec Center (3 Courts)
- Bobby Riggs Racket & Paddle (22 Courts)
- Bostonia Recreation Center (2 Courts)
- Coronado Cays Park (8 Courts)
- Coronado Island Marriott Resort (10 Courts)
- Del Cerro Tennis Club (8 Courts)
- Encinitas Community Center (4 Courts)
- The HUB Pickleball (25 Courts)
- King of Padel (6 Courts)
- Lowes Coronado Bay Resort (6 Courts)
- Mission Bay Resort (8 Courts)
- Pickleball Training Center (36 Courts)
- Salvation Army Red Shield El Cajon (3 Courts)
Private Courts / Membership Required
- Boogaard’s Pickleball Ranch (1 Court)
- Border View Family YMCA (2 Courts)
- Dan McKinney Family YMCA (2 Courts)
- Eastlake Greens Community Association (2 Courts)
- Eastlake Hills Pool (2 Courts)
- Fairmont Grand Del Mar (4 Courts)
- Hourglass Park Apts Court (3 Courts)
- Jackie Robison Family YMCA (2 Courts)
- Lawrence Family Jewish CC (4 Courts)
- Lomas Santa Fe CC (3 Courts)
- Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA (2 Courts)
- Mission Valley YMCA (3 Courts)
- OMNI La Costa (4 Courts)
- Rancho Family YMCA (2 Courts)
- The Salvation Army Ray CC (6 Courts)
- San Diego Yacht Club (3 Courts)
- Scripps Ranch Swim & Racquet Club (8 Courts)
- Toby Wells YMCA (2 Courts)
- University of San Diego (4 Courts)
Map of Pickleball Courts in San Diego
Best Pickleball Paddles, Gear, and Accessories
We reviewed the most popular paddles on the market (see our detailed rankings here). If you’re looking to get a discount on pickleball paddles or accessories, use the codes below:
- Bread and Butter: LocalAdventurer for 15% off
- Dink Net: LOCALADVENTURER for 10% off
- Hesacore Grips: LocalAdventurer
- PCKL Coupon Code: PBFRIENDS for 15% off [Shop PCKL on Amazon]
- Pickleball Apes [Shop on Amazon]
- ProXR
- Ronbus
- Selkirk Coupon Code: ADV-JACOBF to receive a gift card for future purchases [Shop for Selkirk on Amazon]
- Six Zero Coupon Code: LOCALADVENTURER10 for 10% off
- Top Spin Pro: DM on Instagram for a Coupon Code
- Vatic Coupon Code: LOCALADVENTURER for $10 off [Shop on Amazon]
See More: 15 Best Pickleball Paddles for 3.5 Players and Up
Where to Stay in San Diego
If you’re visiting San Diego to play Pickleball, then we’ve given you three great options for places to stay with Pickleball Courts: Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Spa, San Diego Mission Bay Resort, and Omni La Costa in Carlsbad.
If you want to check out other hotel options and deals in the area, see below.
Tips for Playing Pickleball in San Diego
- Pay-to-play courts are common in San Diego compared to pickleball courts in Las Vegas.
- Bring enough water. Check out our Best Travel Water Bottle post.
- Wear the Right Shoes. Ankle injuries are the most common injuries in pickleball. I wear NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor 11s, which work well for me. I ended up ordering two more pairs in different colors.
- Try Different Paddles: If I see one I’m interested in that a stranger has, I ask if I can check it out and hit a few balls with it. Most people don’t mind, and it never hurts to ask!
- Don’t Be Scared to Approach Strangers: Don’t be shy on the courts. If you see people that look similar in level, ask if you can join. You can also ask if you can play winners. I’ve made plenty of friends through pickup games, and we exchange contact info to play again in the future.
- Wear Sunscreen: We use this Block Brush to apply without getting our hands greasy.
- Bring Your Gear Easily: I use a Selkirk Bag for all my gear, and we have a Folding Wagon if we have a lot of stuff.
- Camping Chairs: We bring camping chairs since many courts don’t have much seating. We keep these DOD Sugoi Chairs in our car to pop them open between games.
Planning Checklist
- Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
- Download these helpful language apps.
- Find a great deal on San Diego hotels.
- Arrange a rental car for your trip.
- Book a tour for your visit.
- Get airport lounge access.
- Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
- Get a new backpack for your trip.
- Buy a San Diego travel guide.
- Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
- Don’t forget your in-flight essentials.
- Save money on attractions with Go City.
Have you played pickleball in San Diego? Where are your favorite spots to play?
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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
Follow on Instagram (E + J), YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest.
The post Best San Diego Pickleball Courts By an Actual Pickler appeared first on Local Adventurer » Travel Adventures in Las Vegas + World Wide.
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