San Diego International Airport; credit SAN Airport
San Diego Transportation
Airport
San Diego International Airport (SAN) anchors San Diego Transportation. It’s a single-runway, 3-terminal airport with domestic, Hawaii, and Mexico flights serving 17 million passengers each year. It is a hub for Southwest Airlines.
This well-landscaped airport features a large selection of shops, cafes, lounges, and other passenger amenities.
One of the more interesting views is to watch jets coming into land just over a residential hillside and I-5 Freeway. SAN Airport Map.
Car Rentals: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty serve the airport. Taxis are just outside the main terminal and Super Shuttle provides frequent service from SAN Airport as well. Downtown San Diego is only a 10-minute drive south.
Santa Fe Station in San Diego hosts Amtrak & COASTER commuter trains; (c) Soul Of America
Train Station
Santa Fe Depot at 1050 Kettner Boulevard in Downtown San Diego, is the perfect intermodal transportation center for Amtrak trains, Coaster commuter rail, San Diego Trolley light rail, and a taxi depot. San Diego CruisePort is only 1 block west.
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner provides breathtaking coastal views on half the San Diego-Los Angeles-Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo route. Service between San Diego and Los Angeles is 12 round trips daily and is well patronized. Partially upgraded, Pacific Surfliner features a Business Car, Café Car, and three Coach Cars that rival European trains for comfort. San Diego to Los Angeles is a 2 hour 45 minutes journey. The Los Angeles-San Diego segment is being upgraded to longer stretches of 90 mph and more frequent trains in 2024.
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner’s performance goals are 2 hours 15 minutes Los Angeles-San Diego journey time and 16 daily round-trip trains by 2029.
San Diego Trolley makes a Convention Center stop on Harbor Drive; (c) Soul Of America
Rapid Transit
San Diego Trolley is the 4th busiest light rail system in America. The 3-line system runs through the tunnel, aerial, and dedicated surface lanes over 54 miles to 53 stations, you can reach half of San Diego attractions without driving hassles.
For best value, purchase a 1-to-4-Day Trolley Pass. That gives you enough time to explore many popular sites on San Diego Trolley Map
San Diego’s famous Tijuana Trolley is officially called the “Blue Line.” It starts at America Plaza (next to Santa Fe train station), then ends at San Ysidro Transit Center on the U.S. side of the border with Mexico. From the transit center, with a passport, walk 2 block pedestrian overpass to Tijuana, Mexico.
For typical day trips to explore Tijuana’s tourist area, riding the Blue Line is smarter than driving because you can walk back to the U.S. without significant delay. Driving to Tijuana fools you because you enter Tijuana quickly, but it takes 2-3 hours to wait in the freeway border check lines to return to the U.S.
In 2022, San Diego Trolley system expanded 11 miles north of Old Town Center to the University of California at San Diego and to Westfield University Towne Centre. Both are popular visitor destinations.
COASTER commuter rail system travels on Mon-Fri 11 times each way between Santa Fe Depot, Old Town Center, Sorrento Valley, Solano Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad Poinsettia, Carlsbad Village and Oceanside. Fares are based on zone distances wit hthe highest fare being San Diego to Oceanside.
Coaster also runs a reduced schedule on weekends but adds trains during big events.
Sprinter a separate light rail system that travels between Oceanside, El Camino Real, Vista Transit Center, Palomar College, San Marcos Civic Center, Cal State San Marcos and Escondido Transit Center
San Diego Cruiseport fronts the afternoon skyline; (c) Soul Of America
Cruiseport
If you get motion sickness, buy Dramamine 30-60 minutes before a cruise. On a cruise, sit in the rear of the lower deck where motion sensation is reduced.
San Diego Cruise Port
DESCRIPTION: Featuring a spectacular natural harbor in the southwestern tip of the United States, San Diego is becoming a major Port of Call for the West Coast cruise industry whose routes span from Seattle to the Mexican Riviera, and are increasing in frequency. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland America, Celebrity and smaller cruise lines now have claim a San Diego port of call. You may drive onto the pier by presenting your ID and a ship ticket for sailing on that specific date. All luggage must have your name and address attached. You will be required to show a passport and cruise ticket to enter the cruise terminal.
