Getting around · San Diego · United States
Getting around San Diego
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: preserveamerica.gov, Public domain
Quick answer
San Diego is spread out, and most visitors use a mix of the MTS trolley and buses, rideshare and a car for the beaches north of the city. Downtown, Little Italy and the Embarcadero are walkable, and Coronado is a short ferry ride across the bay. Not for downtown, Balboa Park and Coronado, but a car or rideshare makes La Jolla, Torrey Pines and the northern beaches much easier, and is close to essential for day trips inland.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- SAN
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- PRONTO
Ways to get around
Tram
The MTS San Diego Trolley runs light-rail lines linking downtown with Old Town, Mission Valley, the San Ysidro border crossing and, on the Blue Line, the UC San Diego area near La Jolla.
Pay with the PRONTO app or card; fares cap at a daily maximum.
Bus
MTS buses fill the gaps, including routes to Balboa Park, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla, though journeys to the beaches can be slow.
Ferry
The Coronado Ferry crosses the bay from Broadway Pier and the Convention Center to the Coronado Ferry Landing in about 15 minutes, with skyline views.
Car
A car makes it easy to combine La Jolla, Torrey Pines and the beaches with day trips north and inland; downtown and La Jolla parking is expensive and limited.
Avoid Interstate 5 northbound at weekday rush hours.
Cycling
The flat Mission Beach–Pacific Beach boardwalk, Coronado and the Bayshore Bikeway are good for cycling, and rental bikes and e-scooters are common in beach areas.
Train
The Coaster commuter train runs from downtown's Santa Fe Depot up the coast to Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside, and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains continue to Los Angeles.
Tickets and passes
PRONTO
The region's reloadable fare card and app for trolley, MTS buses and the Coaster, with daily and monthly fare capping.
From the airport
San Diego International Airport is about 5 km from downtown, one of the closest airports to a city centre in the US. A taxi or rideshare to the Gaslamp takes about 10–15 minutes, and an MTS bus links the terminals with downtown.
Do you need a car?
Not for downtown, Balboa Park and Coronado, but a car or rideshare makes La Jolla, Torrey Pines and the northern beaches much easier, and is close to essential for day trips inland.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Zoo Safari Park | About 45 minutes by car | Car via Interstate 15 to Escondido |
| Carlsbad and LEGOLAND California | About 45 minutes by car or 1 hour by Coaster | Car via Interstate 5, or Coaster train to Carlsbad |
| Encinitas and the North County coast | About 35 minutes by car or Coaster | Coaster train to Solana Beach or Encinitas, or car |
| Julian | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car via State Route 78 or 79 |
| Anza-Borrego Desert State Park | About 2 hours by car | Car via Julian to Borrego Springs |
| Temecula Valley wine country | About 1 hour by car | Car via Interstate 15, or an organised wine tour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in San Diego?
Not for downtown, Balboa Park and Coronado, but a car or rideshare makes La Jolla, Torrey Pines and the northern beaches much easier, and is close to essential for day trips inland.
+How do you get from the airport to San Diego?
San Diego International Airport is about 5 km from downtown, one of the closest airports to a city centre in the US. A taxi or rideshare to the Gaslamp takes about 10–15 minutes, and an MTS bus links the terminals with downtown.
+What is the best way to get around San Diego?
Tram: The MTS San Diego Trolley runs light-rail lines linking downtown with Old Town, Mission Valley, the San Ysidro border crossing and, on the Blue Line, the UC San Diego area near La Jolla.