How much do San Diego city pools cost, and how do you sign kids up for rec center youth sports?
City of San Diego public pools cost $5 a day for adults 16 and up and $2.25 for kids, seniors and people with disabilities, with 10-swim passes at $36 and $18. Youth sports, swim lessons and classes at the city's recreation centers are booked on SDRecConnect.com or in person at a rec center; the winter youth basketball league at Balboa Park's Municipal Gym, for example, costs $35 and opens registration November 21, 2026.
- Pool day pass, adult 16+
- $5.00
- City pools
- 16
- Youth basketball league
- $35
- Where to register
- SDRecConnect.com
Kids, seniors, disabled: $2.25
Listed on the city aquatics page
Balboa Park Municipal Gym, winter 2026-27
Or in person at any rec center
The short version
- The city lists 16 public pools; daily swim is $5 for adults (16+) and $2.25 for children, seniors and disabled swimmers (2026 pool schedules).
- Passes: 10 swims for $36 or 30 swims for $96 (adults), $18 or $48 (child/senior), valid one year from purchase.
- All city pools close Nov. 11, 26 and 27, Dec. 24, 25 and 31, and Jan. 1 (Mira Mesa Aquatic Complex fall 2026 guide).
- City youth sports run by season: flag football in fall, basketball in winter, soccer and volleyball in spring.
- Municipal Gym winter youth basketball: $35, ages 5-14, registration opens Nov. 21, 2026, practices start Dec. 7.
A swim at a City of San Diego pool costs $5 for adults and $2.25 for kids, and most city youth sports leagues cost far less than private clubs. We read the city's aquatics, sports and recreation center pages and four 2026 pool and league flyers on November 3, 2026. This tip covers City of San Diego facilities; if you live in an unincorporated area or another city like Chula Vista or Escondido, your parks are run by the county or that city (see San Diego city vs. county). Free library programs and museum passes are in our library card tip.
How much does it cost to swim at a San Diego public pool?
City of San Diego pool admission (2026)
| Pass | Adults 16+ | Child / Senior / Disabled |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | $5.00 | $2.25 |
| 10 swims | $36 | $18 |
| 30 swims | $96 | $48 |
| Water fitness class | $5.00, or $39 for 10 | $5.00, or $39 for 10 |
| Youth swim team / water polo | n/a | $21-$35 per month by program |
Daily
- Adults 16+
- $5.00
- Child / Senior / Disabled
- $2.25
10 swims
- Adults 16+
- $36
- Child / Senior / Disabled
- $18
30 swims
- Adults 16+
- $96
- Child / Senior / Disabled
- $48
Water fitness class
- Adults 16+
- $5.00, or $39 for 10
- Child / Senior / Disabled
- $5.00, or $39 for 10
Youth swim team / water polo
- Adults 16+
- n/a
- Child / Senior / Disabled
- $21-$35 per month by program
Source: City of San Diego pool program flyers for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pool (Aug. 2026), Mira Mesa Aquatic Complex (fall 2026) and City Heights Swim Center (2026), checked Nov 3, 2026. Passes need an SDRecConnect account.
Ten-swim passes cut the adult price to $3.60 a visit, and a 30-swim pass to $3.20. The same prices appeared on every 2026 city pool flyer we read. Hours vary a lot by pool and season, so check the pool's current flyer before you go: in fall 2026 the Mira Mesa Aquatic Complex listed lap swim Monday-Thursday 1:30-4:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., while City Heights Swim Center's 2026 schedule ran lap swim as early as 8 a.m. and as late as 8 p.m. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pool on Skyline Drive was closed Sundays and Mondays.
City of San Diego 10-swim passes bring the adult price down to $3.60 a visit.
How do I sign up for city youth sports and swim lessons?
Registering for a City of San Diego class, league or swim lesson
- 01
Make an SDRecConnect account
Create an account at SDRecConnect.com (the city's ActiveNet system) and add each family member. The city says it is required to buy swim passes and lessons.
- 02
Find the activity number
League and class flyers list a number for each age group and schedule; for example, the 2026-27 Municipal Gym league lists separate numbers for Pee Wee (ages 5-7), 8-10, 12U, 14U and a girls' 11-14 division.
- 03
Book when registration opens
Popular sessions fill. Mira Mesa's fall 2026 swim lessons opened registration on Saturday, October 24, 10 days before classes began November 3; MLK Pool's summer water-competency classes opened at 11 a.m. on the first day.
- 04
Get a swim assessment first
New swim-lesson students must be evaluated by pool staff before registering, per the city flyers. Call the pool to schedule it.
- 05
Or walk in
The city says you can also register in person at your nearest recreation center. Sports questions: 619-525-8286.
City youth sports follow a fixed calendar: flag football in fall, basketball in winter, and soccer and volleyball in spring, according to the Parks and Recreation sports page. The upcoming Balboa Park Municipal Gym winter league costs $35, opens registration November 21, 2026 and starts practices December 7, 2026 (game dates were still to be determined). Independent leagues such as Little League, Pop Warner, Bobby Sox and AYSO also play on city fields; they handle their own sign-ups and fees.
The city's winter youth basketball league at Balboa Park's Municipal Gym costs $35 for 2026-27.
Gym
Pool
Recreation center
Addresses from City of San Diego recreation center and pool pages, checked Nov 3, 2026. The city lists 16 pools and 63 recreation facilities.
See these on the full San Diego mapIs this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 3, 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.
- PrimaryAquatics
City of San Diego Parks and Recreation · Checked November 3, 2026
List of 16 city pools
City of San Diego Parks and Recreation · August 2026
Admission fees, passes, hours, SDRecConnect requirement, assessment rule
City of San Diego Parks and Recreation · September 2026
Fall 2026 hours, lessons, holiday closures for all city pools
City of San Diego Parks and Recreation · July 2026
Hours, swim team and water polo fees
- PrimarySports
City of San Diego Parks and Recreation · Checked November 3, 2026
Youth sports seasons, registration methods, independent leagues, phone
City of San Diego Parks and Recreation · August 2026
$35 fee, divisions, Nov. 21 registration, Dec. 7 practices
- PrimaryRecreation Centers
City of San Diego Parks and Recreation · Checked November 3, 2026
63 facilities, addresses and phone numbers