How to Visit the Olympic Training Center in San Diego with Kids (Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, Chula Vista, California)
My family recently took a day trip to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, near San Diego (in the Otay Ranch/Eastlake Area).
It was such a special visit, especially with the Paris Olympics around the corner (and the LA Olympics in 2028!)
Technically called the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, this is an Olympic Training “Site” and potential Olympians /Paralympians, along with other athletes, come here to train… some for special short-term practices, while others come to stay, more like boarding school.
There are 3 ways to visit:
1 Take the free self-guided, mile-long walking path through campus (available daylight hrs Mon - Sat). If you’re local, this could be a great option! There’s not a ton to see just from the path, but you can see fields/tracks in the distance, with some informational signs.
The path is lovely, but fyi there is little shade. Bring water bottles for all + strollers for little ones! (If you’re not local to San Diego, coming all the way to just walk the path could be kind of a letdown ).
2 Take a guided tour (weekdays). Tours are $10/person for just the path, $20 to go inside some buildings, or $45 each to eat lunch in the cafeteria too. I think tours are sometimes led by athletes… cool! Call ahead or visit web site to schedule a tour.
3 Come for a special event - this is what we did. We happened to plan our visit for the day of a Team USA archery event. It meant no tour, but we got a free glimpse at a real competition, which was fun!
My kids loved getting autographs from athletes + it was fun to chat with other fans and learn about archery! Sometimes the centers host fun runs, competitions, or community events - here are a few upcoming ones:
Special Events:
SoCal Showdown (Archery) - this is what we attended, I think it happens every June
Chula Vista Champions 5k (you can participate!)
FourthFest (but not sure how much of the grounds are open - mostly fireworks viewing I think)
Cal State Games - this Olympic-style event for kids happens in July 2024 not only here but at locations around San Diego. Seems pretty cool!
Chula Vista BMX I couldn’t find any recent info about this, but seems like potentially children through adults can come ride BMX on the track here? Neat!
No matter which option you choose, stop by the visitor center at the front, which has real bathrooms + a gift shop (open Mon - Fri). There are also outdoor tables if you want to pack lunch/snacks. Parking is free!
Don’t expect to see Olympians at every turn, but if you’re looking for a nice place to spend an hour or two, be outdoors, let your kids walk around + learn a bit about the Olympics, it’s worth a visit!