ADDRESS: Harbor Drive at Broadway
PHONE: 619-686-6200 port office
WEBSITE: http://www.sandiegocruiseport.com/cruise-san-diego-cruise-ships.html
San Diego Harbor Excursions
DESCRIPTION: One and Two hour San Diego Bay tours depart every 75 minutes. On the summer cruises hours run longer. Hour Tour of South cruises by USS Midway Museum, Coronado Bridge, Naval Amphibious Base and Destroyers, NASSCO Shipbuilding Facility, and the Hotel Del Coronado. Hour Tour of North cruises by North Island Naval Air Station, Naval Submarine Base, Star of India, Cabrillo National Monument, Sea Lions, Dolphin Training Center, and Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. Two Hour simply combines both tours. Coronado Ferry also plies the San Diego Bay to North Island and Coronado. By tickets and board at Harbor Drive near Broadway. Check prices at their shared website.
ADDRESS: 1050 North Harbor Drive
PHONE: 619-234-4111
WEBSITE: https://www.SDHE.com
Mission Bay Cruises
DESCRIPTION: For those who prefer a taste of historical boating near Sea World, the Bahia Belle stern-wheeler has evening cruises. For info about bay cruises charter boats, and diving in San Diego
WEBSITE: https://www.sdwaterfront.com
Ghosts & Gravestones by Old Town Trolley Tours; credit Soul Of America
Tours
Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego
DESCRIPTION: Enjoy a circular 32-mile tour of San Diego and Coronado in tour-friendly wheeled trolleys that have been running since 1989. Tour guides are knowledgeable about the history and anecdotes of the region – they don’t mind tossing in a few jokes either. If your timing is right when crossing the Coronado Bridge, you’ll see NAVY Seals jumping from helicopters into the bay for training exercises. You can hop on or off at any stop along the way, but be sure to watch the time, since time flies when you’re having fun. If you only plan to ride the trolley from end to end, it takes 2 hours so be sure you’ve eaten in advance and carry bottled water with you. Considering that you can leave your car parked all day while hopping on-off to see about 75% of the main tourist attractions, the tour is a great value. The best places to board downtown are Harbor Drive at Broadway and at Seaport Village. The tour includes a free souvenir map of the route.
CREDIT CARDS: yes
WEBSITE: https://www.trolleytours.com/san-diego
SEAL Tours
DESCRIPTION: If you have a sailor’s perspective of San Diego Bay, this is your tour. Operated by the same company as Old Town Trolley Tours, affable narrators know their craft as you enter a modified tour bus. Once it enters the water, the tour bus changes its form of locomotion to that of a motorboat. The narrator is full of entertaining chatter about every nuance of the bay from the laziest sea lion to the sharpest fishing pelican. No need to worry about the narrator getting distracted about your safety in the vessel. A certified captain guides the ship while the other person narrates. The tour last about 90 minutes. The best places to board downtown are Harbor Drive at Broadway and at Seaport Village.
CREDIT CARDS: yes
WEBSITE: https://www.sealtours.com
Freeways
San Diego Freeway Network features 10-12 lanes on several freeways, which might be jarring to visitors from smaller cities. It has all the latest innovations in carpool lanes, metered entrances, freeway status signs and is well maintained. Residents usually refer to freeways by number.
Crossing Coronado Bridge is the most enjoyable drive among San Diego Transportation options. Allow extra time on the clogged 5, 8, 15 and 805 freeways during morning and evening commute hours. A helpful thought is that San Diego Freeway Network experiences less congestion than Los Angeles. Its only a good idea to drive to Mexico, if you going south of Tijuana to vacation in coastal resort towns like Ensenada. After vacationing at a Mexican coastal resort for a few days, you will find the 2-3 hour Mexico-U.S. freeway border-check a bit more tolerable on your return trip to San Diego.
