Cabrillo Bridge: Balboa Park's Historic 1914 Bridge

The Cabrillo Bridge is the grand western entrance to Balboa Park: a seven-arched concrete bridge, about 120 feet high, that carries El Prado across the canyon from Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street to the California Tower. Built in 1914 for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, it is free to walk, takes only a few minutes to cross, and gives you the classic postcard view of the park’s Spanish Colonial skyline.

A quick history

The bridge was built to give exposition visitors a dramatic arrival into the fairgrounds. Construction began in December 1912 and the bridge was dedicated in April 1914. It was California’s first multiple-arched cantilever bridge, designed by Frank P. Allen Jr. with Thomas B. Hunter after commissioners rejected Bertram Goodhue’s three-arch concept as too costly.

Key numbers, from the bridge’s Wikipedia entry and a City of San Diego fact sheet:

• Height: about 120 feet above the canyon floor
• Structure: seven arches on 14 hollow concrete piers
• Original materials: concrete formed with more than a million board feet of lumber, mostly redwood
• Status: listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a City of San Diego landmark, inside Balboa Park, a National Historic Landmark

When it opened, a man-made lagoon sat in the canyon below. That was replaced in 1948 by the Cabrillo Freeway, now State Route 163, which still runs under the arches. There is no access between the freeway and the bridge.

The bridge closed to cars for several months in 2014 for a major seismic retrofit, repaving, sidewalk repairs and new lighting. The full rehabilitation, roughly $23 million, finished in spring 2015, in time for Balboa Park’s centennial.

“Laurel Street Bridge”

Many locals call it the Laurel Street Bridge, because Laurel Street runs straight into it from the west. Technically the roadway on the bridge is El Prado, and Laurel Street continues west from Sixth Avenue toward the airport and the bay.

Walking the bridge

Walking across is free, and it is the best way to experience the structure, with sidewalks for pedestrians alongside the two traffic lanes.

From the west (recommended): Start at Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street on the edge of Bankers Hill. You walk east straight at the California Tower, and at the far end you pass through the West Gate into the Plaza de California, the exposition’s original main entrance. This is the view that ends up on postcards.

From the east: Start at the Plaza de California, beside the California Building (home of the Museum of Us), and walk west. You get open views over the canyon and toward the Bankers Hill skyline, and you can continue down into the West Mesa lawns and playgrounds.

A round trip with photo stops is a short add-on to any park visit. Combine it with El Prado and the Plaza de Panama for an easy one-hour loop through the cultural core.

The best views and photos

• The approach shot: From the west end of the bridge, the arches lead your eye to the California Tower. Late afternoon, when the sun is behind you and lighting the tower, is the best time.
• The bridge itself: To see the arches you need to be off the bridge, looking at it from the side across the canyon, for example from the West Mesa edges of the park.
• At night: New lighting was added in the 2014 to 2015 rehabilitation, so the bridge is lit after dark.

Can you drive across?

Yes. The Cabrillo Bridge is not car-free. It carries two lanes of light vehicle traffic along with bicycles and pedestrians, linking Laurel Street and Sixth Avenue with the park’s central district. Expect slow traffic and pedestrians at the east end near the museums. On foot, use the sidewalks and stay alert for cars.

Parking near the Cabrillo Bridge

Parking in Balboa Park changed in 2026 and changes again on January 1, 2027. Here is what applies through the end of 2026, per Balboa Park’s official parking page and the City of San Diego:

Where	Closest to	2026 rate (non-resident)
West Mesa street meters (e.g. Balboa Drive)	West end of the bridge	$2.50 per hour, $10 daily cap, enforced 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Marston Point lot (Level 2)	West Mesa, south of the bridge	$10 per day
Alcazar lot (Level 1)	East end, by the museums	$10 up to 4 hours, $16 full day
Sixth Avenue meters (outside the park)	West end, Bankers Hill	Metered, 4-hour maximum
Lower Inspiration Point (Level 3)	East side of the park off Park Blvd	First 3 hours free, then $10 per day

Paid lots are enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Verified San Diego residents get reduced or free rates but must register in advance online. Disabled placard holders park free in all lots and at meters.

From January 1, 2027, the City Council has approved a settlement that ends paid parking in Balboa Park, so in-park lots should return to free. City street meters outside the park, such as on Sixth Avenue, are separate, so check posted signs.

If the West Mesa is full, park at Inspiration Point and take the free park tram, which runs every 10 to 15 minutes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. around the Cultural District, then walk west along El Prado to the bridge.

Why the bridge has safety fencing

The wrought-iron fencing along both sides of the bridge was added in 1950 as a safety measure and is now part of its historic look. You may see the bridge described as “haunted” online; those stories are folklore, not documented history.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and available 24 hours a day. In an emergency, call 911.

Practical tips for your visit

• Go early or late. Mornings are quieter for photos, and late afternoon light is best on the California Tower from the west end.
• Bring a layer. The bridge is exposed and can be breezy, so it can feel cooler than the sheltered plazas.
• Bikes and strollers are fine. The bridge carries bicycles alongside its pedestrian sidewalks.
• Look down, not over. The canyon views and the traffic on SR-163 far below are best seen through the fencing; there is no need to lean or climb for a better angle.

Who it suits and what to pair it with

The bridge is a short, free, accessible stop that suits anyone visiting Balboa Park, especially photographers and architecture fans. It works best as the start or end of a walk through the park.

Nearby pairings:

• The California Tower and Museum of Us, at the east end of the bridge.
• El Prado’s museums, including the Fleet Science Center; see our San Diego planetarium guide.
• The 7 Bridges Walk, a roughly 5-mile urban route from San Diego Tourism Authority that includes the Cabrillo Bridge, the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge and the Quince Street wooden trestle.
• More early San Diego history at Presidio Park above Old Town.