Parking can be very congested however, parking is available if you look in the right places. However, there is no direct connection into Balboa Park from SR-163. SR-163 runs north-south through the neighborhood, connecting Hillcrest to Downtown to the south and Mission Valley to the north. Washington Street and University Avenue provide the major connection through Hillcrest, connecting to neighborhoods east and west. Laurel Street continues west towards the San Diego International Airport.

5th and 6th Avenues also provide a direct connection to the area, where one can continue north to Hillcrest or into Balboa Park via Laurel Street/El Prado over the Cabrillo Bridge. Park Boulevard runs north-south through the park and the eastern edge of Hillcrest, connecting to Downtown to the south. Hillcrest, just to the northwest of Balboa Park, is a dense urban community that has recently undergone a lot of gentrification and is home to many locally-owned businesses.īeing in the heart of the city, Balboa Park and Hillcrest are accessible by a number of major streets. Balboa Park is a massive urban park with beautiful open spaces, gardens and vegetation, the renowned San Diego Zoo, the historic Old Globe Theatre, and numerous museums.