2-Hour GoCar Tour: Downtown San Diego And Old Town Or Beaches

Drive a GoCar on a 2 hour route through Downtown San Diego that continues to Old Town or the beaches. Travelers take the wheel themselves and see the city from the driver's seat.

Overview

You drive yourself through San Diego in a GoCar while an onboard GPS narrator tells you where to turn and what you are looking at. The two-hour route starts and ends at the rental base on Mason Street, and it strings together a loop of pass-by sights rather than long stops: Little Italy, Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the San Diego Zoo, Presidio Park and Mission Hills. Only your own group takes part.

Before setting off, staff give a rider orientation, hand over helmets and a map, and the tank of gas is included in the rental. The GPS commentary covers the history of the areas you pass, and one reviewer who had visited San Diego many times said the tour still showed them places they had never seen before. An environmental fee covering carbon offset, gasoline and tire recycling is part of the package, while gratuities and hotel transport are not.

This suits travellers who like the idea of a driving tour without a windshield in the way. One reviewer said the GoCar lets you experience the sites with no blocked view, and another found the check-in and instructions easy. It is private to your group, and the listing notes the experience requires good weather, with a different date or a full refund offered if the operator cancels for poor conditions.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Mason StMeet at 3918 Mason St, San Diego. You watch a short orientation, get helmets, a map and the keys, then set off in the GPS touring car. The tour ends back at this same point.
2. Pass through Little ItalyThe route passes through the Little Italy neighborhood, with the GPS narration pointing out sights as you drive.
3. Pass by Balboa ParkYou pass Balboa Park on the loop. The commentary covers the park as you drive by, without a dedicated stop.
4. Cruise the Gaslamp QuarterThe route passes the Gaslamp Quarter, giving you a street-level look at the district and its surroundings.
5. Pass Old Town and the ZooYou pass Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and the San Diego Zoo, both viewed from the car as the narration continues.
6. Presidio Park and Mission HillsThe final stretch passes Presidio Park and the Mission Hills area before the route returns to the Mason Street meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in traveller reviews and in the listing itself, so it helps to arrive prepared.

• Bring your license. Drivers must be 21 or older and carry a driver's license. Only your group participates, so the pace is yours within the GPS route.
• Listen closely. One reviewer advised slowing down or pulling over when the GPS narrator speaks, so you catch the history being described.
• Photo stops. One reviewer mentioned getting photos and video of different monuments and historical items along the way. If photos matter to you, plan your own stops, since the route is otherwise a continuous drive.
• Comfort and fit. The cars are compact, and one taller traveller upgraded on site to a more comfortable model. One plus-sized reviewer said they still fit comfortably. Travellers with back problems are advised against the tour.
• Arrive early. Check-in includes a short tutorial on the vehicles before you set off, so allow time for that on top of the drive itself. One reviewer noted the staff were accommodating when their group ran a little behind.
• Weather. Good weather is required, since this is an open ride. If the operator cancels for poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Common issues. The GPS unit is the weakest link according to reviewers: one could not hear the narration at all during their ride, one reported the computer's positioning drifted, and one advised slowing down when the computer talks so nothing is missed. The cars are small, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible. An optional collision damage waiver costs about $19 at check-in if you want it, and hotel pickup is not included, so you make your own way to Mason Street.

Common Questions