Transportation
Traveling around San Diego can be fun and entertaining all on its own. If you're planning to explore a wide range of the region, a rental car might be your best option. But, if you opt to stay in the city center, or want to just relax along the coast, public transportation might be the call. Here are a few things to consider:
Exploring San Diego by car is the most convenient way of getting around to all corners of the region. The freeway system is easy to navigate and the traffic is manageable other than typical work-day morning and evening rush hours.
The Rental Car Center at San Diego International Airport provides visitors with an easy, reliable, and comfortable experience for renting a vehicle. The Center is home to most of the rental car companies including national brands, local companies, and independent businesses in one central location.
Many of the car rental companies also provide convenient pick-up services at many of the San Diego hotels. Just be sure to make reservations and arrangements ahead of time. Many hotel concierge services can also offer these services, so check with your hotel on what they can provide for you.
Parking laws are strictly enforced in San Diego including meters, no parking hours/days and permit required. There are numerous pay-to-park lots around the city. This handy apps will show you what's available by neighborhood or nearby.
> Downtown San Diego Parking Map
Looking to explore San Diego in style? There are plenty of limousine or town car services that can take you around town like a VIP. Be it a special occasion like a wedding, bachelor/bachelorette party, anniversary or just because, there are plenty of luxury transport companies available so you can ride in style. There are also party bus tours that can take you to local wineries and breweries, so you can enjoy the spirits of the region without getting behind the wheel.
Conveniently located just ten minutes from downtown San Diego and serviced by 22 major and commuter airlines including non-stop flights from Mexico, Canada, Japan and the UK, San Diego International Airport is managed by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and receives more than 16 million passengers a year.
Flying into San Diego, passengers get a bird's eye view of Balboa Park, downtown and the San Diego Bay on their descent to San Diego International Airport, aka Lindbergh Field. The airport terminals are easy to navigate and offer gourmet food and drink from local restaurants.
A taxi or shuttle is a quick and easy way to get to your destination and they can be found at the island outposts outside of each terminal. The free Airport Shuttles runs between the Sycuan Green Line Middletown Trolley Station and the airport every 10 to 15 minutes. For car rentals, the airport is served by all major car rental agencies. Courtesy phones are located near the baggage claim areas of Terminals 1 and 2.
Airport parking is located outside of all three airport terminals, with valet parking service at Terminals 1 and 2. To save time when you leave, take your parking ticket with you and pre-pay at automated express parking pay stations. With these pre-paid tickets, you can then use the express pay exit lane when leaving the terminal. Otherwise, there are staffed payment booths at the exit gates of each parking lot where you can pay.
Operating seven days a week, early morning to late night, Bus Route 992 offers curbside drop-off/pick-up service right outside baggage claims in both terminals 1 and 2. Equipped with luggage racks, Bus Route 992 runs every 15 minutes on weekdays for most of the day and every 30 minutes on weekends. Purchase a day pass from any ticket machine found near the information booths in both terminals and at any trolley station for unlimited rides on Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Buses and Trolleys during your entire journey. Alternatively, you can download Compass Cloud, the free mobile ticketing app to buy 1-Day and 30-day passes from your smartphone for immediate use anytime, anywhere.
When picking up arriving travelers, curbside parking in front of the terminals is not permitted. If you don't need to meet your group inside and want to avoid circling and wasting gas, the best option is to wait in the airport's convenient cell phone wait lot. Parking in this lot is free for up to 60 minutes, 24 hours a day. Vehicles must be turned off and attended at all times. Once contact is made with the incoming passenger, proceed to the terminals. The lot features food and drink vending machines, flight information displays and portable restrooms. Enter the wait lot west-bound on North Harbor Drive at Rent-a-Car Access Road, just east of the Commuter Terminal.
Created to aid travelers in situations when time, convenience and parking availability are a concern, the valet parking service is available at curbside drop-off locations at Terminals 1 and 2, as well as designated locations within the Terminal 1 parking lot. Look for the SAN Park Valet signs.
Travelers from along the West Coast and beyond can book a seat or berth on an Amtrak train and relax while they enjoy great views of the Pacific Ocean. While in San Diego, visitors can also use the region's Trolley, SPRINTER and COASTER trains to explore the region by rail.
If you're staying in and around Southern San Diego, Downtown, Mission Valley or just east of the city, the iconic Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bright red trolley is a fun, easy and convenient way to get around. The Trolley provides convenient services from key locations including the Santa Fe Depot and the San Diego Convention Center, crisscrossing through downtown and out to Old Town, Mission Valley, El Cajon and Santee.
There are four trolley lines (UC San Diego Blue, Orange, Sycuan Green and SDG&E Silver) that service the Downtown San Diego communities and beyond, covering 53 miles of double-track railway, and 53 stations total. Trolleys run an average of every 15 minutes, 7 minutes during peak and 30 minutes during off-peak hours. For maps and trip planning, visit sdmts.com or call (619) 233-3004.
Another fun way to travel to the main tourist areas of San Diego is on anOld Town Trolley Tour. The Trolley stops at 11 places including Old Town, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado, Little Italy and Balboa Park. They also offer a La Jolla and Mission Bay route. You can either ride on the full two-hour narrated historic tour, or hop on and off at different stops throughout the day. They also offer two-day passes and combination options with their land-and-water SEAL Tours.
