Get to the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park By MTS Bus and Trolley!

updated June 30, 2018

The San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park are extremely easy to get to by bus! The San Diego Zoo is in Balboa Park.  I know you really want to take the Trolley there and avoid the bus altogether, but until that happens sometime in the distant future, you'll need to take Route 7 or Rapid Route 215.

Route 7 runs every 10 minutes all day long on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends (during Zoo hours). Route 215 runs every 10-15 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends.  The fare is $2.25 per person ($1.10 for senior/disabled) and children under 5 are free. On weekends, two children under the age of 12 ride free with each paying adult. If you are riding three or more transit vehicles on your round trip, purchase a $5 day pass* on the first vehicle you board or at the first Trolley station you visit (*-you need a Compass Card to actually pay $5.  Otherwise, you must pay $7 on board the bus for a paper pass).  You can also purchase your Day Pass in advance on your mobile phone with MTS's Compass Cloud app.  (see my fares page for more info)

From Downtown San Diego / South Bay / Trolley

Just board any Route 7 or Route 215 bus along eastbound Broadway in Downtown San Diego (at 3rd Ave., 5th Ave., etc.) and it will take you all the way to the Zoo and Balboa Park! Tell the driver you want the zoo stop (the bus announcement will say "Zoo Place - San Diego Zoo").  If you want Balboa Park, get off at the stop called "Village Place" or "El Prado."  If you are coming from South Bay or on the Trolley, transfer to the buses at City College on the 11th Avenue side of the station.

On the way back, the bus stops across the street and takes you back to City College/Broadway or to 10th Ave. where you can transfer to the Trolley.

From SDSU/El Cajon Blvd./Adams Ave.
Take Route 1 or 11 to Park Blvd. & University Ave. and transfer to a southbound Route 7 or Route 215.  You can also walk south on Park Blvd. from here but it is about 1 mile (1.2 km) away.

Take Route 215 all the way from SDSU or along El Cajon Blvd to the Zoo.

From La Jolla / University City / UCSD

• Weekdays:  Take Route 30, 50 or 150 to any stop on Broadway in Downtown San Diego and then follow the Downtown instructions above.  
• Weekends:  Take the Route 30 to Old Town and transfer to any Route 10 (destination El Cajon & College or I-15 & University).  Get off Route 10 at University Avenue & Park Blvd.  Transfer to a southbound Route 7 or Route 215 on Park Blvd. toward Downtown from there.  You can also walk south on Park Blvd. from here but it is about 1 mile (1.2 km) away.

From Old Town

• Bus Only: Take any Route 10 (destination El Cajon & College or I-15 & University). Get off Route 10 at University Avenue & Park Blvd. Transfer to a southbound Route 7 or Route 215 on Park Blvd. toward Downtown from there. You can also walk south on Park Blvd. from here but it is about 1 mile (1.2 km) away. 

• Trolley & Bus: Take the Green Line Trolley to Santa Fe Depot. Transfer to the Route 215 on Kettner Blvd. and it will take you all the way to the Zoo!