The flowers cover about a mile of hillside along Interstate 5, north of Palomar Airport Road. The fields stretch out in alternating bands of red, yellow, orange and pink. Although most of the fields are planted in ranunculus, visitors can see other varieties of flowers such as gladiolus, watzonia, star of Bethlehem, oxalis, and spraxis. Visitors have been traveling to Carlsbad for more than 60 years to view the rainbows of colorful ranunculus that blanket the fields each spring. Last year more than 200,000 camera-toting visitors strolled through the fields on designated paths.
Parking is free.
There is also a picnic area open to the public. Those who would like to take home a memento can buy fresh-cut ranunculus, plus bulbs, potted plants, or a variety of specialty items. Open cockpit biplane rides are also available over the flower fields in season and along Carlsbad's spectacular beaches year round. Visitors should take Interstate 5 to the Palomar Airport Road exit, go east on Palomar Airport Road to the first stoplight at Paseo Del Norte and make a left. The entrance to visitor parking will be on the right.