Why visit La Mesa
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 45 parks and trails, 253 places to eat, 17 places to stay and 11 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Reading Cinema, Adobe Falls, Aztec Bowl and Hubert H. Bancroft Ranch House.
Weather in La Mesa
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About La Mesa
La Mesa (lit. 'The Table') is a city in San Diego County, California, United States, located nine miles (14 kilometers) east of downtown San Diego in Southern California. The population was 61,121 at the 2020 census, up from 57,065 at the 2010 census. Its civic motto is "the Jewel of the Hills."
From the Wikipedia article La Mesa, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do11
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Museums and landmarks7
Aztec Bowl
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Former stadium in San Diego
Hubert H. Bancroft Ranch House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Building in San Diego County, United States of America
San Diego State University campus
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
University campus in San Diego (1931-)
Parks, trails and playgrounds45
Eucalyptus County Park
Park · 1.2 mi
Park in California, United States of America
Mission Trails Regional Park
Park · 4.4 mi
Open space preserve within the city of San Diego, California
33 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes253
Ahi Sushi & Grill
Restaurant · Sushi, Japanese · 2.2 mi
2872 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon
Mo-Su 11:30-14:30,16:00-21:00
Casa Gabriela
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.4 mi
8384 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa
Tu-Fr 15:30-21:00; Sa-Su 10:30-14:30, 15:30-21:00
Coop's West Texas BBQ
Restaurant · American, Barbecue, Regional · 2.8 mi
2625 Lemon Grove Avenue
Fr-Su 10:00-15:00
Dirty Birds Bar and Grill
Diner · American · 2.5 mi
6499 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
El Chile Relleno
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.8 mi
2605 Lemon Grove Avenue
Fr-Su 08:00-19:00; Tu-Th 11:00-19:00
El Pollo Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.1 mi
7836 Broadway
Tu-Fr 09:00-21:00; Mo, Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-17:00
241 more on the map.
History
Before European colonization, the area that is now La Mesa was home to the Kumeyaay. The Kumeyaay were a Yuman-speaking people who practiced horticulture and hunting and gathering. The Kumeyaay organized themselves into a federation of self-governed bands, or clans. Beginning in 1769, the Kumeyaay of La Mesa and the larger San Diego County region were enslaved by Spanish colonists or later forcibly relocated to reservations.
La Mesa in Spanish means "the table", or alternately "the plateau", relating to its geography. La Mesa was part of a larger tract, Mission San Diego de Alcalá, and was used by Spanish missionaries.
Through the years, the Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers valued La Mesa for its natural springs. In 1868, stockman Robert Allison moved to the area and purchased 4,000 acres of land from the heirs of Santiago Arguello, commandant of the Presidio of San Diego. This land became La Mesa, and the "Allison" natural springs were renamed the "La Mesa Springs." The importance of the springs is still reflected today in the name of the prominent "Spring Street," which passes through downtown La Mesa, and with the preservation of the spring house in Collier Park.
La Mesa was founded in 1869 and The City of La Mesa was incorporated on February 16, 1912. Its official flower is the bougainvillea.
From the History section of La Mesa, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay17
Rodeway Inn & Suites El Cajon San Diego East
Motel and hotel · 2.0 mi
1250 El Cajon Boulevard, El Cajon
Heritage Inn La Mesa CA Motel
Motel and hotel · 0.7 mi
7851 Fletcher Pkwy, La Mesa
Howard Johnson by Wyndham San Diego State University Area
Motel and hotel · 2.6 mi
6440 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego
La Petite Rouge Motel
Motel and hotel · 2.0 mi
6840 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego
Churches and places of worship88
Saint John the Baptizer Catholic Church
Church · Ukrainian Greek Catholic · 0.9 mi
4400 Palm Avenue, La Mesa
Saint John of the Cross Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.9 mi
8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove
Saint Martin of Tours Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.9 mi
7710 El Cajon Boulevard, La Mesa
Shopping50
Vine Ripe Market
Grocery · International, Arab, Indian, Russian · 0.4 mi
8191 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa
Gas and EV charging29
Schools, colleges and libraries92
Healthcare14
Kaiser Permanente - El Cajon Medical Offices
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.5 mi
250 Travelodge Drive, El Cajon
Natural Skin By Tay
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.2 mi
7417 El Cajon Boulevard, La Mesa
Passport Health La Mesa Travel Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.2 mi
5520 Wellesley Street, La Mesa
Map of La Mesa
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
San Diego County has had 35 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-02-19: Severe Storm And Flooding (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-10-16: Wildfires (Fire)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Gillespie Field (SEE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Lemon Grove 3 mi south, about 5 min by car
- Casa de Oro-Mount Helix 3 mi east, about 4 min by car
- El Cajon 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Spring Valley 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- La Presa 4 mi south, about 7 min by car
- Bostonia 5 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- Rancho San Diego 6 mi east, about 9 min by car
- Santee 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
- San Diego 7 mi northwest, about 12 min by car
- Winter Gardens 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Amayatrolley, Stickpen, Public domain
- La Mesa PD under construction - panoramio, Mountain Mike Johans…, CC BY 3.0
- La Mesa, CA, USA - panoramio - Mountain Mike Johans… (1), Mountain Mike Johans…, CC BY 3.0
- La Mesa Boulevard, KurtM88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- La Mesa Library, KurtM88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- La Mesa, CA, USA - panoramio - Mountain Mike Johans…, Mountain Mike Johans…, CC BY 3.0
- 2018-02-17 Eucalyptus Park La Mesa 2199, Animalrescue, Public domain
- 2018-02-20 Eucalyptus Park La Mesa 2241, Animalrescue, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2018-02-20 Eucalytus Park La Mesa 2200, Animalrescue, CC BY-SA 4.0
- MacArthur Park Recreation Center, KurtM88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MacArthur Park, KurtM88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Porter Park, KurtM88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Custom Electric Golf Cart Built by Sundance Golf Cars, SundanceMike, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Seared Ahi, Jamie Hamel Smith, CC BY 3.0
- Home Made Hot Pockets, Jamie Hamel Smith, CC BY 3.0
- Trick Or Treat-boo, Paul Sapiano from San Diego, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Blue Truck, Jamie Hamel Smith, CC BY 3.0
- Filming in California, Mike Avila, CC BY 2.0
- Board VP Chardá Bell-Fontenot, EquityFairy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- McMillan Academy of Law, KurtM88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tracks at Grossmont (49325902516), Jacob G. from Chicago, Ilinois, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Collier Park, KurtM88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Grossmont Station 2012, Koman90, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sharp Grossmont parking garage, Bnuuy, CC0
- Briercrest Park, Bnuuy, CC0
- Looking South (Downstream) from wood bridge at Entrance- restrooms at top - Eucalyptus Trees throughout, Animalrescue, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Little kids 4 seasons playground next to upper lot., Animalrescue, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Four Picnic Tables under the Pavillion, Animalrescue, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Eucalyptus Park, KurtM88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rich thyme bushes of tiny blue flower above the Pavillion, Animalrescue, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rich thyme bushes in tiny blue flower above the Pavillion, Animalrescue, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Partial View from Pavillion, Looking SW at Lower parking lot, Monument, paths, Animalrescue, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Earwig with eggs, Marshal Hedin, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sperm transfer in small Theridion spider (50171196446), Marshal Hedin from San Diego, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Laennecia coulteri 61972766, Jim Julius, CC BY 4.0
- Bust Stop and ALPR - long view, Kire1975, CC0
- Highwood Park, KurtM88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bus Stop ALPR, Kire1975, CC0
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