2-Hour GoCar Tour of Downtown and Balboa Park

Set your own route through San Diego's signature sights

A 2-hour self-drive GoCar tour of San Diego takes you through Downtown, Balboa Park and the Embarcadero with GPS directions and audio commentary guiding you between stops. You drive the three-wheeled vehicle yourself at whatever pace suits you, stopping to explore the Maritime Museum, USS Midway, Seaport Village and the Gaslamp Quarter. A full tank of gas, helmet and map are included. The audio guide is in English.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Downtown and Balboa Park

• Start tour in historic Little Italy
• Visit Maritime Museum and Star of India
• Drive by USS Midway Museum
• Pass through Seaport Village shops and restaurants
• See Petco Park from outside
• Drive through Balboa Park attractions
• Drive by San Diego Zoo
• Explore Gaslamp Quarter social scene

The experience

You pick up your GoCar and get a quick orientation before heading out with GPS directions built into the vehicle and audio commentary playing as you drive. The route takes you through Little Italy first, then down to the waterfront where you'll pass the Maritime Museum, one of the world's top three, and the USS Midway, a decommissioned aircraft carrier now open as a museum with over 60 exhibits. The audio guide fills you in on what you're seeing without forcing you to stop and read a placard.

From the Embarcadero you head inland toward Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre park with Spanish Renaissance architecture, museums, gardens and the San Diego Zoo on its edge. You drive through at your own speed, choosing which museums or gardens to visit or how long to linger. The route also takes you past Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, and through the Gaslamp Quarter, where the audio guide explains how the neighborhood transformed from its red-light past into today's dining and entertainment hub.

The two hours is real driving time, not a countdown that includes getting lost or waiting in traffic. You control the stops and the pace: speed up if a stop doesn't interest you, or park and walk around if it does. The GoCar itself is small and nimble enough to navigate city streets and park roads without the bulk of a rental car, and the GPS keeps you on route without needing to check your phone.

What’s included

• Full tank of gas.
• GPS-guided GoCar rental with audio commentary in English.
• helmet.
• map.
• rider orientation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by GoCar Tours San Diego

Is this one for you?The two-hour window is tight if you want to linger in museums or parks, so this works best if you're comfortable keeping a steady pace and choosing one or two stops instead of trying to do everything. If you want to spend an afternoon inside the Maritime Museum or exploring Balboa Park in depth, a longer rental would give you more flexibility.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Maritime Museum of San Diego and why is it worth the stop?

The Maritime Museum of San Diego ranks among the world's top three maritime museums and sits on the waterfront near the USS Midway. Its centerpiece is the Star of India, a full-rigged ship built in 1863 that still sails today, alongside a variety of other exhibits that tell San Diego's naval and maritime history.

Can I get out and explore the museums and parks, or do I just drive past them?

You set the stops yourself. The tour includes GPS directions and audio commentary to guide you between major sights, but you choose whether to park and walk into a museum, spend time in Balboa Park, browse Seaport Village, or keep moving. The two hours is driving time, so how you split it between the road and the ground is up to you.

What's included in the rental, and what costs extra?

The GoCar rental includes a full tank of gas, helmet, map, GPS directions and audio commentary. An optional Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is available at check-in for approximately $19 if you want extra protection. Gratuities are optional.

Do I need a special license to drive a GoCar, or is a regular driver's license enough?

A valid driver's license is required, and you must be at least 21 years old to drive. You'll get a brief orientation before you head out, but no special GoCar license is needed.

How much of Balboa Park can I see in the time I have left?

Balboa Park spans 1,200 acres, so you won't cover all of it in a two-hour tour. The route takes you through the park so you can see the Spanish Renaissance architecture and spot the museums, gardens and the San Diego Zoo on its perimeter. You can stop to walk around a specific area or museum if something catches your interest, or keep driving to see more ground.

Is the San Diego Zoo included in this tour, or do I just drive past it?

The tour route passes by the San Diego Zoo, one of the world's most renowned zoos with over 12,000 rare and endangered animals. Zoo entry is not included in the GoCar rental. You would need to purchase a separate ticket if you want to go inside.