Getting Around San Diego
When it comes to transportation, visitors to the city of San Diego have a variety of options, including traveling by personal car, taxi, or mass transit.
Travelers who would like to get around by personal car can do so. The city boasts six state freeways and four interstate expressways for ease of traveling around the city and surrounding area. It is important for travelers to become aware of the freeway layout if they plan to drive themselves in San Diego. Freeways that travel from east to west have even numbers, and freeways that travel from north to south have odd numbers. The freeway signs are very clearly marked and easy to find. Rush hour in San Diego is usually from 7 to 9 in the morning, and from 4:30 to 6 in the afternoon and early evening.
There are also several taxicab companies operating in the San Diego area. These cabs operate mainly in the downtown area of the city, so travelers who need transportation outside of San Diego’s central core will need to call for a taxi ahead of time to pick them up.
Visitors to San Diego can also use the city’s multiple mass transit options. The trolley system runs over 50 miles and connects the downtown region with several other districts, such as Mission Valley and Old Town. It even goes as far south as the Mexican border. The Coaster train operates during the week and on Saturdays. This train connects Old Town and the downtown area of the city with several other areas, including Oceanside, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Carlsbad Village and Sorrento Valley. One of the stops in the downtown area is at the Santa Fe Depot near the San Diego Trolley. This makes it easy for visitors to take the train to the downtown region and then use the trolley service to explore downtown if they wish. Travelers can also take advantage of the city’s bus service, which provides nearly thirty different routes over 635 miles. The bus system is operated by the Metropolitan Transit System.