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!

Get to the San Diego Beaches by Bus!

updated June 30, 2018

San Diego has many fabulous beaches - and almost all of them are reachable by bus. I'll visit a few ways to get to the beach by San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus. As much as you'd like to take the Trolley to the beach, it just doesn't go there so a bus will be involved.  Remember that if you don't have a monthly pass, buy a Day Pass for $5 if you're riding more than twice in a day (or $7 if you are paying cash on a bus without a Compass Card). MTS doesn't give free transfers. Also, MTS has a special fare for families - on weekends, two children under 12 ride free with a paying adult.

Always remember to plan your trip before you go by using Google Maps (just click on the bus icon when you plan your trip).  MTS has a great page that describes how to use Google Transit on their website or on your mobile phone.  You can also use the Google Transit trip planner built right into this blog.

Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay , and Mission Bay Park
Everybody loves Pacific Beach (PB)! PB has great beaches, plenty of volleyball courts, a very nice boardwalk, restaurants, and bars. It's a great place to tan, play Frisbee, volleyball, rollerblade, bike, or just walk around. Mission Beach (MB) is just as fun, and Mission Bay Park is a great place to have a day of fun near the water.

What's even better, there are four bus routes that serve this area. The core of these routes are the 8 and 9. Route 8 operates between Old Town Transit Center and the beach communities via Mission Bay Drive and Mission Blvd. The fare is $2.25 per trip (or $5 for a Day Pass including the Trolley). The routes each run every 15-20 minutes most of the day. You can bring your bike and your surf board!  Take the Trolley or bus to Old Town and transfer.

Route 30 operates between Downtown San Diego (on weekdays only), Old Town, the beaches, UCSD, and La Jolla/UTC. It operates every 15 minutes every day of the week. It's really the fastest way to get from Downtown San Diego and the beaches on weekdays. On weekends, catch Route 30 at Old Town Transit Center (you can take the Green Line from downtown San Diego). The fare is $2.25. Bikes are allowed.  Route 30 is the best way to get to the Banana Bungalow Hostel.

Route 27 operates between Kearny Mesa and Pacific Beach. It operates every 30 minutes on weekdays, every 60 minutes on Saturdays, but no service on Sundays. The fare is $2.25. Bikes are allowed on board.

Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach (OB) has great beaches, restaurants, and is a little more laid back than PB and MB. MTS Route 35 travels between Old Town and OB every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends. It's a very popular route during the summer because it also connects OB'ers to the Midway shopping area and Kobe's swap meet.

Route 923 runs between Downtown San Diego and OB on weekdays with 30 minute service. It connects Downtown with the Airport, the Point Loma Hostel, the OB Hostel, and arrives just blocks from the beach in OB. Be careful - the route has limited hours on weekdays - don't get stuck after a few too many beers! On weekends, you can take Route 35 to/from Ocean Beach via Old Town Transit Center.

Coronado Beaches
Coronado has wonderful beaches! Take Route 901 from Downtown San Diego across the Coronado Bridge and get off at the Hotel del Coronado. Route 901 runs every 15-30 minutes on weekdays, every 30 minutes on Saturdays, and every hour on Sundays. You can also get to the beach by taking the Coronado Ferry and then transfer to Route 904 (the 904 is a free summer shuttle!).

Imperial Beach
While Imperial Beach (IB) isn't exactly world-renowned, it does have a beach area and a nice boardwalk. Take Routes 933/934 (6-15 minute service, seven days per week) from the Iris Trolley Station.

San Diego has so much to offer&emdash;and you can get there by bus!