> Find out more about Old Town Trolley Tours
The Santa Fe Depot, located in downtown San Diego on Kettner Blvd and Broadway, is the main hub for Amtrak, providing various coastal train services from downtown San Diego to Oceanside and beyond.
There are plenty of connecting services from the Oceanside station, including the Sprinter inland rail that t ravels east to Escondido. You may also ride the Pacific Surfliner train from San Diego to Solana Beach and Oceanside plus Anaheim, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and many places in between.
> Find out more about Amtrak
The North County Transit District's Coaster trains connect downtown San Diego and Old Town with coastal communities throughout the county including Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. These trains offer visitors car-free access to some of the most charming beach communities in the region, as well as a relaxing ride with breathtaking coastal scenery. There are more than 20 trains that run on weekdays with additional service on weekends. The entire coaster route from Oceanside to the Santa Fe Depot downtown takes about an hour. An adult round-trip fare from downtown San Diego to Oceanside is inexpensive, and children aged 5 and under ride free.
> Find out more about the Coaster
The newest option is the east-west SPRINTER light rail train system that connects Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido. The 22-mile long rail system runs along the Highway 78 corridor, serving 15 stations, and running every 30 minutes. Adult one-way fares are inexpensive, and children aged 5 and under ride free. A regional day pass, valid on the Sprinter, Trolley and buses throughout the county, is also available.
> Find out more about the Sprinter
Contrary to the popular perception that motor coach tours are for senior citizens or school groups onfield trips, today's motor coach tour operations offer exciting options for every age and interest with knowledgeable city guides.
If you want to explore San Diego by motor coach, several tours are available . Typically, there are two types of vacations to enjoy on a motor coach. The first is a destination trip, which takes you from another city to your destination with minimal stops. The second option is an escorted vacation trip, which takes you from place to place within the destination you are exploring.
To book a motor coach tour in San Diego explore the companies below that offer everything from exploring the San Diego's wine country, to party bus tours, ski charters and trips into Mexico.
San Diego offers many modes of public transportation providing travelers with economical and eco-friendly options to explore the region. Get your transit pass loaded onto your Compass Card at any trolley station ticket machine, or download Compass Cloud, the free mobile ticketing app where you can purchase 1-day and 30-day passes from your smartphone for immediate use anytime, anywhere.
There are plenty of routes that offer service throughout San Diego including MTS Bus, Rapid, Rapid Express and NCTD BREEZE. Be sure to check schedules and plan your routes in advance. For maps and trip planning for San Diego's South County, visit sdmts.com or call (619) 233-3004. For bus schedules and information for San Diego's North County, visit GoNCTD.com.
Between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, for only $3, visitors can hop aboard the Big Bay Shuttle for an eight-stop ride along San Diego's Bayfront from Harbor Island to the South Embarcadero, near the San Diego Convention Center. The $3 ticket price allows riders on and off privileges for the entire day. Shuttles arrive at each stop every 15 to 20 minutes from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Sunday - Thursday and 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.
> Find out more about the Big Bay Shuttle
San Diego shuttle services are a convenient way to navigate the city and are ideal for airport pick-ups and drop-offs, as well as going to and from the convention center and cruise ship terminal. There are also local shuttle companies that offer sightseeing tours, daily excursions, and transportation for weddings and private parties.
Shuttle service from the airport is available at the transportation plazas across from the San Diego Airport Terminals 1 and 2, and curbside from the Commuter Terminal.
Taxicab stands are located at the airport, most hotels, attractions and shopping centers. Base fare and rates are displayed on the meter and include a flag drop charge plus a per-mile and/or a per-hour charge. If you are traveling from the airport, they will also add $1.50 to your final total. Lyft and Uber are also well established in San Diego and now have access to service San Diego's airport.
Pedicabs and horse-drawn carriages are popular ways to travel along downtown's waterfront and in the Gaslamp Quarter. Tours are readily available as well, providing a unique way to explore San Diego's downtown communities.
This passenger ferry, owned and operated by Flagship Cruises & Events, runs regularly across San Diego Bay, between the Broadway Pier and the Convention Center in downtown San Diego and the Coronado Ferry Landing. Fifteen minutes each way, the ferry ride provides gorgeous views of the downtown skyline and the Coronado Bridge.
> Find out more about the Coronado Ferry
San Diego Water Taxi offers on-call transportation services in San Diego Bay Friday through Sunday. Service runs between Downtown and Coronado, where you can relax and enjoy the scenery and beautiful downtown skylines from the water.
> Find out more about the San Diego Water Taxi
Other options for exploring San Diego include renting a bike, Segway or GoCar (GPS-guided storytelling car).
Centrally located along the bay, Pedego San Diego provides sales, rentals, bike service and more. Pedego Electric Bikes are perfect for the San Diego terrain. Hills, headwinds, and long distances are no match for these powerful bikes. Discover San Diego in a whole new way with Pedego electric bikes.
> Find out more about Pedego San Diego
However you choose to explore San Diego, we invite you to relax and enjoy the ride!
