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.
City Bus
City Bus Public transit is available to and from the Airport and downtown San Diego on the Metropolitan Transit System's Route 992, which stops at Terminals 1 and 2, and operates between 5:00 a.m. and midnight, every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends and holidays.
This frequent bus service connects with Trolley, COASTER and Amtrak stations and is wheelchair accessible.
Planning a trip is easy when you use the MTS Online Trip Planner. MTS staff made a video to show riders how to get from Santa Fe Depot to the the airport via Route 992. 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. Its three 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
All three Trolley lines 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 America Plaza Station on the corner of Broadway and Kettner Blvd and the Orange Line can be accessed from the Courthouse Station. The Sycuan 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 Sycuan 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.