Are you looking for a great outdoor activity with friends and family without spending an arm and a leg? This post will cover the best free pickleball courts San Diego offers. Pickleball is the perfect sport for all ages and skill levels, and. It’s easy to learn but can still challenge experienced players.
Let’s Jump in!
Where Can I Play Pickleball In San Diego?
No matter how skilled you are or how busy your schedule is, you’ll find a pickleball opportunity in San Diego that suits you. We’ve compiled a list of the best public indoor and outdoor courts you can use for free. You should bring your own nets and equipment for some locations and check for reservations or permits.
I’ll provide as much info as possible.
(How do indoor and outdoor pickleball differ? Read our full post)
The Best Free Indoor Courts in San Diego, California
The Black Mountain Multipurpose Community Center
9353 Oviedo St, San Diego, CA 92129
Black Mountain is part of San Diego’s “joint use” facilities, sharing space with Black Mountain Middle School. You can enjoy three indoor pickleball courts in their gymnasium every Monday from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m., all setup and ready for your game.
For the latest information on open play days, please contact Hilltop Community Recreation Center at (858) 538-8198. They may have additional playing opportunities.
Carmel Mountain Ranch/Sabre Springs Recreation Center
10162 Rancho Carmel Dr, San Diego, CA 92128
Carmel Mountain is an intense, established community center. They offer youth basketball leagues twice a year, as well as a variety of other camps, classes, and pickleball. They have three indoor courts and provide nets for free! The days and times fluctuate based on their gym usage, so call them at (858) 538-8100 to confirm what days are open play sessions.
Balboa Park Activity Center
2145 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101
Balboa Park boasts a versatile gymnasium designed for various sports like badminton, table tennis, volleyball, and pickleball, even hosting exciting regional and national tournaments. You’ll find five indoor courts equipped with nets for your enjoyment.
Open play sessions are available on the following days:
- Tuesday and Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Please note that they close during high school summer and winter breaks. Contact them at (619) 235-5997 to confirm their current schedule and availability.
Ocean Air Recreation Center
4770 Fairport Way, San Diego, CA 92130
Established in 2010, this 18-acre park features a spacious 16,500-square-foot recreation center. Inside, you’ll find meeting rooms, a kitchen, offices, restrooms, and a versatile gymnasium equipped with indoor pickleball courts, totaling six in number.
For open play sessions at Oceanair Recreation Center, you can drop in during the following times:
- Monday: 10:00 am to 1:15 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am to 12:15 pm
- Friday: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
To ensure the current schedule and availability, don’t forget to give them a call at (858) 552-1687.
Municipal Gym
2111 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
Downtown’s municipal gym offers an impressive array of nine indoor pickleball courts. You can join in for open play on the following days and times:
- Mondays & Wednesdays: 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Saturdays: 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
They generously provide free nets, but keep in mind that it can get quite busy. This is a great option if you’re looking for a place to enjoy games and connect with fellow pickleball enthusiasts. For the most up-to-date information on dates and times, feel free to contact them at (619) 525-8262.
Best Free Outdoor Courts in The San Diego Area
As I was hunting down all this info, I saw many rec centers have courts, but you need to borrow or bring your own nets to set up on the court. I recommend calling ahead to make sure you know what to bring.
La Mesita Park
8855 Dallas Street La Mesa, CA 91942
La Mesita park has four lighted pickleball and youth tennis courts daily from 6 am-10 pm. La Mesita is one of the hidden gems on the list, and it’s a well-maintained park next to a YMCA facility with ample parking.
Kearny Mesa Recreation Center
3170 Armstrong St, San Diego, CA 92111
Kearny Pool opened in 1970, and the Recreation Center opened four years later. The facility is almost 12,000 square feet, on over 70 acres. They have four outdoor lined pickleball courts on the unlit blacktop. Give them a call at (858) 573-1387 to see what equipment you may need to bring. The courts are provided, but you may need to bring your net, if you don’t mind.
Standley Recreation Center
3585 Governor Drive, San Diego, CA 92122
You can enjoy two outdoor pickleball courts situated on an unlit outdoor basketball court and two indoor ones at this location.
- Open play is accessible on Fridays from 9 am to 12 pm.
If you need nets, they can be checked out at the recreation center during office hours. To confirm all the equipment requirements and ensure you have everything you need, please get in touch with them at (858) 581-1652.
Westfield UTC Pickleball Courts
4305 La Jolla Village Dr #5, San Diego, CA 92122
Experience the thrill of pickleball at Westfield UTC in San Diego, CA! Discover three pristine outdoor concrete courts featuring permanent lines, complemented by portable nets. Restrooms and water facilities are readily accessible to all participants, and the courts are available free of charge. Just so you know, court reservations are not an option; it’s first-come, first-served!
Nobel Recreation Center
8810 Judicial Drive San Diego, CA 92122
The Recreation Center at Nobel Athletic Fields was completed in 2007 due to strong community organization and effort. The 31-acre site is also home to the North University Branch Library. They have three indoor courts and two outdoor courts for free. They also will provide free paddles for first-timers to pickleball. I tried looking for info on outdoor nets, so call them at (858) 552-1626.
Murray Ridge Neighborhood Park
8651 Celestine Ave, San Diego, CA 92123
Murray Ridge has excellent views, a large open field, a playground, tennis courts, and a perfect trail for running around the park perimeter. They have two lined pickleball courts set up on the tennis court. You must bring your own net, but this park is excellent. Be aware that this is a first-come-first-serve public park, so you may need to fend off other players to get a game going.
La Jolla Recreation Center
615 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
The recreation center was built in 1915 by Ellen Browning-Scripps, whose residence was next door. It was dedicated that same year to the City of San Diego for the children of La Jolla. They have two lined outdoor courts on a basketball court; you must bring your own net. They have two basketball courts, so it may be easier to play here if it’s not too busy. Give them a call to confirm at (858) 552-1658.
Best Paid Pickleball Outdoor Courts
Coronado Pickleball –
2000 2nd St, Coronado, CA 92118
Coronado’s eight tennis courts are owned and managed by the Marriott Resort. They’re available for public use at $6 per player, but if you have a membership with them, it’ll only set you back about half that!
The courts in Coronado have been converted from two tennis courts to eight, with the addition of temporary taping on each court. The fee for using them is $5 per resident and non-resident alike–residents get first dibs when they’re available, while non-residents will need reservations before trying their luck at getting on the court!
Barnes Tennis Center –
This facility offers five dedicated courts for pickleball enthusiasts. You can rent a court for $12 per hour or join open play sessions for $5.
- Open play sessions are available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
Please contact them at (619) 221-9000 to secure your reservation.
S.D. Pickleball – Pacific Beach Tennis Club –
San Diego pickleball sets up eight outdoor courts by the Mission Bay Golf Course and the Mission Bay High School. They have a reservation-only system and can fill up quickly, so reservations can be made up to 7 days in advance. Your reservation gets you two hours of court time, and it’s 32$ with up to four people on the court. They also provide a pickleball intro lesson for first-timers with paddles and balls. Pay $25 a lesson.
To set up a lesson, email them here: [email protected].
Here are the times they have court reservations for
Conclusion and Thoughts
We hope we have given you some great resources to find your next court. I have a fantastic write-up on the best ways to find pickleball courts and players anywhere you live, so be sure to check that out.
So there you have it! Some of the best pickleball courts in San Diego won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Get out there, enjoy the weather, and have some fun! And if you know of any other great free or low-cost pickleball courts in San Diego, let us know so we can check them out.
Check out all of the cities we have covered:
Best pickleball courts in Las Vegas
Best pickleball courts in Austin
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