With so much to see in San Diego, our day tour gives you the most flexibility, allowing you to hop on and off the . The 10 pack is $75 for adults and $37.50 for seniors, people with disabilities and those on Medicare. We offer subscribers exclusive access to our best journalism.Thank you for your support. Copyright 2023 - Where The Road Forks. You can legally park on the street in San Diego for up to 72 hours. For COASTER schedules and information, visit the COASTER. It only takes 15 minutes to get to/from Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego, which connects with all major transit options, including three Trolley lines, three Rapid . Phone (619) 298-8687. Community leaders have lobbied for a shuttle to the Pacific Beach shore since before the Blue Line trolley began running from Old Town to University City in November 2021. Alternatively, San Diego Metro Transit operates a vehicle from Fifth Avenue Station to Beyer Blvd Station every 15 minutes. Operating days this week: everyday. Once in a while, there is an annoying passenger who talks too loud or plays music on their phone. Get on at the Old Town Transit Center or the Balboa Avenue Transit Center each have a parking lot where the bus will make stops along Grand Avenue and Mission Boulevard including Belmont Park. Be part of the excitement and apply today! Share with your friends, family, and the world! When boarding the trolley with your bike, look for a car with a floor that is flush with the ground. Youll find a currency exchange booth at the trolley station, near the end of the tracks. People board the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley during a grand opening celebration on Nov. 21, 2021. . Below is a map of the blue line trolley route. You could simply walk on if you wanted to. For bus schedules and information, visit SDMTS. Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. To take the San Diego trolley to the border, youll need to catch a Blue Line trolley running south. Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM You walk straight to Mexican immigration. From there, youll have to cross the border into Tijuana on foot. These include Zona Centro (downtown), Zona Ro (the business district), Zona Norte (the red light district), or Playas de Tijuana (the neighborhood by the beach). If you know of a transportation hack that isnt listed, share it here. If you're going to make more than two trips in a day, it will be less expensive to buy a day pass. Youll walk around 2 blocks down the path. The North County Transit District's COASTER trains connect downtown San Diego and Old Town with coastal communities north of the city, including Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. One is for Mexican citizens and residents and the other is for foreign visitors. The price of a trip is also being negotiated. Discounts on popular ride hailing services: Thanks to the NCTD+ pilot program, riders can receive discounts on Uber, TripShot and Lyft for trips that start or end at the Vista Transit Center. On your right, youll see a footpath that leads to the border. Bringing your bike gives you free transportation once you arrive in Tijuana. You can transfer from one trolley line to another or from a city bus to the trolley for free. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. The nine-station line also fixes glaring flaws in local transit by connecting the trolley system to the region's largest university the University of California San Diego and No. Let's start with the places the San Diego Trolley doesn't go: They include the airport, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and Balboa Park along with La Jolla and Legoland. It drops you off at the San Ysidro trolley station in the city of San Ysidro, California. Historic Tours of America. |750 B Street, Suite 1500, San Diego, CA 92101TEL. You can also catch a taxi de ruta to the border from downtown. The Orange Line and Green Line connect many of San Diegos suburbs including Mission Valley, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, and Santee. For more info, check out my guide: How to travel from San Diego to Tijuana by Bicycle. Cards arent accepted on the bus. Its a good idea to bring a pen just in case. For bus schedules and information for San Diego's North County, visit BREEZE. The San Diego Trolley offers an easy way to get to and from many of the city's popular tourist attractions. Its important to note that the San Diego trolley does not take you across the border into Tijuana. Look for signs like the one above in the station. The area, located along present-day Mission Gorge Road, became known as Grantville in honor of President Ulysses S. Grant. 1255 Imperial Ave, Suite 100a. Visit the MTS Transit Store, NCTD Customer Service Center or select retail outlets* to get a PRONTO card. The North County Transit District's COASTER trains connect downtown San Diego and Old Town with coastal communities throughout the county including Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. 