San Diego Comic-Con is one of the biggest pop culture events on the planet. Every summer, more than 130,000 fans descend on the San Diego Convention Center for five days of panels, exclusives, celebrity sightings, cosplay, and enough free posters to wallpaper your living room. Whether you scored a badge or you are just visiting San Diego during con week, there is a lot to see, do, and plan for. Here is everything you need to know.
A Little Background
Comic-Con started in 1970 as a small gathering of about 100 comic book fans at the US Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. Over the decades, it grew from a niche hobby meetup into a full-blown cultural event. Hollywood took notice in the late ’90s, and today the convention is where major studios debut trailers, announce new projects, and send their biggest stars to meet fans. It moved to the San Diego Convention Center in 1991 and has been there ever since. You can read more about the history and learn more about San Diego Comic-Con right here on their official website.
Getting to the Convention Center
The area around the convention center is largely closed to traffic during Comic-Con. Harbor Drive is blocked off, and nearby streets are restricted to pedestrians. Driving in and parking close by requires a lottery organized by ACE Parking, and spots go fast. Street parking further out is an option, but expect a long walk.
Rideshares like Uber and Lyft, as well as taxis, work fine, though demand is high and prices reflect it. Uber Pool and similar shared-ride options tend to be easier to arrange during con week because so many people are heading in the same direction.
The San Diego Trolley is the easiest and most affordable way to get to Comic-Con. The Green Line connects you straight to the convention center, and the two best stops to get off at downtown are Convention Center Station (closest to Hall A) and Gaslamp Quarter Station (near Hall E). A one-way trip is a flat $2.50, and you can pay by tapping a Pronto card, a contactless credit or debit card, or a smart device. Multi-day passes are available at a discounted rate during Comic-Con week, and MTS even produces limited-edition Comic-Con-themed Pronto cards as souvenirs. On weekdays, the last train runs at midnight, so you have plenty of time to enjoy evening off-site events without worrying about getting back.
Guests at San Diego RV Resort can board the Green Line at nearby 70th Street Station and ride straight to the convention center. No parking lottery, no surge pricing, no stress. Just tap and go.
What to Pack
Whether you are heading into the convention center or spending the day exploring off-site events, here is what experienced Comic-Con attendees swear by:
The essentials:
Your phone, a portable battery and charging cable, a way to pay (card, cash, or mobile pay), comfortable shoes, a water bottle, and your own food or snacks. The convention center is massive, and you will walk far more than you expect. Food inside the exhibit hall is overpriced and always has a line.
Highly recommended:
Sunblock (especially if you end up in outdoor lines), hand sanitizer, a poster tube or plastic top loader for prints, a slim backpack or shoulder bag for your valuables, and a couple of extra tote bags in case you buy more than planned.
Nice to have:
A light hoodie or jacket for air-conditioned panel rooms, a small fan for when it gets warm, a basic first aid kit with painkillers and bandages, a Sharpie for autographs, and a notepad for jotting down plans or booth numbers.
What to Expect Inside
If you have a badge, you are in for a treat. The convention center spans halls A through H, and the exhibit hall alone stretches about half a kilometer. If you do not have a badge, skip ahead to the section on off-site events, where there is plenty to do without ever stepping inside. Here is how the space generally breaks down for badge holders.
The Exhibit Hall
is the main floor where all the booths are. Artists Alley is near the entrance by Hall G, where you can meet comic book artists and independent illustrators, browse original artwork, and commission pieces. Funko typically takes up a large section nearby with colorful themed booths and some of the most popular exclusives.
As you move toward the center, you will find the biggest names: Marvel, Star Wars, LEGO, major film studios, television networks, and streaming platforms. This is where the largest booths, the best free swag, and the biggest crowds all converge. Staff and volunteers keep foot traffic moving, so if you need to stop and dig through your bag, step into a booth rather than blocking the main aisles.
Toward the other end, you will find the IP Pavilion (mid-level publishers), Small Press (independent comic creators), the Gold and Silver Pavilion (vintage comics behind glass), and video game booths with playable demos near Hall A.
The Upper Level
houses the sales pavilion for badge pickup, the celebrity autograph area, and dozens of panel rooms of all sizes.
