Pickleball Courts San Diego: Find Local Playgrounds
Searching for “pickleball courts San Diego” and overwhelmed with all the potential options? It can be easy to feel decision fatigue when deciding on where to practice–especially when every court has different rules, amenities, and hours of operation. To help you on your journey to becoming a pickleball pro, we created a short list of a few of our favorite pickleball playgrounds for you to try out.
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How Many Pickleball Courts Does San Diego Have?
If you were to guess how many pickleball courts San Diego has at our disposal, what would you guess? If your answer is over 30–you’re correct! San Diego has 39 pickleball courts (and counting) scattered all throughout the county, making it accessible to every pickleball enthusiast, no matter where they reside.
There are also a few privately operated pickleball courts in San Diego, such as the Del Cerro Tennis Club, Pacific Beach Tennis Club, and Barnes Tennis Center. Privately owned pickleball courts are a great way to gain exclusive access to high end equipment like pickleball paddles and balls, top-notch amenities, preferred playing hours and social events.
If you’re more of an adventurer and want to participate in activities aside from pickleball with only one day in San Diego to spare, don’t worry. We’ve got articles for everything!
Indoor Pickleball Courts in San Diego
Don’t know any indoor pickleball courts in San Diego? That’s all gravy, because we’ve got a bunch of hot spots we think you’ll dig. In fact, of the 39 available pickleball court locations in San Diego, 23 of them are indoors.
Indoor pickleball courts in San Diego are ideal for all types of weather, and tend to be a bit less busy on a warm, sun shining day. They’ll allow you a chance to escape the intense heat and UV rays on a scorching afternoon, and dodge the rain and wind on a chillier evening.
Indoor pickleball facilities will have varied floor surfaces–as some are multi-use courts for other sports like basketball. Due to the difference in surface area, the ball will bounce differently, and an indoor perforated pickleball with more, smaller holds and softer plastic composition is a better option than regular outdoor pickleballs, which tend to be harder, and have fewer holes with a larger diameter.
Lighting is another thing to be mindful of–get to know the indoor courts around you to get a feel for the lighting. There is a fine line between good lighting and hospital-bright white lighting. The goal is to feel comfortable and not get distracted, so the more agreeable and well-lit the place–without it being a burden on the eyes–the better.
Let’s see where a few indoor pickleball are, shall we?
Carmel Valley Recreation Center
Located in the heart of Carmel Valley, Carmel Valley Rec Center Offers free open play and designated hours for pickleball enthusiasts to come practice and hit some balls. Every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, open play is offered at scheduled times (see below). This location features 6 indoor pickleball courts with a wood surface, and all courts are well lit for night play. It’s free to play and you can choose what level you play at, which is great for beginners looking to get more practice in. One caveat is that reservations are not available, so it can be a gamble whether or not you have to wait for an open court once you arrive. There are portable nets and permanent lines for players, and badminton and basketball are also offered if you’d like to switch it up once in a while. This is a fabulous spot to visit for those local to the area!
- Address: 3777 Townsgate Dr, San Diego, CA 92130
- Phone: (855) 552-1616
- Hours: Mon: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Tues: 12:15 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Thurs: 12:15 p.m. – 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Closed Thursdays through Sundays
Outdoor Pickleball Courts in San Diego
Among the 39 pickleball courts available in San Diego, 19 of them are outside, and with the rate pickleball is sweeping the nation, we anticipate more to spring up all over the county over time. San Diego locals are blessed with agreeable weather pretty much year round, and having the privilege to choose from so many courts and locations that are extremely accessible make it an even more lovable city.
Playing outside is a prime way to get a healthy dose of Vitamin D, boost endorphins, and soak up some sunshine, all while breaking a sweat and getting some movement in. Just remember to wear your sunscreen and bring sun protection for your face and eyes to prevent sun damage. Polarized sunglasses and a baseball cap are solid choices to bring with you to every game, especially since some courts offer more shade than others, and many are fully exposed.
