Amtrak & COASTER
Amtrak Intercity and COASTER commuter trains link communities and travelers from as far away as Los Angeles and Orange Counties to downtown San Diego and coastal North County and, includes stops in Old Town, Sorrento Valley, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside.
Travelers headed to and from San Diego International Airport can connect with Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and the COASTER at Amtrak's Santa Fe Depot train station downtown by using Metropolitan Transit System Route 992, which operates between 5:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends and holidays.
The COASTER operates 365 days a year, seven days a week, with trips throughout the day to Old Town and North San Diego County. Tickets may be purchased at ticket vending machines on the Santa Fe Depot station platform, online at GoNCTD.com, or via the COASTER Mobile App.
For additional information on connecting transit, fares, personalized travel planning and disabled services, call 760-966-6500 or visit www.gonctd.com/coaster.
For additional information on Amtrak service in San Diego, visit the Santa Fe Depot train station, telephone 1-800-USA-RAIL, or visit Amtrak or Amtrak California.
Contactless Payment
Airport travelers can just tap a debit/credit card or mobile wallet and ride away, hassle-free! Just tap the payment option on the Trolley station or bus fare box validator and get on board. No need for cash or a paper ticket. Contactless Payments are only valid for adult one-way fares (good for two hours of travel time). For more info, visit: https://www.ridepronto.com/en/contactless-payments/
Bus & Overnight Service
The 992: Downtown <--> Airport
Public transit is available to and from the Airport and downtown San Diego on San Diego's Metropolitan Transit System's Route 992, which stops at both Terminals 1 and 2, and operates seven days a week from approximately 4:15 a.m. to midnight, every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends and holidays.
This frequent bus service is wheelchair accessible and connects with Trolley, COASTER and Amtrak stations as well as many bus lines for most hours of the day.
MTS Video: How to get from Santa Fe Depot to the airport via Route 992.
For more information on the 992, click here. For live updates, click here.
The 910 Overnight: Border <--> Downtown
Effective Jan. 26, 2025, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) started running Route 910, an overnight bus service with limited stops between the U.S.-Mexico border and downtown.
Route 910 operates 7 days a week from approximately 12:30 – 5 a.m. every 30 minutes.
During 992 service from 4:15 am to midnight (every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends and holidays), you can transfer from the 910 at the “City College Transit Center” or “Santa Fe Depot / America Plaza Transit Center” stops.
If you are transferring from the 910 Overnight express and paid with card / phone, you are eligible for free transfer following MTS’s two-hour transfer policy.
For more information on the 910, click here. For live updates, click here.
Additional Connecting Bus Routes
San Diego County features various bus line routes that provide easy connections to the 992.
Below is a list of just SOME connections (by region)
San Diego proper:
- 2 (Downtown - North Park)
- 3 (UCSD Med. Ctr / Hillcrest - Euclid Transit Center)
- 5 (Euclid Transit Center - Downtown)
- 7 (Downtown - University & College)
- 11 (SDSU - Downtown)
- 110 (Downtown - Mira Mesa Express)
- 120 (Kearny Mesa Transit Center - Downtown)
- 215 (SDSU - Downtown Mid City Rapid)
- 923 (Ocean Beach - Downtown)
East County:
- 12 (Skyline Hills - City College)
North County:
- 20 (Rancho Bernardo Transit Station - Downtown)
- 235 (Downtown - Escondido Transit Center)
- 280 (Downtown - Escondido Transit Center)
- 290 (Downtown - Rancho Bernardo Transit Station)
South Bay:
- 225 (Downtown - Otay Mesa Transit Center)
- 901 (Downtown - Iris Transit Center)
- 929 (Iris Transit Center - 12th & Imperial)
Visit the MTS Online Trip Planner to find the best route for your travel.
For more information on the Metropolitan Transit System, call 619-233-3004 or visit www.sdmts.com.
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is proud to introduce the “San Diego Flyer,” a free to customers electric shuttle bus service between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Old Town Transit Center. The electric shuttle buses operate seven days a week, with an average arrival every 20-30 minutes. Pick up and drop-offs are timed to meet the first and last Trolley, Coasters, Amtrak trains, and MTS busses with the first pick up at 4:45 a.m. and the last pick up/drop off at 12:30 a.m.
The San Diego Flyer shuttle buses are recognizable through a branded light orange wrap adorned with plane icons, the word “Flyer” across the side of the buses, and the SAN logo. Currently, the buses stop at Old Town Transit Center, Terminal 1, and Terminal 2. Passengers at SAN will be picked up and dropped off at transportation islands at each terminal. The stops and intervals of service will be assessed and shuttle service will be adjusted to meet increased demand if needed.
The service is provided on six 2019 Endera E-450 Electric Vehicle (EV) Cutaway Shuttles which will be powered by 100 percent sustainable energy through charging stations located on airport property. The EV shuttles are equipped with air conditioning, luggage racks, and an ADA ramp.
Resources
- For more information on riding the San Diego Flyer, watch our video.
- Download the Airport to Old Town Transit Center schedule here.
- Download the Airport to Old Town Transit Center flyer here.
- If you have shuttle service questions? For assistance call 619-694-7427 or email .
- For Live SAN shuttle tracking click here.
Download a PDF version of the map here.
Trolley Service
MTS' San Diego Trolley is San Diego's light rail transit network. The Trolley lines serve many popular areas and attractions, such as Downtown, the Convention Center, SDSU, Old Town, and the Mexican border.
There are two ways to reach the Trolley from Terminals 1 and 2:
City Bus
The Trolley can be reached by taking City Bus Route 992 to the Broadway and Kettner Blvd bus stop in downtown. Once off the bus, the UC San Diego Blue Lines can be accessed from the Santa Fe Depot on the corner of Broadway and Kettner Blvd and the Orange Line can be accessed from the Courthouse Station. The Green Line can be accessed from the Santa Fe Depot Station on Kettner Blvd, one block north of the bus stop.
TROLLEY → TERMINAL Shuttle Service
Passengers can also access the Green Trolley Line by taking the Rental Car Shuttles at the transit islands at Terminals 1 and 2. When the driver is notified, the shuttle drops passengers off on the north end of the airport, just one block from the Middletown Station. Passengers proceed by crossing Pacific Highway and walking one block northeast on W. Palm Street to the station on the left.
For those passengers wishing to catch the Trolley → Terminal shuttle from the Middletown Station, they should proceed one block Southwest on W. Palm Street and cross Pacific Highway to airport property. A blue shuttle stop is located on Admiral Boland Way. Rental Car Shuttles stop there on regular intervals (typically less than 10 minutes apart). To access a map showing stops and real time shuttle locations go to sdapublic.etaspot.net.
For more information about MTS services and buying trolley or bus tickets, please visit the MTS website.
Limousines & Luxury Sedans
Many limousine/luxury sedan companies provide service from San Diego International Airport. Please check your local telephone directory for a listing of companies, or visit the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau for a list of service providers.
Be sure to verify with your limousine/luxury sedan provider that the company is licensed to pick up passengers at San Diego International Airport.