San Diego: 2-Hour GoCar Self-Drive Tour Downtown & Old Town

You're handed the keys to a tiny three-wheeled car and told to navigate San Diego yourself

You drive yourself through San Diego's main neighborhoods (Little Italy, Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town, and past the Zoo) following GPS turn-by-turn directions and tour commentary for two hours. The rental includes gas, helmet, and orientation. You just need a valid license and to be 21 or older. It's the fastest way to see the city's layout and history without being herded through it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Downtown and Historic San Diego

• Start tour in Little Italy
• Drive through Balboa Park
• Pass Gaslamp Quarter
• Visit Old Town San Diego
• Drive by San Diego Zoo
• Pass Historic Fort Stockton and Presidio Park
• Drive through Mission Hills

The experience

The moment you climb into a GoCar (this three-wheeled contraption that's part scooter, part go-kart). You realize you're not following someone else's pace. The GPS does the navigation, feeding you turn-by-turn directions and tour commentary as you drive, which means you're steering through Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Old Town San Diego on your own terms. It's a strange kind of freedom: you've got two hours, a tank of gas, and a route that hits all the places people usually need a guide to understand.

The tour starts in Little Italy, where the commentary fills you in on how the neighborhood shifted from an Italian enclave into the creative, restaurant-filled district it is now. Then you're driving through Balboa Park (1,200 acres of Spanish Renaissance architecture, museums, and gardens right in the middle of the city), which is the kind of place you'd normally spend half a day on foot. In a GoCar, you're moving through it, getting the scale of it, seeing how it all connects. After that comes the Gaslamp Quarter, which used to be the red-light district and is now the social heart of downtown, all Victorian buildings and bars and energy. The GPS tells you the history while you're actually looking at the buildings, which somehow makes it stick better than a walking tour would.

Old Town San Diego is where the route really slows down: Spanish colonial adobe, the old west layout, the sense that this is where San Diego actually started. You pass the San Diego Zoo on the way, home to over 12,000 rare and endangered animals, and then head into Presidio Park and Mission Hills, where you're driving past 50-year-old houses and the remnants of the Spanish Mission. By the end of two hours, you've covered ground that would take a full day on foot, and you've done it without waiting for anyone or stopping when you didn't want to.

One thing to know: the GoCar is small and open-air, so weather matters, and you need a valid driver's license and to be at least 21 to drive. If you're booking for more than two people, you'll need to order separate cars. The rental includes the GPS unit, a full tank of gas, a helmet, and an orientation before you go, so you're not figuring it out as you drive.

What’s included

• Your rental includes the GoCar vehicle, a full tank of gas, the GPS unit with turn-by-turn navigation and tour commentary, a helmet, and a rider orientation before you depart.
• An 8.75% environmental fee covers carbon offset, gasoline, and tire recycling.
• A valid driver's license is required, and you must be 21 or older to drive.
• An optional Collision Damage Waiver is available at check-in for approximately $19.

Options for this experience

4 options

2-Hour Downtown: GoCar7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00Downtown San Diego and Old Town: Discover San Diego's Old Town, Downtown, waterfront and historic sights on a fun, self-guided 2-hour tour in a GoCar. Ride a GPS-guided open-air vehicle, explore at your own pace and enjoy entertaining commentary. Instructions: Choose this option for 2 passengers in the same vehicle. For bookings of more than 2 people, submit separate orders.

3-Hour Sunset Cliffs: GoCar6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:00Sunset Cliffs and Beaches Tour: Cruise San Diego's beaches, Sunset Cliffs and coastal neighborhoods on a scenic, self-guided 3-hour tour in a GoCar. Ride a GPS-guided open-air vehicle, explore at your own pace and enjoy entertaining commentary. Instructions: Choose this option for 2 passengers in the same vehicle. For bookings of more than 2 people, submit separate orders.

2-Hour Downtown: Slingshot7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00Downtown San Diego and Old Town: Discover San Diego's Old Town, Downtown, waterfront and historic sights on a fun, self-guided 2-hour tour. Upgrade to a Polaris Slingshot for a sportier, open-air ride and a more exciting way to see the city. Instructions: Choose this option for 2 passengers in the same vehicle. For bookings of more than 2 people, submit separate orders.

3-Hour Sunset Cliffs: Slingshot6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:00Sunset Cliffs and Beaches Tour: Cruise San Diego's beaches, Sunset Cliffs and coastal neighborhoods on a scenic, self-guided 3-hour tour. Upgrade to a Polaris Slingshot for a sportier, open-air ride and a more exciting way to see the city. Instructions: Choose this option for 2 passengers in the same vehicle. For bookings of more than 2 people, submit separate orders.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2h–3h, runs every day, 7 start times, from US$ 52 per person, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to Friday: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00Saturday and Sunday: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish

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

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be booked

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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by GoCar Tours San Diego

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want to cover San Diego's main neighborhoods and landmarks in two hours without following a guide's schedule. You control the pace and stops, though you're still guided by GPS and commentary the whole way.

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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.

Do I need a special license to drive a GoCar?

No, a valid driver's license is all you need. You must be at least 21 years old to drive.

What's included in the rental?

The rental includes the GoCar, a full tank of gas, GPS unit with tour commentary, helmet, and a rider orientation before you start.

How long is the tour?

The tour is 2 hours total, covering Downtown, Old Town, Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Presidio Park.

Can I book for a group?

If you're booking for more than 2 people, you'll need to submit separate orders for each GoCar.

What if I want to extend the tour or take longer?

The tour is fixed at 2 hours. Check with the rental location about additional rental time options.

Is the GoCar open-air?

Yes, the GoCar is open-air, so weather conditions will affect your ride. Helmets are provided and required.

Is there an optional damage waiver?

Yes, a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is available at check-in for approximately $19.

Are there any health restrictions?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. It's suitable for all other fitness levels.