Old Town San Diego State Historic Park: what's free, what's real and where to park
Old Town State Historic Park is free, museums included, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It preserves the 1820s–1870s town, not the 1769 presidio, which stood on the hill above in Presidio Park. Use the free lots early or take the Trolley.
- Admission
- Free
- Hours
- 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Parking
- Free, 4 hours
- Trolley
- Old Town Transit Center
Museums included
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas
Fills by mid-morning
Next to the park
The short version
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and its museums are free; the visitor center and museums open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
- The park preserves the Mexican-era town founded in the 1820s at the foot of Presidio Hill; the 1769 presidio itself stood on the hill in today's Presidio Park.
- Casa de Estudillo, an 1827 adobe, is a National Historic Landmark with 12 rooms open to visitors.
- The Whaley House next door is separately run: daytime self-guided tours start at $15.
- Free state-park lots have a 4-hour limit and fill by mid-morning; during Día de los Muertos (Oct 31–Nov 2) parking is paid.
Old Town is where most visitors go to see "where San Diego began," and it's genuinely worth it, especially because the state park and its museums cost nothing. But the oldest part of the story isn't in the plaza. Here's what's actually there, what's free and how to avoid the parking crunch.
How Old Town came to be
California State Parks, NPS, Whaley House Museum and Wikipedia, checked October 20, 2026.
What to see
| Stop | What it is | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Casa de Estudillo | 1827 adobe, National Historic Landmark, 12 rooms open | Free |
| Mason Street School | 1865 schoolhouse, San Diego's first | Free |
| Robinson-Rose House | The park's visitor center | Free |
| El Campo Santo | 1849–1897 cemetery, some graves under the street | Free |
| Whaley House | 1856–57 brick house, separately run | From $15 |
California State Parks, park listings and the Whaley House Museum, checked October 20, 2026. Sources disagree on the Wells Fargo museum's status, so check before planning around it.
Old Town
Presidio Hill
Getting there
Pins from OpenStreetMap.
See these on the full San Diego mapParking and getting there
The free state-park lots, including Lot C at 4015 Twiggs Street and Lot F on Juan Street, have a 4-hour limit and are usually full by mid-morning. The easier option is transit: the Old Town Transit Center, next to the park, is served by the Trolley, the Coaster, Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and MTS buses.
Here in October? Pair the park with San Diego's haunted places, which starts at the Whaley House. More on the area in our Old Town neighborhood guide.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on October 20, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryOld Town San Diego SHP
California State Parks · Checked October 20, 2026
Transit center, Día de los Muertos parking
California State Parks · Checked October 20, 2026
Visitor center location
National Park Service · Checked October 20, 2026
Park overview
- PrimaryWhaley House Museum
Whaley House Museum · Checked October 20, 2026
Prices and hours
- BackgroundOld Town San Diego guide
La Jolla Mom · Updated July 13, 2026
Free admission, lots, 4-hour limit, hours
- BackgroundPresidio of San Diego
Wikipedia · Checked October 20, 2026
1769 founding; Serra Museum 1928–29