Spanish Landing Park East

I found this place to be nice if you are waiting for people at San Diego International Airport and don’t want to wait at the cell phone lot. This place has a great view of the San Diego Harbor and has a decent size play structure. However, the play structure does not have any swings. There are plenty of parking available and picnic tables. I do agree with the another Unilocal review that it does not have a lot of picnic table shade covering. Other than that, I wouldn’t mind coming back if I had to wait to pick up a person at the airport with my daughter in tow.

Beautiful place to take a toddler! Close to the ocean, lots of shade and a playground.

How come so many San Diego playgrounds don’t have shade cover? This is a beautiful location along the waters edge but can be hotter than a junebug on a frying pan.

We stopped here due to the close proximity to the airport (it’s our last day) and the site of a «beach», playground, and free parking. Great little beach with a playground, restrooms, and apparently food vendors? Parking was limited but we were able to find a spot at the other end and make the trek over here. Will visit again next time we are in SD.

Nice little park and beach area near the airport. I was a little surprised to see a small beach here. The park has a lot of trees, a play area, and restroom facility with ice cream and soda vending machine. Nice views of the marina. It is a good spot to bring a chair, sit under a tree, and read the Sunday paper. It does not have the views of other parks but you can watch boats leaving the marina and see airplanes take off.

Neat little park on the Harbor. Was in town recently for the SD triathlon, and the race started here. Lots of big trees, grass, really just beautiful. Only drawback is proximity to the airport (right next to it), but great for a picnic, walk or bike ride along the water.

A nice little park by the bay to take the kids. A little too close to the airport, but the kids still had a good time. There was a nice beach close for fishing or a picnic. Parking was tight and a walk to the park.

This is a great park, at the moment the Maritime Museum occupies the North end of this public park denying the public access to a park which we pay for. When they leave it will be much better and there will be a direct connection to Liberty Station.

Great views and my daughter loves the little play park as she can watch boats sail by

This is a great little park to watch a wedding ceremony along with a strong contingent of the San Diego homeless population, a few roller bladers and drunk, hooting and hollering housewives on passing yachts — none of whom are actually invited.
Parking ain’t half bad, ain’t half good either, and the view is of an endless sea of boats sitting idle at the marina. Not my first choice of where I’d like to tie the knot, but not a bad stop on a bike ride or to throw out a blanket for a little picnic.
It’s a park.

Cute little park with primarily a marina view directly across the street from the airport. If you’re looking for views, this is not your spot. You want to head one more block over to Harbor Island Park, where you can get those skyline views, or military stuff — if you’re into that sort of thing.
Otherwise this park is good for small gatherings and not so much bird watching, but if you enjoy stalking napping limo drivers, get in here.
I also wouldn’t consider this a very good park for running or biking because for one, it’s not even a mile long and even though there is a biking sidewalk, you will find the paths are easily blocked by groups and slow walkers. It’s just not as accessible as other area parks.
It is, however, decent for a nap.

Excellent urban park right across from the airport.
This is a great little area.
I launch my kayak here, ride my trikke. www,
Picnic here.
Fly a kite.
All good.
Lot of limo drivers take naps here in their cars.
Nice way to chill out in the city.
Also not super crowded like the beaches.

how the hell do i keep forgetting about this place.
it’s got a beautiful view.
it’s never too crowded.
and it’s nice and peaceful.
it’s like one of those booty calls you make.
when you’re about to hit a dry spell.
and bam.
you remember.
and be like.
how did i forget about you.
and you think.
i should probably wife this sh*t.

Pretty sparse but gnarly park past SAN and near the bridge.

