How to Plan a San Diego Field Trip

Upgrade your traditional field trip transportation for the standard yellow school bus to something special with a San Diego bus rental from Champion. The process is quick and easy. All you need to do is get together your headcount, travel dates, and addresses of the stops on your itinerary. From there, call 619-629-0453 when you are ready. You will be connected with a reservation specialist who can answer any of your questions and can secure a free, no-obligation quote for your customized bus rental in San Diego. 

San Diego Charter Buses for All School Groups

At Champion, we offer a variety of San Diego charter bus rentals for all class sizes. Smaller classes can opt for a minibus that can accommodate 18, 20, or 25 people. And larger classes can reserve a 56-passenger charter bus rental with amenities like an onboard restroom and TVs. We also offer ADA-accessible bus rentals in San Diego for any students with special mobility needs at no extra cost.

A field trip bus rental in San Diego offers advantages over a transitional yellow school bus. This starts with enhanced safety features, as charter buses offer seat belts for added protection. A charter bus also offers air conditioning, whereas many yellow school buses don’t. Not to mention much more comfortable cushioned seats that also recline. And those are only the basic upgrades! Where a charter bus rental really shines over a school bus is the added amenities to keep students entertained, comfortable, and engaged. 

Depending on the bus size, you have access to amenities like WiFi, power outlets, TVs, a PA system, and even an onboard restroom. A PA system allows you to play fun music for the road, while onboard TVs and restrooms can help minimize pit stops and keep your class entertained for longer field trips to Los Angeles or other nearby cities. And best of all, you can count on having a safe, reliable charter bus driver who will aim to arrive at each stop on your itinerary 15 minutes early. Keep all your students together, and everything according to schedule. 

San Diego’s Best Field Trips

Ready to get your San Diego field trip started? Bring Champion along for the ride! We have put together a list of some of the best places to take student groups in San Diego for field trips. From museums to outdoor activities to Petco Park, you will find the best places in San Diego for educational opportunities and fun. And when you are ready to book your group transportation, give Champion a call at 619-629-0453. We are available 24/7 and can’t wait to assist you!

Museums: Military, Aviation, and Sea

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Address: 1492 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-9153

The Maritime Museum of San Diego has helped preserve one of the largest collections of historic sea vessels in the country since 1948. Students of all grade levels and interests will enjoy learning about the history and science of sea travel and going out to see for tours on the historic vessels. The museum offers numerous programs, workshops, and guided tours for all grade levels. 

USS Midway Museum

Address: 910 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 544-9600

What’s unique about the USS Midway Museum is that it houses the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the United States, the titular USS Midway. This museum also hosts an extensive collection of both watercraft and aircraft and features a self-guided tour narrated by former Midway sailors.

San Diego Air & Space Museum

Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-8291

At the San Diego Air & Space Museum, you can see many of the original (as well as reproductions) historic aircraft and spacecraft. This includes the original Apollo 9 command module. The museum also features artifacts, an image collection, a film and audio archive, and restoration projects. The exhibits take visitors through the history of aviation while highlighting San Diego’s contributions to flight.

Museums: Art, Culture, & Science

The New Children’s Museum

Address: 200 W Island Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 233-8792

Your students will “Think, Play, Create” at this museum. The museum encourages creativity and thinking through educational courses, sculptures, and contemporary art exhibits. There are programs available for children and adults of all ages, with a “Tot Studio” for small children and even occasional 21+ events for adults and parents.

Fleet Science Center

Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 238-1233

Like other attractions in San Diego like the Zoo, the Fleet Science Center museum and planetarium were trendsetters. They set a new standard for major modern science museums when they combined their interactive science exhibits with a planetarium and an IMAX Dome theater. Their numerous exhibits and planetarium will leave visitors of all ages starstruck. Like many other museums at Balboa Park, parking is limited and fills quickly. With your own private San Diego charter bus, this won’t be an issue. Your charter bus driver can simply drop you and your students off at the front of the museum!

