
San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More worth booking?
San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More is a 5-hour experience in San Diego, United States, from $479 per person. It scores 53 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 5 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 53 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (5)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $479 per person
This is the only tour to my knowledge where you can visit many of the Top Gun filming locations in San Diego County. You will get to see why movie producers selected this part of the world when choosing a great movie location.
What you get
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- In-vehicle air conditioning
About this experience
This is the only tour to my knowledge where you can visit many of the Top Gun filming locations in San Diego County. You will get to see why movie producers selected this part of the world when choosing a great movie location.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- In-vehicle air conditioning
Not included
- Gratuities
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
San Diego
Liberty Station | 2820 Roosevelt Rd. (at Historic Decatur Road), Point Loma This historic location used to serve as the Naval Training Center San Diego and is seen around the 52:33 mark, as Charlie tries to catch up with Maverick. We’d recognize those arches + windows anywhere.
20 minutes here
Oceanside
The Graves House (aka “Charlie’s House ”) | 250 N. Pacific St. (at Mission Pacific Hotel), Oceanside The seaside cottage and its sweeping views in San Diego’s North County is unforgettable at the film’s 42:48 mark, as Maverick rides his motorcycle to the front door — and again at 1:24:51. The small, folk-style Victorian bungalow was built in 1887 by Dr. Henry Graves, and is the one of the oldest homes still standing in Oceanside. In May 2020, the home was moved down the street from its original location to the new Mission Pacific Hotel . Restored and looking gorgeous , “Charlie’s House” reopened in May 2022 as a sweets shop called High-Pie . It’s open daily, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
40 minutes here
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery was featured in Top Gun: Maverick as the location for Iceman's funeral. The cemetery is a real, active U.S. Navy national cemetery located in San Diego, California, offering visitors and family members a chance to pay their respects among white headstones with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay.
Pass by without stopping
Point Loma
New Point Loma Lighthouse This sprawling property at the tip of Point Loma served as the home of “Viper,” the commanding officer of Top Gun in the movie. These nice digs are best seen from Cabrillo National Monument or by boat sailing around the tip of Point Loma.
Pass by without stopping
USS Midway Museum
This historic aircraft carrier, now a massive museum on San Diego’s Embarcadero, hosted the splashy world premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick” earlier in May — complete with an appearance by Tom Cruise, who arrived at the ship by helicopter. (Other premiere events took place on Coronado and at Downtown’s Civic Theatre.) The USS Midway Museum, a floating city at sea, is a place that real-life counterparts to Maverick, Goose and Iceman called home. Now you can explore the ship’s galleys, sleeping quarters, the 4-acre flight deck and more.
Pass by without stopping
San Diego
Kansas City Barbeque | 600 W. Harbor Drive, Embarcadero This longtime sports bar + BBQ restaurant is where Goose (Anthony Edwards) and Maverick (Tom Cruise) hop on the piano and play “Great Balls of Fire” as Carole (Meg Ryan) and Charlie (Kelly McGillis) sing along. If you’re streaming the movie, catch the location at around the 1:01:37 mark and again at 1:43. Kansas City Barbeque There’s “Top Gun” memorabilia in every nook + cranny of Kansas City Barbeque. Today, Kansas City Barbeque is filled to the brim with memorabilia from the movie — and that very same piano, which is the bar owner’s personal childhood instrument. You can even sit at the keys and have yourself a little fan moment. Pro tip: This famous spot can get crowded on weekends, so consider a weekday visit.
60 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
San Diego
Outside the main entrance of the hotel lobby.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Outside the main entrance of the hotel lobby.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Alba Tours
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
The guide
1 mentionTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
1 mentionThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Value for money
1 mentionTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
5 verified traveler reviews for San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Best Top Gun Tour!
Darren was very friendly and knowledgeable. We had so much fun with his top gun tour! Thank you so much for being so patient with my autistic son!
via Viator
A must for Top Gun fans.
Darren arrived at our hotel to take us on our tour suitably attired (I trust he had heard from Goose!). We, however let the side down, no Top Gun attire on us. Snacks and drinks supplied, we headed off on our tour, with Top Gun songs on the radio and Darren outlining the places we were to visit along with film and location background details. Charlie's little house, with Tom's replica Ninja 900 bike outside, able to be sat on for photos, with Darren supplying the jacket and baseball cap. Viper's 'lighthouse', Kansas City Barbeque, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, from TG Maverick, a beautiful, emotional last resting place overlooking the sea and San Diego along with other locations were visited. At the end of the tour Darren offered to collect our cases from the hotel and take us to the Old Town Transportation Center to catch the Amtrak to Anaheim, an above and beyond offer that helped us enormously. Wholeheartedly recommend Darren and his Top Gun tour for all of those fans out there.
Response from the operator: Thanks so much for your review Debbie, i really appreciate that. So happy to hear that you enjoyed the Top Gun Tour. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in California.
via Tripadvisor
Fantastic Top Gun Tour – Highly Recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Top Gun Tour in San Diego was fantastic from start to finish! The pick-up and drop-off right from where we were staying made everything so easy and convenient. Darren was brilliant and had excellent knowledge of the area and all things Top Gun. He was friendly, informative and made the whole experience really enjoyable. He even provided drinks and snacks along the way, which was a lovely extra touch. It was excellent value for money and a great way to see the Top Gun locations. We absolutely loved it and would highly recommend this tour to anyone who loves Top Gun! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
via Tripadvisor
Wonderful experience
Guide was flexible and picked us up at our hotel. He then informed us of the daily itinerary. We selected where to first based on current traffic for that morning and followed that pattern throughout the tour. Our guide was knowledge about the surrounding area and the movie knowledge. Enjoyed the tour and our guide.
Response from the operator: Thanks for your review Todd, glad you enjoyed the tour. It was a pleasure meeting both of you.
via Tripadvisor
Top Gun House and Pie Shop
The real Top Gun house from the Top Gun movie. Cute bungalow that is a pie shop, with small fruit pies and a few other treats and coffee and other drinks. Worth a stop. The pies are small, just right for one person, and delicious. Right across from the Oceanside Pier and on the grounds of the Mission Pacific Beach Resort.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $479 to $489
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Alba Tours, who run 11 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 51.4.
See everything Alba Tours runsWhy this scores 53
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for San Diego.
How much does San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More cost?
+
Prices start at $479 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in San Diego usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More take?
+
Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in San Diego is not rushed.
Is San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 53 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 5 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in San Diego, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More?
+
Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More?
+
Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in San Diego can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in San Diego and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central San Diego within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in San Diego?
+
San Diego is an outdoor-first city: whale watching from December through April, La Jolla kayak and snorkel runs year round, harbour cruises and the USS Midway, plus Balboa Park museums when the marine layer sits low. We rank water operators on group ratios and gear quality, which is where the cheap La Jolla trips fall down. On Outty we rank every San Diego experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date, Taste of Little Italy in San Diego, San Diego Whale Watching Cruise. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit San Diego?
+
March to May and September to November, either side of the June overcast. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in San Diego?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More?
+
Included: Private transportation; Bottled water; Snacks; and In-vehicle air conditioning. Not included: Gratuities; and Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More include hotel pickup?
+
Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 39 listed pickup locations in and around San Diego. Be ready about 5 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More offered in?
+
It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More?
+
Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More if the weather is bad?
+
It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in San Diego. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More?
+
Across 5 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, food and drink, the guide. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for San Diego Tour, Top Gun Bar, Miramar, Charlies House & More.
Pick your date




