The San Diego Motorcycle Ride This Realtor Wants You to Check Out

California has hundreds of great motorcycle rides, and San Diego County is no exception. With its diverse topography, San Diego sprawls across more than 4,200 square miles—offering riders unparalleled diversity no matter your skill level on two wheels. From deserts and mountains to refreshing coasts, it’s easy to pick a new San Diego motorcycle ride and rarely see the same roads twice. 

As we roll through spring and into summer’s peak motorcycle season, riders will hit the back-country roads of San Diego County. We will enjoy carving the canyons past Jamul and Jacumba, snaking our way into the mountain communities of Cuyamaca and Julian, and winding the routes down into the deserts of Borrego and In-Ko-Pah on the county’s outer edges. 

While I love all of those motorcycle routes near me, cruising from Silver Strand to Ocean Beach is one of my favorite local rides. I gear up for this scenic motorcycle ride when I just want to relax and take in the ocean. It’s a ride where one can take in beautiful views, experience some of San Diego’s unique culture, and visit a few landmarks along the way.

My Favorite San Diego Motorcyle ride: Silver Strand to Ocean Beach

Like any of the best motorcycle rides in San Diego, this one involves taking a couple freeways to the starting point. So, if you don’t live in Imperial Beach, get yourself there to the base of the Silver Strand and top off the tank before you get going. Once you’re ready, you’ll hit the 75 North where the views and sights begin along Silver Strand State Beach, past the Coronado Cays and the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado (where our Navy SEAL Teams are based and train on the West Coast), and over to Coronado Island.

 As you approach the iconic Hotel Del Coronado, exit right into the neighborhood on Pomona Avenue. This road becomes Glorietta Boulevard, where you will skirt the Coronado Municipal Golf Course. This will take you back to the 75 where you will then cross the Coronado Bridge, which offers the first elevated view of the downtown area, as well as the harbor. Taking in the magnificence of San Diego Bay from the vantage point of the Coronado Bridge really does highlight the magnificence of San Diego. 

Just as you reach the end of the bridge, exit onto National Avenue just before reaching the I-5. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right and you’ll find one of San Diego’s cultural landmarks: Chicano Park. Take a moment to enjoy the many murals highlighting the culture of this storied community. After you ride by Chicano Park, take a left on Cesar Chavez Parkway to ride to Harbor Drive. From here, you’ll turn north and make your way into the downtown area. 

Heading northbound on Harbor Drive takes you past PetCo Park, the San Diego Convention Center, the Gaslamp District, Seaport Village, the Midway Museum, the Star of India and Maritime Museum of San Diego, and San Diego’s iconic County Administration Building perched along the waterfront. As Harbor Drive opens up a bit, you will pass the United States Coast Guard Sector San Diego and San Diego International Airport. 

Next, you’ll pass the marinas along Harbor Island as you make your way into Point Loma. Here, you’ll see the landmark “USS Recruit”, a land-based ship used to train hundreds of thousands of sailors who passed through the U.S. Naval Training Center San Diego (now Liberty Station). 

Make a left on Rosecrans when you’ve passed the sport fishing docks to travel through the Village of Point Loma. Toward the end of the Village, turn right on Cañon Street and weave your way up to Catalina Boulevard. This roadway crests at “the Point”, so make a left to make your way out toward Cabrillo National Monument. You will need an annual U.S. National Parks Pass or you’ll have to pay for a day pass to get into the monument. However, this is one of the best places to ride motorcycles, so the drive is worth the fee.

On this part of the ride, you will see some of the most breathtaking coastal views San Diego has to offer. This leg of the trip will give you incredible views in nearly every direction; you can see Coronado Island to the east, Mexico to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Additionally, you have the opportunity to take in the somberness of Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, where I often stop to pay respects to family and friends. 

Turn around at the end of the monument and continue back the way you came. Just past Cañon Street, turn left on Hill Street to experience the final leg of your journey: Sunset Cliffs. Before reaching the bottom, I like to turn left on Cornish Drive. This route will loop you through a quintessential Point Loma neighborhood and ultimately drop you at the very end of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard where you can take in the salt air of the Pacific and witness the region’s breathtaking views. 

Finally, you’ll end one of the best motorcycle rides in San Diego at Ocean Beach. Stop to have a drink at one of the many outdoor restaurants or coffee shops on Newport Avenue and stretch your legs during a leisurely stroll down the old Ocean Beach Pier.