Getting Around San Diego: Trolley, Bus, Train and Car Guide

Getting around San Diego is easier than many visitors expect, as long as you match the right ride to each trip. The trolley and buses cover downtown, Old Town, Mission Valley and the border. Commuter trains run up the coast. A ferry crosses the bay to Coronado. Taxis, rental cars, shared bikes and private car service fill in the rest. This guide explains each option, what it costs, and when it makes sense.

Quick answer: For most visitors, the best way of getting around San Diego is a mix: the MTS trolley and buses for downtown and Old Town (adult one-way fare $3, daily spending capped at $7 with PRONTO), the COASTER for North County beach towns, the ferry for Coronado, and a private car for the airport, early flights, groups with luggage and full days with several stops. Rental cars suit trips far inland, but you pay for parking almost everywhere.

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San Diego transportation options at a glance

Every option below has a place. The table compares them in plain terms. Fares are adult fares in effect since 1 October 2026, when MTS and North County Transit District (NCTD) raised prices.

Option	Typical cost	Best for	Watch out for
MTS Trolley	$3 one way; $7 daily cap with PRONTO	Downtown, Old Town, Mission Valley, stadium, border	No airport or beach stations
MTS bus	$3 one way; Rapid Express $6	Beaches, La Jolla, Coronado, airport (Route 992)	Slower, transfers on longer trips
COASTER train	$6.50 one way; $15 regional day pass	Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside	Fewer trains than the trolley
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner	Varies by date and class	Trips north toward Los Angeles	Track closures on some weekends
Coronado ferry	From $9 one way	Downtown to Coronado	Hourly from Broadway Pier
Taxi	Metered	Short hops, no booking ahead	Price unknown until the end
Rental car	Daily rate, fuel and parking	Inland and rural trips	Hotel and event parking fees
Shared bikes and scooters	Per minute in the app	Short rides on flat routes	Slow zones, no sidewalk parking
Private car service	Fixed price per vehicle	Airport, groups, luggage, multi-stop days	Book ahead; 3-hour minimum for hourly

San Diego Trolley

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) runs the trolley, the region’s light rail. It links downtown with East County, UC San Diego, the South Bay and the Mexico border at San Ysidro. For visitors, it is the fastest way across the city’s core without traffic.

Trolley lines

UC San Diego Blue Line: UTC Transit Center to San Ysidro. Stops include UC San Diego, Old Town, County Center/Little Italy, Santa Fe Depot and 12th & Imperial.
Green Line: 12th & Imperial to El Cajon. It passes the Gaslamp Quarter, Santa Fe Depot, Old Town, Fashion Valley, Stadium (for Snapdragon Stadium) and SDSU.
Orange Line: Courthouse to El Cajon through southeast San Diego, Lemon Grove and La Mesa.
Copper Line: El Cajon to Santee.

What the trolley does not reach

The trolley does not stop at the airport, the beaches, La Jolla Cove or Coronado. The closest trolley stop to the airport is Middletown, one block from a stop on the free San Diego Flyer shuttle. For anything else on that list, you need a bus, the ferry or a car.

MTS buses and the PRONTO fare card

MTS buses go where the trolley does not. A few routes that visitors use most:

Route 992: Airport Terminals 1 and 2 to downtown (Broadway and Kettner). Every 15 minutes, 4:15 a.m. to midnight, every day.
Route 30: Old Town to Pacific Beach, La Jolla and UTC.
Route 901: Downtown to Coronado, then on to Imperial Beach.

How PRONTO works

PRONTO is the region’s fare system. You can use the PRONTO San Diego app or a reloadable card. Cards are sold at trolley station ticket machines, the MTS Transit Store and retail stores. Tap or scan on every ride, on the bus or on the trolley platform before you board.

One-way adult fare: $3, valid for 2 hours.
Daily cap: once you spend $7 in a day, the rest of the day’s rides are free.
Monthly cap: $85 in a calendar month.
Reduced fare: $1.50 one way and a $3.50 daily cap for eligible seniors, riders with disabilities and Medicare holders (ID required).
Youth: riders 18 and under ride MTS and NCTD free with a Youth PRONTO account.
Rapid Express: $6 one way.

MTS also accepts a tap of a contactless bank card or phone wallet. If you will ride several times a day, PRONTO is the safer way to get the daily cap.

COASTER and Amtrak trains

Two train services run north from downtown’s Santa Fe Depot along the coast.

COASTER

NCTD’s COASTER is a commuter train between Santa Fe Depot and Oceanside, with stops that include Old Town, Solana Beach, Encinitas and Carlsbad. Since October 2026, it has one flat fare: $6.50 one way for adults. A regional day pass costs $15. You can pay with PRONTO by tapping at the platform validator before each trip, but the fare cap does not apply to the COASTER. It is a good choice for a beach day in North County. Trains are less frequent than the trolley, so check the schedule on gonctd.com.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner runs from Santa Fe Depot toward Los Angeles and beyond, with stops in San Diego County such as Old Town and Solana Beach. Fares change by date and class. Amtrak has scheduled weekend track closures between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, including 7 and 8 November 2026, so check service alerts before you plan a trip. From Santa Fe Depot, Route 992 goes to the airport.