Spanish Landing Park is just a chill place to relax, jog, ride a bike, have a cookout, or enjoy a nice view. There are paved and well maintained pathways for walking as well as several restrooms. A small beach is also located on the premises for swimming. I really enjoy walking my dog here or just hanging out and watching the boats cruising around the harbor.
Spanish Landing also offers fishing opportunities. I like to target the area just before the bay turns right leading to the bridge. I have caught a variety of species here including spotted bay bass, jack smelt, white sea bass, sand bass, leopard sharks, and bat rays. Try making long casts off the rock piles using medium to medium heavy fishing gear. I like to fish on the bottom using 1 or 2 hooks topped off with blood worms or squid.
Fishing for the larger sized jack smelt can be fantastic here during the winter months. During the tide changes at night, use a lighted float or a chem stick set about 12 inches deep or whatever depth that the fish prefer on that given night. Use a small hook tipped with a small piece of squid or shrimp. Cast out and let the current take the lighted float out. The fish will see the bait passing through the water and pull the float down when they take the bait. The action can be fast and furious when a school of fish arrives.
Be sure to have a fishing license present because CA. state law dictates one is needed when not fishing on a pier. Yes, I have been checked before by both Harbor Police and CA. Dept. of Fish and Game officers. The fine for getting busted without one is a steep $ 350…not worth it!
The park is a great place for a day of cheap entertainment. Unilocal recommended!

Gorgeous place to enjoy lunch and soak up some sun while taking in a different perspective of San Diego’s water front.
Spacious and never sketchy makes it family friendly with lots of grass and occasional picnic table.

I come here at least once a month to just sit down and read.
It’s very relaxing when there isn’t too much foot traffic

Has a nice view, and you can get right down to the water, BUT the facilities leave a lot to be desired. The toilets are all metal, and the stalls have no doors on them, meaning anybody can walk in and see you doing your business. (i’m assuming the mens restrooms are the same, but can only speak for the womens restrooms). There is also no soap in the bathrooms. Now, people go here to picnic, barbecue, have a social gathering, they need to be able to wash their hands after doing their business.
If it wasn’t for the facilities, i would be able to give this a much higher rating.

Whenever I’ve had to pick people up from the airport, my approach has been from the 5 freeway. Occasionally there’s been delays and I’ve found myself in need of some place to chill out for a bit. There aren’t many pretty places to wait out delays east of Lindbergh Field. Spanish Landing Park is a better place to do that. It’s located west of the airport hotels on Harbor Drive and southeast of NTC. The park is linear, has benches, plenty of grass, restrooms, a waterfront walkway and a nice marina view.

This is a wonderful park that runs right along side Harbor Drive across from the San Diego Airport. Though on the main thoroughfare, there still exists a feeling of peacefulness about the sight-​mainly due to being right alongside San Diego Bay and the multiple sailboats and yachts that pass by.
Spanish Landing also has a lot of history behind it-​this historic site commemorates the 1769 meeting of our Catholic Friar-​Father Junipero Serra with Gaspar de Portola’s expedition. Approximately at this location, two ships sent from La Paz, New Spain laid at anchor with 60 members of their combined crews of 159 persons sick from scurvy. The ships had been sent up the California coastline on the orders of Jose de Galvez– a direct representative of Spain’s King Carlos III.
Worried that certain Russian settlements in Alaska could lead to a challenge of the claim Spain had made to Alta California since Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s voyage in 1542, Galvez had dispatched 2 ships as components of a four-​pronged expedition. Their orders were to begin the colonization of a territory whose residents were Native Americans known in San Diego as the Kumeyaay. Thus was born the Spanish occupation of the California’s.
Spanish Landing stretches from the channel just south of the of the anti-​submarine training base in Point Loma to Lindbergh Field. Planes take-​off on a regular basis and it is enjoyable to watch them soaring up and over the nearby hills. Spanish Landing has a flat, paved pedestrian walk, a bay side bike route, picnic tables and benches. There are city-​maintained restrooms and plenty of free parking. There is a kiddie playground and a small beach that kids can splash around on.
I have been to several birthday celebrations and baby showers here.
It is a great spot to throw a party but can quickly turn breezy and chilly so I would at least advise bringing a jacket. Spanish Landing is a nice use of tidelands property for the benefit of all of San Diego.
It provides a scenic and peaceful respite along busy Harbor Drive and the San Diego Airport.