AIR
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is a 10 minute drive north of downtown and a small airport that quickly lets you reach ground transport options immediately outside the lower level terminal.
Car Rentals: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty serve the airport.
Taxis are just outside the main terminal.
Super Shuttle (800-554-3146) provides frequent service from the airport.
TRAINS
Nicely restored Santa Fe Station located at 1050 Kettner Boulevard downtown, is the perfect host for frequent and convenient Amtrak train service to points north and interconnecting Amtrak with the Coaster Commuter train and the adjacent San Diego Trolley Station.
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner provides break-taking views of the Pacific Coast between San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo and more than a dozen daily round-trips. The Business Class car, Café car, and three Coach cars rival European trains for comfort in 2 hours 45 minutes from San Diego to Los Angeles.
Coaster commuter train travels MOn-Fri 11 tiimes each way between Santa Fe Station, Old Town Center, Sorrento Valley, Solano Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad Poinsetta, Carlsbad Village and Oceanside. It runs a reduced schedule on weekends; pricing is based on distance.
TRANSIT
San Diego Trolley is the least expensive and fun way to many popular destinations without commuter issues. You’ll wish this world famous Light Rail traveled to more destinations, but won't complain about the 1-4 day unlimited ride pass at $5-$12. Enjoy these routes to:
Blue: Old Town Center, Santa Fe Depot, Seaport Village, Convention Center, Gaslamp Quarter, 12th & Imperial, San Ysidro-Tijuana
Red: Old Town Center, Fashion Valley, Mission Valley, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego State Univ., Grossmont, El Cajon, Santee Town Center
Orange: 12th & Imperial, Gaslamp Quarter, Convention Center, Seaport Village, Santa Fe Depot, Civic Center, City College, Euclid Avenue, Lemon Grove, Grossmont, El Cajon
Sprinter Light Rail travels between Oceanside, El Camino real, Vista Transit Center, Palomar College, San Marcos Civic Center, Cal State San Marcos, Escondido Transit Center
San Diego Freeway Network is extensive and useful whether traveling west to the beach, north to the mountains, east to the desert or south to Mexico. Carpool lanes, metered entrances, freeway status signs have been added to many freeways to help smooth flow in this fast growing Metroplex. Allow extra time on the clogged 5, 8, 15 and 805 freeways during morning and evening commute hours. Residents refer to freeways and bridges mostly by number, but there are exceptions so you’ll want to keep this list handy:
|
5
|
San Diego Freeway |
|
8
|
Ocean Beach/Mission Valley Freeway |
|
15
|
Escondido Freeway |
|
52
|
Soledad Freeway |
|
54
|
South Bay Freeway |
|
56
|
Ted Williams Freeway |
|
67
|
San Vicente Freeway |
|
75
|
Coronado Bridge |
|
78
|
Anza Freeway |
|
94
|
Martin Luther King, Jr. Freeway |
|
163
|
Cabrillo Freeway |
|
805
|
Jacob Dekema Freeway |
|
905
|
Otay Mesa Freeway |
BLACK CULTURAL TRAVEL MADE EASY