Running Tour La Jolla Coastal 5K 

When planning a visit to La Jolla or San Diego, and looking for fun, memorable things to do, consider our scenic 5K Running Tour La Jolla. 

Once a quaint artists' colony, La Jolla is now a popular tourist destination with a multitude of galleries, cafes, and shops , as well as idyllic beaches, surfing spots, historic cottages, and secret tide-pools. It is also a great spot to go for a run!

Our Coastal 5K Running Tour La Jolla

We run a 3.5-mile course, meandering along the coastline and the historic area of La Jolla, right along the Whale View Point, Children's Pool, La Jolla Cove, and the Cliff Walk.

We may stop several times during the run for great photo opps and to learn about La Jolla's history and culture. 

We end the tour with 5 minutes of "Yoga for Runners," provide a t-shirt, and a complimentary hydration beverage. 

Actual Distance: 3.5 miles  

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

IMPORTANT: This tour is not for walkers. Please do not bring dogs, or strollers. There is no bag check. Please store your belongings in your car, or bring a light-weight running backpack. 

Cool Facts & Hidden Gems Encountered on Running Tour La Jolla

La Jolla Coast and La Jolla Cove are two of the most picturesque and photographed places in San Diego - for their stunning natural beauty. La Jolla Village has unique and storied history that avails itself to perfect on-foot exploration and discovery. 

1. Once in the early 1900s, La Jolla boasted a railway service that ran all the way into San Diego proper. Many La Jolla residents used to take the train to work. The railway was shut down by 1940, and the railway metal sold to the Japanese. The tracks were paved over. Much of that history is now buried under the ground. However, there are still signs and remnants of that past. On our running tour, we run along what was once the railway track, and run through the Archway Building, which used to be the La Jolla depot. 

2. Before the Spanish-revival architecture, and the modern European influence, most of La Jolla looked like Hobbitland - tiny wooden seaside cottages nestled into cliffs and tucked away in the canyons. At one point, in early 1900s, there were over 450 wooden cottages. To this day, some of them are still there, preserved as Historic Landmarks. We run by a few of those inconspicuous houses. 

3. La Jolla Cove coastline is rugged. Big rocks break the waves. Numerous tide-pools dot the flats. Seals and sea-lions crowd the sun-warmed spots on the rocks. However, beaches - actual sandy beaches - are few and far between. Except one spot near the Village - yes, there is a long stretch of sand in La Jolla, but unless you are staying right near it, or manage to convince a local to reveal the secret spot, you are confined to tiny coves and cute bays covered in kelp. Come with us on the running tour La Jolla, and we will reveal the secret! 

Start/Finish Spot: La Jolla Cove in front of the public restrooms and the Lifeguard Station (La Jolla Cove, CA 92037).

Our recent running tour La Jolla crews - enjoying beautiful weather and views along the route - stopping for photos. 

"Incredible family-friendly running tour of La Jolla! Slava is an incredible tour guide and family-friendly run leader. He took our family of four on a gentle 3-mile run along the La Jolla coastline - perfect for my 7- and 11-year-olds and just right for my husband and me. He matched our pace and fitness levels: we stopped frequently, and everywhere we did, he had something interesting to share — about the history of La Jolla, the architecture, the local sea lion population. He also had family-friendly recommendations about where to eat (including vegan hot spots!), where to hike, where to whale watch, and where to visit for kid-accessible culture, people-watching and a more authentic view of San Diego (beyond Sea World and the zoo). If you’re looking for health and fitness, or just an opportunity to travel off the beaten path, you can’t go wrong. Highly recommended - absolutely the unexpected highlight of our trip!"

At the Cove - running tour La Jolla

Along the West coast - a family from East Coast on the running tour La Jolla

Children's Pool - coastal route 5K running tour La Jolla

The Arcade - a former train depot of La Jolla