What are the main convention centers and trade show venues in San Diego?
Our guides cover four. The San Diego Convention Center on the downtown waterfront is the main hall. The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina next door and the Manchester Grand Hyatt about 0.3 mile along the bay both run their own expos, not just room blocks. Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center, opened May 15, 2025, has a 140,049 sq ft exhibit hall on the Chula Vista Bayfront, about 7 miles south.
From our San Diego Convention Center, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guides
How big is the San Diego Convention Center?
About 2.6 million gross sq ft, with 525,701 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space in Halls A to H, one run 1,918 ft long, divisible into up to seven halls. The center's guides count 615,701 sq ft of exhibit space with the 90,000 sq ft Sails Pavilion. Ceilings start at 27 ft 4 in in Halls A to E and rise to 64 ft in Halls F to H.
From our San Diego Convention Center guide
Is San Diego union for trade shows?
Yes, at the convention center. California is not a right-to-work state, and since 2004 the center has recognized the exclusive jurisdiction of IATSE Local 122, IBEW Local 569, IUPAT Local 831 and Teamsters Local 542 over specific exhibit work. The Manchester Grand Hyatt's loading dock is union, according to a 2024 kit. The Marriott Marquis and Gaylord Pacific publish no labor rules of their own, so check your show kit.
From our San Diego Convention Center, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guides
Can I set up my own booth in San Diego?
Only within tight limits downtown. One recent convention center kit let one full-time employee work one hour on installation, at any booth size, with no tools, and one person make one hand-carry trip without a dolly. The Hyatt allowed a one-person, one-trip hand-carry in 2024. At Gaylord Pacific, AMCP Nexus 2026 let exhibitors hire their own installation company if it registered with Shepard.
From our San Diego Convention Center, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guides
How much does drayage cost in San Diego?
Plan about $176 per hundredweight for crated freight, with a 200 lb minimum, at all four venues. That is a Purple planning rate, not a published tariff; no San Diego venue publishes one, and the official contractor's show kit carries the actual rate. On our numbers, 2,000 lbs of crated freight comes to about $3,520 at the convention center. Loose freight, late freight and special handling cost more.
From our San Diego Convention Center, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guides
Can I ship my booth directly to a San Diego hotel?
No. The Manchester Grand Hyatt cannot receive or store exhibit materials, and the Marriott Marquis package room does not accept exhibitor freight. Ship to the general contractor's advance warehouse. Direct show-site deliveries at both hotels and at Gaylord Pacific were accepted only from the first move-in day in the kits we read; earlier freight collected fees or could be refused.
From our Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guides
When are the big San Diego trade shows in 2026 and 2027?
Comic-Con International, July 22–25, 2027, is the biggest, with a planning figure of 130,000+ attendees. The convention center is busy almost all year with medical meetings such as TCT, ASCB, AUA and ARVO, plus Intersolar and WEST in February. The two downtown hotels are busiest in winter, with WORLDSymposium, MBA CREF, NTCA RTIME and AUTM in early 2027, and Gaylord Pacific adds NHIA, FinovateSpring and AAID.
From our San Diego Convention Center, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guides
Which hotels are closest to the San Diego Convention Center?
The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina is about 0.1 mile away and the Manchester Grand Hyatt about 0.3 mile along the bay; a public outdoor walkway links the two hotels. Gaslamp Quarter hotels are a 5 to 15 minute walk across Harbor Drive. Comic-Con fills downtown hotels months ahead each July, so block rooms early if your show falls near those dates.
From our Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and San Diego Convention Center guides
Which airport is closest to San Diego trade show venues?
San Diego International (SAN), about 3 miles and 10 to 15 minutes from the convention center, with the two downtown hotels about the same distance. A new Terminal 1 is under construction, so allow extra time. Gaylord Pacific in Chula Vista is farther out: organizers quote 10 to 12 miles, about 15 to 30 minutes by car.
From our San Diego Convention Center, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guides
Which San Diego venue suits a smaller expo or a hotel ballroom show?
Both downtown hotels run expos on their own. The Manchester Grand Hyatt's 34,000 sq ft Grand Hall has a ceiling of about 14 ft, and NTCA RTIME 2027 caps booths there at 12 ft. The Marriott Marquis has two 35,631 sq ft ballrooms, the Marriott Grand at 26 ft and the Pacific at 16 ft. Gaylord Pacific's hall splits into eight sections, the smallest 6,552 sq ft, under a 34 ft ceiling.
From our Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guides
What should I know about parking and move-in in San Diego?
The convention center's 1,950-space garage is entered from Harbor Drive, with no in-and-out privileges and no RVs, and a 2,000-space structure sits at Harbor Drive and Park Avenue. Trucks are called in from the contractor's off-site marshaling. The Manchester Grand Hyatt's garage clearance is listed at 6 ft 7 in, so a high-roof van may not fit. Gaylord Pacific's 2026 event rates are $45 a day self-park and $65 valet.
From our San Diego Convention Center, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guides
Is Gaylord Pacific in San Diego?
No. Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center is at 1000 H Street in Chula Vista, on the Chula Vista Bayfront about 7 miles south of downtown San Diego, though many show sites just say San Diego. Put Chula Vista on every bill of lading, check where your show's advance warehouse is, and plan a drive of roughly 15 minutes without traffic if your team stays downtown.
From our Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center guide