The HUB Pickleball
The Hub San Diego Pickleball features some of the most pristine outdoor pickleball courts you’ve ever seen. We’re talking vibrant blue courts with a gorgeous turf area and bleachers for guests to come sit and watch the games. The HUB offers all day drop-in courts, organized by skill levels ranging from 2.5 to 4.0 and higher. Within regular organized play, expect Ladders, Round Robins, and Leagues. This pickleball hot spot also includes a pro shop loaded with the latest, high-tech pickleball gear. If you want some help on your form or have a question, simply ask a knowledgeable instructor–their high energy staff is eager to help you make the most out of your time on the court. And if you’re more into small group clinics and private pickleball lessons, they have world class instructors at your beckon call–for a fee, of course.
- Address: 9545 Campo Road, Spring Valley, CA 91977
- Phone: (833) 4THEHUB Ext.1
- Hours: Mon – Fri: 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sat: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sun: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club
No matter what racket sports in San Diego you desire, San Diego Tennis and Racquet club has you covered. With gorgeous surrounding views and palm trees to gawk at, ample stacked bleacher seating for your guests to come sit and watch your games in comfort, and a pool to cool off in after an intense match, what’s not to love? With 8 pickleball courts, 21 tennis courts, a poolside bar and BBQ, tons of social events and athletic tournaments, women’s doubles, men’s doubles, clinics, Round Robins, and Flex Leagues, it’s easy to see why this is such a popular spot for tennis, pickleball, and swimming.
- Address: 4848 Tecolote Rd, San Diego, CA 92110
- Phone: (619) 275-3270
- Hours: Wed – Fri: 6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sun: 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Free Pickleball Courts in San Diego
Some courts, such as the YMCA, offer free play open to whoever. This is a wonderful entry point for beginners and all age ranges, lowering the barrier to entry and offering a safe space to practice and have fun! There are actually quite a few public pickleball courts San Diego has, which is also a bonus for those who want to participate and practice the sport without spending an arm and a leg.
Pacific Beach Tennis Club
While Pacific Beach Tennis Club offers some of the most well kept tennis courts in San Diego, their pickleball courts are a feature that have San Diego residents flocking from all over to come play on. For all the planners out there, Pacific Beach Tennis Club gives people the option to reserve up to 8 days in advance. There is also open play and ladder offered on certain days of the week for a low $8 fee, which plays at 32 players, and weekly introductory classes offered for absolute beginners as well as another class for intermediate folks who want to fine tune their skills–for just $25 a class! If you love meeting people in the pickleball community, their mixers are something you won’t want to miss. All players are welcome. Other bonuses include their fancy player matchmaking feature that helps match you with other players when you want to practice or find a match, and an annual open for men, women, singles, doubles, and open play.
- Address: 2639 Grand Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
- Phone: (858) 273-9177
- Hours: Mon – Fri 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat – Sun: 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m,
Selecting the Best Pickleball Courts
When looking for a pickleball court, you’ll want to focus on a few factors. If playing outdoors, consider the amount of sun exposure if playing during the day, whether there is shade or if the sun will impact game play, and if there is ample, consistent lighting if you are to play at night. You’ll want to do your research on whether the pickleball court offers open play, is membership based, or has courts that can be reserved in advance so there are no surprises when you arrive.
Other things to consider include parking, hours of operation and available days, and what amenities are offered at the courts. Is there a water fountain on site? Bathrooms? Is there on-site staff to help with any issues or questions? Do they offer equipment rentals? How well are the courts and overall space maintained? Are there typically long waitlists to play on specific days? What type of people frequent these courts?
In time, you will start to develop certain preferences for locations based on factors such as the ones aforementioned. It’s smart to shop around and get a feel for different courts and environments before claiming one as your home turf, especially if you’re hoping to integrate into a pickleball community and meet new potential pickleball partners and people to practice with.
Have fun with it! Let loose, get excited about exploring all the options, and don’t be afraid to be a social butterfly! If anything, you’ll have a great time talking about the origins of pickleball and sharing court stories.
Pickleball Savant is chock full of articles on pickleball, and can serve as a great source for inspiration, knowledge, and latest trends in the pickleball world.
If you’re pooped from your pickleball game and want to visit other San Diego adult attractions, scope our site for other places to visit and things to do, see, and experience. After all, you deserve to reward yourself after huffing and puffing and running around on the court, giving it your all. There are tons of outdoor activities in San Diego, and we can assure you that there is no shortage of fun options to treat yourself to after an intense game!
Media credits: Unless otherwise noted, the conceptual images of pickleball courts in San Diego in this article are copyright of LaJolla.com.
