There are few things more quintessentially Californian than skateboarding on a sunny day under palm trees. This legendary skate state is home to some of the first legal and illegal skate spots, as well as a staggering number of pro skaters (ever heard of Tony Hawk?).
These days, California is nearly overflowing with great parks to choose from, so we’ve taken the liberty of choosing 8 of our favorite California skateparks. You’ll find parks in San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco on this list that are well worth a visit, whether you’re local or not! This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it will at least give you an itinerary for a fantastic road trip.
But first…skate gear!
Even pro skaters wear helmets and pads, so why wouldn’t you? After all, it’s no fun having to cut a skate session short with an avoidable injury so make sure to be smart at the park. Having the right skateboarding gear also helps, check out the different types of skateboarding wheels and trucks to best fit your style.
Top California Skateparks (San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco)
San Diego Area
- Washington Street Skate Parks
Location: Washington Street, Pacific Hwy US 101, San Diego, California 92101
Cost: Free
Hours: No Official Hours
Best for: Locals, advanced skaters, DIYers
Kicking off our list of the best skateparks in California is the historic Washington Street SkatePark in San Diego. This is a true DIY park that was built and is currently maintained by local volunteers. That means treating the park, and the locals, with respect is key.
One thing that we love about this park is its ever-changing nature, as the local skaters are constantly building and rearranging the park’s features to fit the current vibe. Some features are built in, though, like the keyhole, quarter pipe, pool, and loveseats. This is not a park for newbies, blowhards, or jerks. Visitors are of course welcome but be ready to lend a hand if it’s needed, because you’re entering a full-on culture!
Washington Street Skate Park is located underneath the Pacific West Highway and features local art, murals, and graffiti by artists as well as a healthy dose of greenery.
- Encinitas Skatepark
Location: 429 Sante Fe Dr, Encinitas California 92024
Cost: Free
Hours: 5am – 10pm
Best for: Street-style, pool lovers
Next up on our list is Encinitas Skatepark, nicknamed “Poods” after a local skater who passed away. This San Diego skatepark is really big, at 33,000 square feet full of street-style features including ledges on ledges, stairs, rails, big banks, and hubbas. Encinitas also has a backyard pool bowl. This park is frequented by professionals, which means that this is a spectator heavy park – and for good reason. While pro skaters love this park, it’s not uncommon to see kids trying out their first tricks at this spot as well!
An added perk of this park is it’s ADA accessibility, meaning the motivated wheelchair rider can still get skeezy here. It’s also quite colorful and kind of looks like the skateparks dreams are made of.
- Robb Field Skatepark
Location: 2525 Bacon St, San Diego, California 92107
Cost: Free
Hours: 10am – Dusk
Best for: All levels
Just outside of Ocean Beach, CA on the San Diego River is Robb Field Skatepark. This is a massive 40,000 square foot park with a mix of street elements, park obstacles, and hybrid features. Skaters of all levels can find something here – and we mean ALL levels.
This park has been known to have a famous face show up unannounced, but that’s not to take away from the bustling local scene. This park features bowls, fun boxes, ledges, rails, an octagon volcano, stairs, and more. Oh, and there’s a combination bowl there, too! It’s also one heck of a place to watch the sunset.
Los Angeles Area
- Venice Beach
Location: 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, California 90291
Cost: Free
Hours: 8 am – 7 pm
Best for: Kids, tourists
Despite being literally filled with sand during the Covid-19 pandemic, locals at Venice Beach Skatepark have kept their much-loved park active. Featured in “Dogtown and Z Boys” this iconic Los Angeles area skatepark has drawn locals and tourists alike since it was built in 2009.
Skaters can find street features and park elements nestled against each other with thoughtful transitions that make a buttery flow. Stairs, rails, deep pools, snakes, and fun boxes can all be found at this quintessential beachside skatepark. This is a very kid-friendly park with a heavy spectator presence, which makes it a very social park.
- Moorpark
Location: 500 Poindexter Ave, Moorpark, California 93021
Cost: Free
Hours: Weekdays 10am – 6pm, Weekends 8am – 6pm
Best for: Bowls of all levels
Moorpark Skatepark (also known as M.P.) is a versatile skatepark with a heavy emphasis on bowls and a big snake. This is a great location for beginner to intermediate level skaters, with a beginner section featuring shallow walls and a long pad. Intermediate to advanced skaters will love the flow of big transitions and the deeper bowls of the snake. There are some seriously fast lines here that offer big air. The Skateboarding Hall of Fame is only a few minutes away by car (longer by skate, of course).
- Vans Skatepark (Orange)
Location: 20 City Boulevard West, Orange, California 92868
Cost: $12
Hours: Check Website
Best for: Indoors, kids, BMX
We know that SoCal residents might get mad at us for saying an Orange County skatepark is in Los Angeles, but the Vans Skatepark is too awesome to pass up! If you’ve ever wanted to go skate at the indoor skatepark in Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, this is about as close as you’ll get. That’s right, this is an indoor park and it’s filled with all kinds of ramps, rails, banks, stairs, boxes, and, of course, bowls on bowls. This is very much a branded experience with Vans shoes, clothing, and gear available for purchase. Make sure to check the schedule for changing hours as well as BMX only hours.
Sacramento Area
- 28th and B Skatepark
Location: 20 28th St., Sacramento, California 95816
Cost: $3
Hours: Seasonal, check website
Best for: Safe, supervised skating
This indoor skatepark in Sacramento, CA is a gem. It’s full of quarter pipes, fun boxes, and rails. Plus, it’s got a big bowl. This is a great spot for beginners and kids, as the entire space is supervised. Helmets are required for riding and are available for rent ($1). 28th and B also offers skate camps during the summer for a totally social vibe. This is a great park for younger skaters.
San Francisco Area
- Potrero Skatepark
Location: 1332 Potrero Ave, San Francisco, California 94110
Cost: Free
Hours: 6:30am – 8:30pm
Best for: Bowls and airtime
This legendary San Francisco, CA skatepark is a great spot for intermediate to advanced skateboarders. This park offers both street elements and park features. The flow here is butter smooth with a volcano leading into a sick bowl that allows for maximum surfability. Skaters can flow through fast transitions, a large bowl, and a quarter pipe. Street elements include a ledge, a rail, and a euro gap. This park may seem familiar to you, as it’s frequently featured on Thrasher.
- Soma West Skatepark
Location: Under Central Fwy, San Francisco, California 94103
Cost: Free
Hours: 9am – 9pm
Best for: Street-style
Last but not least, on our list is the Soma West Skatepark, connected to the museum and located literally underneath the Central freeway in San Francisco, CA. We love that this park was built to replicate iconic street skate spots, creating a legal space where skaters can shred without being bothers or being bothered. This is a very street heavy skatepark with hubbas, ledges, rails, and stairs spread over multiple levels. We recommend keeping an eye on your gear at this skatepark – it is what it is.
We hope this list helps you plan your skate sessions in California, no matter which city you find yourself in. Let us know what you think of these skateparks! We love hearing from you. As always, you can tag us on our Instagram!