Mira Mesa was established in the 1950s as a residential area for the Naval Air Station at Miramar to the south. The neighborhood runs across the southern edge of the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve between I-15 and I-5. Eight community parks including an active teen center and a senior center are located in this neighborhood. Facilities include an ice arena and an aquatic complex.

Mira Mesa Boulevard bisects the area and provides shopping and office space. A new commercial development that includes a movie complex and a number of popular stores has recently been constructed near the I-15 intersection. A thriving group of Vietnamese restaurants and markets can be found near the intersection of Black Mountain Road.  Further west, newer business parks and office buildings take advantage of the area's easy access to both I-805 and I-5.