3:43 p.m. March 3, 2023A previous version of this story incorrectly said the new shuttle will be free. You must pay for your bus ticket in exact change in cash. If you have one of these documents you can use the ready lane. PRONTO makes buying MTS & NCTD fares easy. The travel time depends on where you start your journey. The expiration time is printed on the ticket. Just across the street from the trolley station on San Ysidro Blvd, youll find a duty-free store, banks, several fast food restaurants, and more currency exchanges. From there, youre just steps away from the border crossing. San Diego's largest fleet with the most frequent service. Service area: Connects the Hillcrest Medical Center with the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley and regional transit services at the Old Town Transit Center Operates: Weekdays, 6:07 a.m. to 9:07 p.m., excluding university holidays Shuttle tracking: Live map - Toggle Hillcrest Express on to view the route map; hover over vehicles and stops to see more information. The city will use $1.2 million in downtown parking revenue to continue to cover the cost of free shuttle trips around downtown. You can view a complete list of San Diego bus routes here. Pedicabs are popular forms of transportation along downtown's waterfront and in the Gaslamp Quarter. If youre traveling late at night, check the trolley schedule here before you head to the station to make sure the trolley is running. Last tour departs Old Town at 3pm finishing up approximately at 5pm. There are plenty of routes that offer service throughout the county. Sightsee to your heart's content, and enjoy a fun stress-free day exploring the best of America's Finest City. Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Drivers licenses and birth certificates are no longer accepted. If your destination is San Diego airport, youll want to get off at the America Plaza station. Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, including links from the Amazon Serivices LLC Associates Program. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Timetables, stops & times (SDMTS Real-Time), route maps, and trip planner for Blue San Ysidro - UTC. Encouraging people to use the trolley to access the beach are rules allowing boogie boards and some surfboards, but only if they arent longer than 6 feet. Circuit is expected to run the app for the PB shuttle. Cleans trolley stations (4-6 per shift): picks up litter and debris, removes graffiti, cleans glass, polishes ticket vending machines, power washes and hoses down platforms, sweeps . Transit Services Bus Schedules, Trolley, Rapid, Access Parking Getting Around Maps & Schedules, Trip Planner, Departures & Real-Time, Alerts & Detours, Service Notices, Airport Rider Info How to Ride, News & Events, Security, Rider Safety, Accessibility, COVID-19 There are 2 bus options for Coronado: MTS Bus 901 travels off Island and into San Diego while MTS Bus 904 travels along Orange Ave to the Community Center, City Hall on Glorietta Bay and the Bayfront and Ferry Landing. There is a kiosk at the station where you can buy your ticket with cash or a credit or debit card. It is the main Tijuana border crossing. This travel document allows citizens and residents of a number of countries to enter Mexico without having to apply for a visa in advance. Youth Opportunity Pass Program. There are three trolley lines (Blue, Orange and Green) that service the downtown San Diego communities and beyond, covering 65 miles of double-track railway and 62 stations total. Download the app on the Apple or Google Play stores for free. Closed Weekends & Holidays I am visiting a friend in Ensenada in a few weeks, and have been worried about how I am going to get from the San Diego Airport to the border crossing. Trolley ticket includes 10 museums* ($20 value) Free discount coupons ($30 value) Open-air sightseeing perfect for taking pictures. MTS bus route 992 makes a stop at both terminal baggage claims and goes along the San Diego Embarcadero to the City College Transit Station, with stops along Harbor Drive, Broadway, the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal and Santa Fe Depot. It covers over 48 km and has 33 stops. 619.232.3101. Find out more here. Youll see three lines at the border. It can be difficult to find space for your bike during peak commuter hours. Sometimes the immigration official may ask to inspect your luggage. Service on the 992 is every 15 minutes for most of the day, 7 days a week. Avoiding Common Scams and Crime. The fare has not yet been set, but it will not be free. The locations listed below are able to sell new cards and reload (minus two stores noted that can only reload). Youll have to go downtown to find one. (*Must load a minimum of $3 at ticket machines and $5 at retail outlets.) Thanks for posting this article! Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination. The new extension brings trolley riders roughly 2 miles away from the beach. The immigration building has a large sign that says Mexico on it. There is NO OVERNIGHT PARKING at the Old Town Transit Center. If youre crossing late at night, make sure you leave yourself enough time to cross the border and catch the last trolley. It also goes to Mission San Diego. It only takes 15 minutes to get to/from Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego, which connects with all major transit options, including three Trolley lines, three Rapid bus lines, the COASTER, and Amtrak. Below is a map of the route youll take. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune). They may ask you some questions about your trip such as why you were visiting Mexico, how long you stayed, and if youre bringing anything back with you. Tijuana sewage isnt only in Imperial Beach waves. Large suitcases are permitted but you may have trouble finding space during peak commuter hours. |750 B Street, Suite 1500, San Diego, CA 92101TEL. Bus 992 runs every 15 minutes for most of the day. The benefit of parking at a transit station and riding the San Diego trolley to the Tijuana border is that you avoid the expensive border parking lots. To get to the airport, theres a convenient stop at Kettner Blvd. Airport: There are two options going to the San Diego International Airport either for free or for $2.50. Ride the blue line trolley back to your desired stop. You can find more info on taking the bus from the airport on the MTS website here. You can catch any trolley because theyre all going in the same direction. After you cross into Mexico, youre in Tijuana. The trolley trip from downtown San Diego to the border takes about 40-50 minutes. We offer an excellent benefits package and benefits! Choose your own adventure as you get on and off the trolley at any of the 11 included stops, covering famous sights including the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Zoo, USS Midway and the Cruise Ship Terminal, Little Italy, and many . You cant really get lost here. Officials from the city and the countys regional planning agency the San Diego Association of Governments say they are doing traffic analysis and surveying local residents to decide which approach is best. Check the tips below to find out how to confirm you've found the right train. At immigration, you will need to fill out an FMM form (Forma Migratoria Mltiple). There is no exit procedure for the United States. (Jan 30, 2023 - Jun 9, 2023) San Diego Metro Transit (SDMTS) MTS Blue San Ysidro - UTC California United States. Its the easiest and most convenient way to travel between the two cities. If you do this, youll need to print the approval email out and get it stamped and validated at the border. During weekends and holidays, you may have to wait over 2 hours to cross. After passing through immigration, youll proceed to customs. Cards are available at ticket machines* for $2. Only hop-on and off tour over the bridge to Coronado. Weve got family-friendly beaches, dog beaches, adult-oriented, wetlands, viewpoints from the magnificent cliffs, and so much more. There are two easy ways to get to between the airport and MTS services. Youll also have to walk through a metal detector. Sometimes there is no wait at all. Some of the older trolley cars have steps up into the car. This saves you money. Closed Weekends & Holidays Hopefully, this guide makes your trip to Tijuana a bit smoother and easier. This may be more convenient if youre traveling with a lot of luggage or if you dont want to deal with the transfer. 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. Hands-on exhibits and special activities at museums throughout San Diego County match education with entertainment. The Westin San Diego is gearing up for the elevated event activity in San Diego! The wait is much shorter at these times. San Diego city bus and trolley tickets are the same price. The current fee is 595 pesos (around $30). and W. Broadway in downtown San Diego. These are some of the best ways to maneuver around San Diego County using public transit including some free and discounted rides and to avoid heavily congested traffic areas. Morning commuters can take the approximately 15 minutes boat ride from the Coronado Ferry Landing to the Broadway Pier (or vice versa) Monday through Friday. January 1 - March 10, July 4, October 30 - December 31. There are also plenty of connecting services from the Oceanside station, including the SPRINTER inland rail that travels east to Escondido. This trolley sounds perfect! There are three crossings in Tijuana (PedEast, PedWest, and Otay Mesa). You can drive to a conveniently located trolley station, park your vehicle, and ride the trolley to and from the border. It depends on the immigration official. Ridesharing might help with the parking, but they don't have any magic bullets to get rid of the traffic. Look for the 'Passenger Loading Zone 43' sign. 