Coronado Island, despite its name, is not an island. It is actually a thin strip of land that connects it to the mainland and it is precisely this peninsula that creates the San Diego Bay. It is no coincidence that the first settlement of the Conquistadors on the Pacific Coast of the present-day United States was founded here. Coronado offers natural protection for boats making this bay perfect for a port. In this article, we will see why it is worth a trip to Coronado from San Diego during a stay in the city.
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How to Get to Coronado
Getting to Coronado is very easy, both by car and public transportation. If you are driving a car (or rental car), there are two alternatives. Coming from downtown San Diego, the most direct way to Coronado is to take the Coronado Bridge, which leads directly into the town of Coronado and to all the attractions of the peninsula.
The second option is to travel along the long strip of land that makes “Coronado Island” not an island, but a peninsula. In this case, if you are coming from San Diego, you will have to drive around the bay down to Imperial Beach and then go up along the Silver Strand State Beach. My advice is to take the bridge on the way to Coronado and drive back on the peninsula, or vice versa, because in both cases there are incredible views of the water.
If you use public transportation, there are two options:
- Ferry: the fastest way to get to Coronado is by ferry, and there are two to choose from. The first leaves from Fifth Avenue Landing, at South Embarcadero. It takes 5 minutes and costs $4.25. The second leaves from Broadway Pier, also $4.25, and takes 15 minutes.
PLEASE NOTE: The pier where the ferry docks in Coronado is just a short walk from Centennial Park, but it is on the exact opposite coast from the beach and Hotel Del Coronado, which is about a 20-30 minute walk away along Orange Avenue. If you want to avoid walking and head directly to the beach, take Bus 904 from the pier and get off at Orange Ave & Park Pl or take Bus 901 from 3rd St & Orange Ave (5-minute walk from the pier), which makes the same stops as Bus 904. - Bus: Downtown San Diego is connected to Coronado by Bus 901, which makes numerous stops in the city and runs through Coronado, along the beach, and all the way to Silver Strand State Beach. The station in downtown San Diego where the bus leaves from is Front St & B St (among the main stops is 12th & Imperial Transit Center, one of the main trolley hubs).
While you are in Coronado, if you want to get off near viewpoints on the San Diego skyline, get off at 3rd St & Orange Ave. Meanwhile, you need to go to the Orange Ave & 7th St stop to be halfway down Orange Avenue and close to its main attractions. Otherwise continue to Orange Ave & Park Pl towards Baum’s house, the beach, and Hotel Del Coronado.
PLEASE NOTE: Bus 901 also travels in reverse. However, in this direction, the makes one less stop and the station is at Broadway & 1st Ave at the northern edge of the Gaslamp Quarter.
Things to Do on Coronado Island
Coronado is one of the most interesting coastal resorts near San Diego. The beach is not the only reason that makes it worth coming to Coronado. The viewpoints, historic buildings, and cool places might tempt you to pop across the bay during your stay in San Diego.
Keep in mind that not all of Coronado is accessible! About half of Coronado is a military zone. In fact, the entire western end of the peninsula where the naval base and the military airport are located is off-limits.
Coronado Bridge
From every point in the center of San Diego, the most visible and easily distinguishable infrastructure is the Coronado Bridge. The large bridge that connects the capital to the village on the peninsula is one of America’s engineering masterpieces. It may not be as famous as San Francisco’s Golden Gate, but it can still be worth it to take some pictures.
This huge five-lane bridge, over 2 miles long, was opened to traffic in 1969, but its design and subsequent construction were neither short nor trivial. Crossing the bay, the bridge was not only meant to be long enough but also be wide and tall enough for any ship to pass through, including aircraft carriers.
From both San Diego and Coronado the bridge is an ideal location to take panoramic photos, especially in the evening when you can see a row of lights reflected on the water below. One of the best places to take photos is the Bikeshore Bikeway, a waterfront promenade on the northeastern side of Coronado, between the bridge and the pier.
Unfortunately, the Coronado Bridge is often remembered for reasons that are anything but romantic. It is in fact associated with suicides. In the United States, this bridge is second only to the Golden Gate for the number of people who threw themselves into the water. There have been over 400 suicides in the last 50 years.
Hotel Del Coronado
The most iconic building on the peninsula is the Hotel del Coronado, also known more simply as The Del or Hotel Del. Established in 1888, this Victorian wooden beach resort on the water is well distinguished by its red roofs and its unique architecture in the city and now rare in the United States.
At the time of its inauguration, Hotel Del Coronado ranked as the largest resort in the world, as well as being at the forefront of many collateral services offered to its guests, such as the Olympic saltwater swimming pool. Today it is certainly not the largest hotel in the world, neither in terms of size nor number of rooms, but it has nevertheless grown in size since the time it was built in the nineteenth century. Over time other wings and a series of lodges and cottages have been built alongside the main building. The hotel is currently managed by Hilton.
Many famous people have stayed here, including Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, 16 of the presidents of the United States, and even Thomas Edison. The hotel has also served as the setting for several films (the first was The Flying Fleet in 1929) and television series such as Baywatch and Ghost Story. The silhouette of the building is also recognizable on a stamp issued in honor of director Billy Wilder, with Marilyn Monroe who was the protagonist of Some Like It Hot.