Coronado ferry

The Coronado ferry is the most scenic ride in town. Boats leave from Broadway Pier about every hour and from the Convention Center about every 30 minutes. Both land at the Coronado Ferry Landing. The crossing takes about 15 minutes, and one-way tickets start at $9.

The landing is on the bay side of Coronado, more than a mile from Central Beach and the Hotel del Coronado. Plan to walk, ride a bike or take the bus from there. Our Coronado Island guide has more on the ferry and the beaches.

Taxis, rental cars, bikes and scooters

Taxis

Taxis wait at the airport and at many hotels. They are metered. MTS sets the maximum rates in its service area and adjusts them each year. Trips from the airport can include an extra airport trip fee. Taxis work well for short rides when you have not booked ahead, but you will not know the final price until you arrive.

Rental cars

At San Diego International Airport (SAN), rental companies share a Rental Car Center reached by free shuttles from both terminals. A car is useful for trips far inland or into the mountains. In the city, factor in parking. Many hotels charge a nightly fee, downtown meters have posted hours, and the city charges higher meter rates near Petco Park on game and event days.

Bikes and scooters

App-based shared bikes and electric scooters are common downtown, at the beaches and around Mission Bay. City rules slow them down in busy areas and block them on beach boardwalks and the bay walk, where motorized devices are not allowed. You cannot park them on city sidewalks. They are handy for short, flat trips, not for luggage or long distances.

Getting to and from the airport

The airport is about 3 miles from downtown, so most rides are short. Your choices:

Route 992 bus to downtown, every 15 minutes.
San Diego Flyer, a free shuttle to the Old Town Transit Center, for the trolley, COASTER and Amtrak.
Taxi from the taxi stands outside the terminals.
Rental car from the Rental Car Center.
Private car service, pre-booked, with a fixed price.

Our San Diego Airport guide covers the terminals, parking and pickup areas. For a side-by-side look at the ride into the city, read our airport to downtown guide. Flying out of Tijuana? Our Cross Border Xpress guide explains the bridge. We drop off at the US-side CBX terminal in Otay Mesa.

Private car service in San Diego

Transit is cheap and works well for one or two people with light bags. A private car is the better fit when time, luggage or group size matters. Trip Limo Service drives black SUVs only: Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon XL and Chevrolet Suburban.

When a private car makes sense

Airport arrivals: we track your flight and wait up to 1 hour after landing at no extra charge. Standard pickup is at the arrivals curb. Meet & Greet (+$30) means the chauffeur waits inside at baggage claim with a name sign.
Early flights and late arrivals: we drive 24/7 at the same fixed price, with no night surcharge.
Groups and families: up to 6 passengers and 5 large bags per SUV. Child seats are $20 each, up to 2.
Multi-stop days: book by the hour with a 3-hour minimum. Your chauffeur stays with you between stops.
Longer trips: the cruise terminal, North County, Ontario airport, and LAX to San Diego County.

Every ride has a fixed price per vehicle, shown before you book. It covers the vehicle, chauffeur, fuel and tolls. Gratuity is not included. Standard rides can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before pickup.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to get around San Diego without a car?

Stay near a trolley station, use the trolley and buses for daily trips, and take the ferry to Coronado. Book a private car for the airport and for days with several stops far apart.

How much is the San Diego trolley?

An adult one-way fare is $3, valid for 2 hours. With PRONTO, you stop paying once you spend $7 in a day.

Does the San Diego trolley go to the airport?

No. Take MTS Route 992 to downtown, or the free San Diego Flyer to the Old Town Transit Center, where you can board the trolley.

Do I need a PRONTO card?

Not always. MTS accepts contactless bank cards and phone wallets. PRONTO is the way to get the daily and monthly fare caps, and it is required for the free Youth fare.

Can I take the train from San Diego to the beach towns up north?

Yes. The COASTER runs from Santa Fe Depot to Oceanside with stops in Solana Beach, Encinitas and Carlsbad. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner also stops in Solana Beach.

Is there public transportation to La Jolla?

Yes, by bus. MTS Route 30 links Old Town and Pacific Beach with La Jolla. The Blue Line trolley reaches UC San Diego, not La Jolla Cove.

Is a car service more expensive than a taxi?

It depends on the trip. A taxi is metered, so the final fare depends on distance and traffic. Our price is fixed per vehicle and shown before you book, so a family or group sharing one SUV knows the cost up front.

Book a private ride in San Diego

Use transit where it shines and book a private SUV for the rides that matter most. Choose your pickup, see the fixed price and book online in a few minutes.