Mingei International Museum

Address: Balboa Park, Plaza de Panama, 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 239-0003

This museum’s collection houses more than 26,000 pieces of folk art and is free to enter. The Mingei International Museum aims to celebrate human creativity while conserving folk art, craft, and design. The Commons level is free to all, and the Gallery level is free to children but $15 for adults. Keep in mind, the museum is currently closed on Mondays.

Junípero Serra Museum

Address: 2727 Presidio Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 232-6203

This Spanish Revival-style landmark offers field trips for elementary and middle school students. It offers a chance to learn about the history of San Diego before California became a state. The museum is named after Father Junípero Serra, who established California’s first mission and presidio.

Museum of Photographic Arts

Address: 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 238-7559

Since 1983, the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego has aimed to preserve photography, film, and video dating back to the earliest days of this art form. The gallery has a classroom and theater for learning more about the art mediums, a print viewing room, and a library, plus a permanent collection on display.  

San Diego Automotive Museum

Address: 2080 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 231-2886

At the San Diego Automotive Museum, students can explore the history of automotive technology and culture with the museum’s collection of cars, motorcycles, and more. The museum offers self-guided and docent-led field trips for K-8th grade students and showcases rotating exhibits of cars from various eras of automotive history. 

Outdoor Activities

Cabrillo National Monument

Address: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 523-4285

First on our list of outdoor activities in San Diego that we love is The Cabrillo National Monument. The historical monument is named for Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo and commemorates the first instance of a European expedition setting foot on the west coast of the United States. Throughout the year, the park also hosts various cultural events that showcase Kumeyaay, Portuguese, and Mexican singing and dancing.

San Diego Zoo

Address: 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 231-1515

Often cited as the best zoo in the country, the San Diego Zoo is a leader in wildlife conservation and education, and houses more than 4,000 animals and 650 species across 100 acres. The Safari Park enables visitors to go on a safari-style tour to see the animals and is about 40 minutes away by charter bus from the zoo. You can easily make an entire day out of seeing the San Diego Zoo, and a nice, air-conditioned charter bus is a great vehicle for you and your students to come back to after a long day in the sun. 

Japanese Friendship Garden

Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 232-2721

Students and teachers alike will love visiting this beautiful and tranquil garden. In addition to its beautiful gardens and waterfall, the location offers tours and rotating exhibits for additional education and enjoyment. The garden also has programs such as monthly craft clubs, weekly meditation, and even summer camps. Be sure to visit their website to learn about current programs before you plan your trip.

Presidio Park

Address: 2811 Jackson Street, San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: (619) 692-4918

The beautiful Presidio Park in San Diego marks the location where the first European settlements in the present-day Western United States were founded in 1769. The park features spots like Inspiration Point, Palm Canyon, and The Arbor, which are perfect for faculty meetings, graduation parties, or other gatherings outside of school.

Other San Diego Field Trip Destinations

Petco Park

Address: 100 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 795-5025

Though Petco Park is known for hosting the San Diego Padres, there’s plenty more you can get out of a visit there with your students. It’s open for tours every week, which are free for students under 36 inches in height, and $30 each for other attendees. Prices can fluctuate depending on the season. The tour is approximately 80 minutes long and features the following stops: Field Warning Track. Cutwater Coronado Club, Padres Hall of Fame Presented by Motorola, Press Box. Private Luxury Suite, and Breitbard Hall of Fame.

San Diego International Airport

Address: 3225 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 400-2404

In addition to offering guided tours focused on the flights and airport, the San Diego International Airport has an arts program that aims to delight airport visitors and pay homage to the city’s unique art culture. Teachers and students can head to the airport to enjoy public art, exhibitions, and even performing arts like live music. The best way to learn about the San Diego International Airport and see the highlights is to sign up for a guided tour, which is around two hours long and offered every other week during specific times on Thursday and Friday.

Book Your San Diego Field Trip Charter Bus

At Champion Charter Bus, we pride ourselves on connecting you with quality bus rentals in San Diego that are safe and dependable and meet all your needs and more. When you are ready, give our 24/7 team a call at 619-629-0453. We can answer any questions you have about San Diego charter bus pricing and connect you to the perfect charter bus in a matter of minutes. Safe travels!