If you go to Coronado, you have to at least take a look at its most famous building and maybe even stop here to eat something. That way you can say you’ve been to The Del. One alternative is to take part in one of the Legendary Tours (every day at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm) to learn about the history of the hotel and its most famous guests, including the ghost of Kate Morgan.
Book a room at Hotel Del Coronado
Coronado Beach
Coronado Beach, almost 1.5 miles long, is recognized as one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States (even first in some rankings). In fact, we can confirm that the beaches of San Diego are among the best in the US and that Coronado Beach is deserving of this honor. If you are not sure whether or not you have arrived at Coronado Beach, just read the sand! Even the view from a satellite shows the words “Coronado Beach” have been written in big letters on the beach.
It is pleasant to take a walk here at any time of the year and during the hot months it fills up. It is a great place for families with children, as well as for surfers who want to ride the ocean waves. Sunsets on Coronado Beach are romantic. The red sun on the sea and the palm trees in the wind make it a very romantic place. The beach also has showers that are located near the lifeguards’ stations. At the northern end, there is a section of the beach open to dogs. Meanwhile, the southern end in front of the Hotel Del Coronado is reserved for hotel guests.
Reaching Coronado Beach is easy. Just follow Ocean Blvd and park (free of charge!) wherever it is most convenient.
Orange Avenue
The main street of Coronado, which crosses it from coast to coast (from the bay to the ocean) is Orange Avenue. There are many reasons why you should consider taking a walk on Orange Avenue. Compared to the surrounding streets, which are mostly residential, here there are many shops and restaurants, making it a more interesting place to stroll. Between the two lanes, there is a long green strip, while more or less halfway, you will find Spreckels Park, a small public park with a nice pagoda in the middle.
The only building in Coronado that is interesting for the sake of its architecture besides the Hotel Del Coronado is the Village Theater, which overlooks Orange Avenue. It closed as a regular cinema in 2000 after 63 years of activity, but this historic Art-Deco style cinema reopened to the public in 2011 and shows mainly independent films.
Viewpoints of the San Diego skyline
One of the reasons why it’s worth coming from San Diego to Coronado is to turn towards the city just left to admire its skyline. While in many neighborhoods like the Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, and the historic Old Town you can find the roots of California, from here in Coronado, San Diego looks much more futuristic. The skyscrapers rise up from the coast and reflect the sun with their stained glass windows, looking like the avant-garde city that has become over the years.
There are two best vantage points:
- Centennial Park. The public park at the end of Orange Avenue is the most popular for admiring and photographing the San Diego skyline. A terrace overlooking the bay offers a beautiful wide view. Getting there by car is easy, because, as I mentioned earlier, all you need to do is just follow Orange Avenue to its end. In case you arrive at Coronado by ferry, However, the park is only a few minutes away on foot from the ferry pier. Centennial Park, the ferry dock, and the Coronado Bridge are also connected by the Bayshore Bikeway, a nice bike path where you can also take a pleasant walk and get a full view of San Diego Bay.
- Bayview Park. Although it is not as big or as famous as Centennial Park, this small, intimate green area is more pleasant, especially on hot summer days. There are benches in the shade where you can gaze out over the bay and the city while sitting comfortably and enjoying the cool air. Did you bring a sandwich for lunch during your day in Coronado? If so, find a nice spot to sit and eat it here, you won’t regret it! It’s along 1st St, where 1st Avenue starts.
On the trail of the Wizard of Oz
Who hasn’t heard of Dorothy, who in her red slippers followed the yellow brick road in search of the great and powerful Wizard of Oz? Everyone, even if they haven’t read Baum’s novel, has heard of Dorothy at least once. But since the protagonist sets off on her fantastic journey from a remote location in the cornfields of Kansas, what does it have to do with Coronado?
Few people know that the author spent a long time in Coronado Island to write his masterpiece. The house he rented at that time still exists and is located in Star Park Circle near the beach. It can’t be visited because it’s a private residence, but you can find out more about the time Baum spent in Coronado at the public library (640 Orange Avenue), where there are stained glass display panels. The Coronado Museum of History and Art (1100 Orange Avenue) has three copies of the first edition of the novel.
One fun fact that connects the story of Oz to Coronado is that it seems that the Hotel del Coronado was Baum’s inspiration for Emerald City. In fact, the illustrations of the first edition resemble the hotel, although many people claim that the author was heavily influenced by the drawings of the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 that also represent cities with the same architectural style.
Silver Strand State Beach
As I have mentioned, Coronado Island is not really an island. And right along the thin strip of land that makes it a peninsula, you will find Silver Strand State Beach, one of California’s most beautiful beaches. As we have described in more detail in this article, it stands out from other beaches on the California coast. If you spend a few days visiting San Diego and its surroundings, I highly recommend this beach.
Map of the Points of Interest
Guided Tours
If you are looking for an organized tour to visit Coronado that departs from San Diego, I suggest you a couple of different options, both with a slightly unconventional means of transportation:
Electric scooter tour of Coronado
Where to Stay in Coronado
The most popular hotel in Coronado is undoubtedly the iconic Hotel del Coronado. However, this is not the only option. In fact, there are several hotels with different price ranges and different features. Since it is a very residential area, there are many private houses for rent. In our guide about where to stay in San Diego, there are a variety of options and several tips for your stay in Coronado and in the other parts of the city.