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This Cable Car line begins from 12th & Imperial Station (San Diego) and finishes at Courthouse Station. An adult round-trip fare from downtown San Diego to Oceanside is inexpensive and children aged 5 and under ride for free. Closed Weekends & Holidays If you're going to Tijuana, there are some things you need to know and things you need to have with you before you leave San Diego. To take the trolley to the border from the airport, youll have to catch a city bus then transfer to the Blue Line trolley once you reach downtown. Check the color of the line you want, and its end destination. After paying, youll be handed a receipt. Carry small bills. Bus Schedules, Trolley, Rapid, Access Parking, Maps & Schedules, Trip Planner, Departures & Real-Time, Alerts & Detours, Service Notices, Airport, How to Ride, News & Events, Security, Rider Safety, Accessibility, COVID-19, PRONTO Info, One Way Fares, Passes, Reduced Fares, Customer Service & Support, Security, Lost & Found, About MTS, Meetings & Agendas, Organization Chart, Title VI Policy, Security & Passenger Safety, Careers, Rider Insider, Events, News Releases, Current Projects, Media Center, Real Rider Stories, Advertising, Procurement, Developers, Real Estate, Permits, Records, Records, and Policies, For-Hire Vehicle Administration, For-Hire Vehicle (Taxicab) Administration. Its in the air. If the exact fare amount is important to you. A previous version of this story incorrectly said the new shuttle will be free. Old Town Trolley Tours 4.6. Old Town Trolley Tours, Ghosts & Gravestones, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, American Prohibition Museum, Frightseeing, Ghost Town Trolley and Transportainment are registered trademarks of Historic Tours of America. Pass through the turnstile and enter the Mexican immigration building. Beach-bound trolley riders can already get a free transfer to those buses. The bus network is extensive. Between 1948 and 1954, a number of tracts were . If you do this, be sure to check the parking signs to make sure you dont park illegally. This is normal. Website Visit Website. The path is well marked. SDSU and San Diego Transit work together to provide you with extensive bus and trolley services. Leading Republicans took veiled jabs at Donald Trump at an annual gathering of conservatives as they urged a party course correction ahead of the 2024 presidential contest. This also gives you a good exchange rate. While in San Diego, you can also use the region's San Diego Trolley, SPRINTER and COASTER trains to explore the region by rail. Trolley light rail service that connects San Diegos downtown with East County, UC San Diego, South Bay, and the Mexico border. For COASTER schedules and information, visit COASTER. After passing through customs, you can exit the building and youre back in the U.S. After you cross the border, continue down the walking path. When passing through customs, you must place your luggage on a belt, where it will pass through an x-ray machine. She says she's fine with picking me up in Tijuana. Plans for hundreds of new meters aim to create more frequent turnover of vehicles in prime parking spots that now have two-hour restrictions that historically have been only loosely enforced. Where adventures abound and recess never ends, visit the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. You may need them later. Everyone is going to Tijuana. Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with your or or two day trolley pass (depending on option selected) for the city's Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour. San Ysidro Border Crossing: To avoid traffic, you can take the Blue Line trolley south and it will leave you at the San Ysidro East Port of Entry. Last summer, SANDAG selected Circuit, the company that operates FREDs on-demand mobile app, as its neighborhood electric vehicle partner. There are kiosks at trolley, Sprinter and Coaster stations where you can pay for a single or refillable PRONTO card with cash, a debit or credit card. The crossing is called PedEast. Usually, theyll give you 180 days. The Trolley stops at 11 places including Old Town, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado, Little Italy and Balboa Park. From San Diego international airport, catch MTS bus 992. GREEN cable car time schedule overview for the upcoming week: Starts operating at 12:29 AM and ends at 11:59 PM. There's a whole new way to get everywhere you need to go around the San Diego region: The PRONTO card and app. The trolley doesn't go everywhere you might want to visit, but it connects quite a few of the most popular sights. You can take your luggage with you on the trolley. You can also bike to and from the trolley station. TOUR San Diego SEAL TOUR 2-Day Old Town Trolley Tour TOUR Whaley House Museum You can either ride on the full two-hour narrated historic tour, or hop on and off at different stops throughout the day. Catch bus 992 or 993 to the airport. The group is focused on street vendors, beach crime, bonfires and getting a fair shake from City Hall for hosting millions of tourists. At the end of the path, youll end up at a street called Frontera. Always declare if youre bringing something back with you. Get information about North County's COASTER Commuter Train system at GoNCTD.com, where every station is a destination.Southern California's North County Transit District (NCTD) offers bus, train and transportation services that are a vital part of the local and San Diego regional transportation network. The distance from the airport to the closest blue line trolley station is around 3 miles. This is the end of the line. San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit now from its own insurance company, He grew up with the Sinaloa cartel next door and became El Chino Antrax, First giraffes arrived at San Diego Zoo by truck in 1938, Powerlifting builds camaraderie at Camp Pendleton, Hilinskis Hope Foundation visits San Diego State to spread mental health message, Padres hope to see late-season Blake Snell earlier in 23. Are you eligible for a reduced fare? When you arrive at the end of the line, exit the trolley. MTS offers pass programs for schools, employers and large groups. Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates bus, Rapid, Trolley, and paratransit (MTS Access) services in the central, south, and east subregions of San Diego County. For current information on Bus and Trolley Service, visit the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. list of these free park and ride lots here. Mission Beach and Pacific Beach: To get to two of the most popular beach areas in San Diego, you can take MTS bus route 8. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This trolley is going south through downtown to Tijuana. It also goes to Mission San Diego . People board the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley during a grand opening celebration on Nov. 21, 2021. More than 100 Points of Interest. The San Diego Tourism Authority is funded in part by the San Diego Tourism Marketing District Corporation with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District assessment funds. There is no exit procedure for Mexico. You can buy one-way tickets one at a time. Alternatively, you can apply for an FMM online in advance. Find out if you qualify and how to apply for a reduced fare PRONTO card. If you hate driving in traffic or want to know how to ride public transit for free, this guide to San Diego transportation hacks is for you. complete list of San Diego bus routes here. The shuttle intends to make accessing the beach much easier for many thousands of low-income residents living along the trolley, which runs through southeastern San Diego, National City, El Cajon and Chula Vista. During peak commuter hours, it runs every 7 minutes. During the usual high-traffic times for drivers, the California Department of Transportation says these 10 areas were the most congested locations on San Diego County streets and interstates in the fourth quarter of 2022, based on Caltrans Performance Measurement System: Download the app: Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), a trolley and bus system covering much of San Diego County, and North County Transit District (NCTD), comprising bus and train routes, both use the PRONTO app, where riders can buy tickets, check schedules and plan a day trip across the county. Every taxi driver and Uber driver knows where this crossing is. From San Diego international airport, catch MTS bus 992. In my opinion, the trolley is the best way to travel from San Diego to Tijuana. The many stations which are located in the Downtown San Diego area connections to the many trolley and connections that can connect to the many bus routes . Supervisors explore ways to offset vehicle traffic from new rural housing, Man arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after pursuit, standoff near Pala Casino Spa Resort, Man with gunshot wound crashes into Chula Vista police headquarters, Protest held after medical examiner rules death of man in jail a homicide, Romanian citizen arrested on suspicion of stealing more than $5M in COVID relief funds, San Diego County will pay almost $8 million to man gravely injured in sheriffs custody. It runs through 3 km with 6 stops. Address Buy tickets at the Coronado Visitor Center at 1100 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118. Check this list of countries to see if youre eligible. The parking lots are well lit and have security cameras to keep you and your vehicle safe. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. This pilot program is funded by the San Diego Association of Governments and San Diego County runs through June 30, 2023. There isnt really much to do or see in the area directly around the border. SDMTS Blue San Ysidro - UTC TRAM Schedules. Open full screen to view more. When you arrive at the border, you proceed straight to U.S. immigration. Exact cash amounts required: Yes, you can still use cash to ride with MTS and NCTD, but you will need to have the exact amount for buses because no change will be given. This is where the trolley station is located. Youll find a currency exchange booth, convenience store, McDonalds, vending machines, an ATM, and a couple of other various shops. Plan accordingly. San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is now hiring a Trolley Station/Facilities Cleaner (Serviceperson) in San Diego, CA.