Neighborhood 48H guide
Point Loma / Shelter Island: Where to Stay & What to Do in 48 Hours
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo, Point Loma Seafoods and skyline views from Shelter Island.
Point Loma is the peninsula that shelters San Diego Bay. Shelter Island has marinas and bayfront hotels, and Cabrillo National Monument at the tip has the 1855 lighthouse, tide pools and whale-watching views.
Photo gallery
Photo: Garyscub · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Kevin.Daniels · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Why stay here
Quiet bayfront with skyline views, ten minutes from the airport.
Who it's for: Couples, sailors and travelers who want calm and views.
Pros
- Skyline and bay views
- Cabrillo National Monument
- Close to the airport
Cons
- Car needed
- Few restaurants within walking distance
- Quiet at night
48H in Point Loma
Lighthouse, tide pools, fish tacos.
09:00 – Cabrillo National Monument
Lighthouse, bay views and tide pools at low tide.
13:00 – Point Loma Seafoods
Fish sandwiches by the sportfishing docks.
17:30 – Shelter Island
Walk the bayfront for skyline views at sunset.
Named recommendations
Real places with links to their official site or a Maps place page. We do not invent hours, prices, or ratings.
Eat
See / do
See / do
Cabrillo National Monument
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr
Old Point Loma Lighthouse, tide pools and big bay views.
Photo: Garyscub · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Official site / map →
Sunrise / sunset
Sunrise / sunset
Shelter Island
Shelter Island Dr
Bayfront path with downtown skyline views.
Photo: Kevin.Daniels · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Official site / map →
Where to stay
Specific named properties—not vague city-wide searches. Expedia stays use tracked Creator links; others open the hotel's official site.
Roam48 may earn a commission when you book a stay through Expedia or Vrbo links on this page, at no extra cost to you. All commercial stay links use rel="sponsored nofollow".
Hotel · Expedia
Kona Kai San Diego
1551 Shelter Island Dr
Resort on Shelter Island with a private beach, marina and spa.
Check rates on Expedia →
Vacation rentals
Prefer an apartment or whole home in this neighborhood? Browse Vrbo listings for Point Loma / Shelter Island.
The City of San Diego requires a short-term rental license, and Coronado and Del Mar have their own stricter rules. Look for the license number on the listing before you book.
Browse vacation rentals in Point Loma / Shelter Island on Vrbo →Other ways to spend 48 hours in San Diego
- Gaslamp Quarter — The lit Gaslamp arch, a Padres game at Petco Park and the USS Midway on the waterfront.
- Little Italy — The Saturday Mercato, India Street’s restaurants and Waterfront Park by the bay.
- La Jolla — Sea lions and clear water at La Jolla Cove, George’s ocean terrace and the Birch Aquarium.
- Pacific Beach — Crystal Pier’s cottages, the boardwalk and breakfast at Kono’s.
- Mission Beach — The Giant Dipper at Belmont Park, the boardwalk and kayaks on Mission Bay.
- Coronado — The red-turreted Hotel del Coronado, a wide sandy beach and the ferry to downtown.
- Old Town — Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the Whaley House and tortillas at Old Town Mexican Café.
- Ocean Beach — Hodad’s burgers, Sunset Cliffs at dusk and the Wednesday farmers market on Newport Avenue.
- Del Mar — Powerhouse Park above the beach, lunch at Jake’s and the Del Mar racetrack.