The Mezzanine
is a hidden gem that many first-timers miss entirely. It features fan tables run by cosplay groups, gaming communities, and fan clubs. There are also rooms full of free board game and card game demos, official Pokémon TCG play, and Dungeons & Dragons sessions through the Adventurers League. It is one of the best ways to take a break, rest your legs, and have fun without spending a dime.
You Do Not Need a Badge to Have a Great Time
Here is something that surprises many people: Comic-Con week in San Diego is an experience that extends well beyond the convention center walls, and much of it is free and open to the public.
The Petco Park Interactive Zone
is a large pop-up fair in a parking lot near the convention center. It is filled with hands-on exhibits, pop-up experiences, and food trucks. No badge required to enter, and it has become one of the most popular spots for families looking to enjoy the Comic-Con atmosphere without needing a ticket. If you are staying at San Diego RV Resort with kids, this is a great reason to hop on the trolley and spend an afternoon downtown.
Off-site events
pop up all over downtown San Diego in shops, restaurants, parks, venues, and even nightclubs. Past years have featured everything from Star Trek exhibitions and fantasy tavern pop-ups to live art shows and fan meetups. These are organized independently of Comic-Con and are almost always open to the public.
The Marriott Marquis
hosts several official Comic-Con off-site events, including gaming lounges, a pinball arcade full of free machines, film screenings, and the Comic-Con merch shop. The Manchester Grand Hyatt typically features pop culture art shows and the Comic-Con Blood Drive. On Thursday evening, the Manchester also hosts the Her Universe Fashion Show, a geek-themed fashion competition that does not require a badge and draws huge crowds.
The waterfront along San Diego Bay, directly behind the convention center, almost always features pop-up experiences, inflatables, and interactive installations for the public. Keep an eye on the San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog in the weeks leading up to the event for a running list of all announced off-site experiences.
Quick Tips from Experienced Attendees
Make a plan each day.
There is too much happening at Comic-Con to wing it. Make a plan each day so you know which booths to visit, which off-site events to check out, and what parts of the convention center to explore. It is also smart to set a meetup point with your group ahead of time. With this many people in downtown San Diego, cell service can get spotty, so having a designated spot to regroup makes a big difference if you get separated.
Bring your own food.
If you run out of snacks, Ralphs on G Street and Subway on K Street are close by, much cheaper than the convention food, and fully staffed during con week.
Watch for free swag.
Many booths give away posters, stickers, pins, and sometimes even t-shirts or books. Some will ask to scan your badge in exchange, which just adds you to an email list.
Ask cosplayers for photos.
They work hard on their costumes and love the attention. Most have poses ready to go.
Take breaks.
The outdoor mezzanine area is shaded, quiet, and a perfect spot to recharge with a snack and some fresh air. Seaport Village is just a short walk from the convention center, and it’s a perfect place to hang out and take a break.
Explore San Diego after the con.
If you are visiting from out of town, build in at least an extra day. San Diego Zoo, the USS Midway Museum, Old Town, Sunset Cliffs, La Jolla, and Balboa Park are all worth your time.
San Diego offers Daily, Weekly, and monthly stays this summer
Make San Diego RV Resort Your Comic-Con Home Base
San Diego RV Resort is one of the best places to stay during Comic-Con week. The resort sits right on the Green Line, with 70th Street Station just minutes away. Board the trolley and ride directly to Convention Center Station or Gaslamp Quarter Station to be in the middle of all the action. On weekdays, the last train runs at midnight, so you can enjoy evening events downtown and still get back with ease.
The resort is perfect for families, too. Comic-Con week is packed with free, badge-free activities that kids and parents can enjoy together, from the Petco Park Interactive Zone to the waterfront pop-ups along San Diego Bay. Spend the day exploring downtown, then come back to the resort where the kids can run around and everyone has room to relax.
If you are planning a trip to San Diego during Comic-Con week, book your stay early and give yourself a comfortable home base with full hookups, room to spread out, and a direct trolley line to the convention center. And if you are already a guest at the resort during con week, take advantage of it. Whether you have a badge or not, there is so much to see and do that it is worth making the trip.
Comic-Con week only comes around once a year. Do not miss out on one of San Diego’s biggest events when it is right at your doorstep.
