My coastal group, La Jolla, is understood for its rugged shoreline, upscale boutiques, and effective eating. We even have one of the vital photographed locations in San Diego, La Jolla Cove, and the resident seals and sea lions that individuals drive in particularly to see.
Our location generally is a little complicated for vacationers planning a trip or residents driving in for a go to. It’s because there are a number of methods to get right here, trafficky occasions that may make your journey for much longer than it must be, and the downtown space is 15-20 minutes from the I-5 freeway regardless of the space being solely about 4 miles.
This information for how you can get to La Jolla covers numerous transportation choices, together with driving instructions, airport transportation, and public transit, in an effort to have a (hopefully) easy journey to our Jewel on the Pacific Ocean.
Attending to La Jolla from San Diego Worldwide Airport
San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN), situated roughly 15 miles south of La Jolla, is the closest main airport. So, you’ll fly into SAN and both hire a automobile or take a taxi, automobile service, or rideshare to La Jolla. I’ll go over every one rapidly, however the drive ought to take about 25 minutes, relying on the place in La Jolla you’re going.
Automobile Leases
Upon arriving on the San Diego Worldwide Airport, you might take one of many free shuttles out of your terminal to the Rental Automobile Heart on the sting of the airport (it’s not inside strolling distance).
After getting your rental automobile, plug your La Jolla vacation spot into your GPS. As you’ll see under, there are a number of routes you possibly can take from right here, and the most effective one will depend upon site visitors. The Waze app is superb for navigating this.
Taxis
Taxis are normally at all times ready on the transportation plazas outdoors every terminal. As you exit the luggage declare space, observe the indicators resulting in the transportation plazas throughout the road from the terminals. A workers member ought to be there that can assist you get a taxi.
Rideshare Providers (Uber, Lyft)
The airport has designated rideshare pickup places at every terminal. These are normally marked clearly with indicators.
- Terminal 1: For Terminal 1, the designated pickup space for rideshares is situated on the transportation plaza. After accumulating your baggage, exit the terminal and observe the indicators to the “Rideshare” pickup space.
- Terminal 2: At Terminal 2, the rideshare pickup location is barely completely different. After exiting the luggage declare space, use the pedestrian crosswalk to achieve the transportation island. The rideshare pickup space is marked with indicators and is separate from the taxi and shuttle areas.
Bear in mind to rearrange your trip upon getting collected your baggage and are able to exit the terminal.
Tip: Uber Black can decide you up in one of many lettered zones on the terminal with out you going to the transportation plaza.
Public Transportation from SAN Diego Airport to La Jolla
At all times test Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Journey Planner and bus numbers earlier than you go to be sure you are on the quickest route and get on the best bus! You’ll be able to take public transportation to La Jolla, however it’s a multi-stop effort. Nonetheless, it has gotten simpler, particularly for UC San Diego college students, due to the opening of an MTS trolley cease within the UTC space.
- MTS Route 992 (Goes from the Airport to Downtown):
- You’ll be able to board the MTS Route 992 bus from the San Diego Worldwide Airport, which is a direct service connecting the airport to downtown San Diego.
- This bus stops at a number of downtown places, together with the Santa Fe Depot, a serious transit hub.
- Switch to a La Jolla-bound Bus or the MTS Trolley:
- When you arrive downtown, you have got a few choices to proceed to La Jolla.
- Choice 1: Take an MTS bus that goes to La Jolla. MTS Route 30 is well-liked because it travels from downtown San Diego by Outdated City and Pacific Seashore earlier than reaching La Jolla.
- Choice 2: Use the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley to get nearer to La Jolla. You’ll be able to board the trolley on the America Plaza Trolley Station (close to Santa Fe Depot) and get off on the UTC Transit Heart. From there, you possibly can take a brief bus trip or a rideshare to achieve the downtown space of La Jolla (referred to as The Village).
- Remaining Leg to La Jolla:
Driving Instructions to the La Jolla Cove Space
A number of driving routes can get you to La Jolla, and which one you select relies on site visitors. (We selected our home partially as a result of we have now three simple methods to get out and in of La Jolla that take about the identical period of time.)
Two main arteries, the 52 Freeway and Torrey Pines Highway can get clogged with site visitors throughout weekday night rush hour and on summer season weekends. For the sake of ease, I’ll clarify how you can get to La Jolla Cove within the downtown space and from right here you’ll rapidly determine the place the principle retailers and eating places are on Prospect and adjoining streets.
- From the North (Los Angeles, Orange County, and North County San Diego): Make your option to the I-5 South, the principle interstate freeway connecting LA to San Diego. Take Exit 28 for La Jolla Village Drive. Flip proper onto La Jolla Village Drive, then left onto Torrey Pines Highway. Observe Torrey Pines Highway because it winds all the way down to the coast. Flip proper onto Prospect Avenue, after which veer proper on to Coast Blvd. La Jolla Cove can be in your proper.
- From the East (Clairemont and Santee): You’ll primarily use CA-52 West. The freeway will merge into Torrey Pines Highway, which can take you straight into the Village. Flip proper onto Prospect Avenue, after which veer proper to Coast Blvd. La Jolla Cove can be in your proper.
- From the South (Downtown and Coronado): Discover your option to Interstate 5 (I-5) North. Look ahead to indicators for CA-52 West. This can be after you cross the Mission Bay space. Take the exit onto CA-52 West in direction of La Jolla. The freeway will merge into Torrey Pines Highway, which can take you straight into the Village. Flip proper onto Prospect Avenue, after which veer proper on to Coast Blvd. La Jolla Cove can be in your proper.
Taking Public Transportation to La Jolla from San Diego County Stops
San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) provides complete bus and trolley providers. We already coated how you can get to La Jolla from the airport utilizing public transportation so relying on the place you’re coming from the steps could also be related. Routes, occasions and bus numbers change so you should definitely use the MTS Journey Planner earlier than you trip.
MTS Trolley to La Jolla
The UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley is a handy choice to arrive close to Westfield UTC Mall and UC San Diego from numerous places in San Diego, together with the downtown space and the Mexico border at San Ysidro.
Exit on the “Voigt Drive” station for closest entry to La Jolla. From right here, you possibly can take a brief bus trip or rideshare to achieve the guts of La Jolla.
Bus Providers to La Jolla
Sure, you possibly can take the bus to La Jolla. Many individuals do truly. These are the most effective choices.
- Route 30: As you possibly can see, this is without doubt one of the hottest routes for attending to La Jolla. It travels from Downtown San Diego by Outdated City San Diego and Pacific Seashore earlier than reaching La Jolla. The route covers key areas in La Jolla, together with La Jolla Shores and the UC San Diego campus.
- Route 41: The 41 bus runs from the Style Valley Transit Heart by the Hillcrest and Clairemont neighborhoods earlier than reaching UC San Diego in La Jolla.
- Route 101: Operated by the North County Transit District (NCTD) however connecting with MTS providers, Route 101 travels alongside the coast from Oceanside to UC San Diego, passing by Del Mar, Solana Seashore, Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and La Jolla.
- Route 201/202 SuperLoop: These routes serve the world across the UC San Diego campus and embody stops in components of La Jolla. The SuperLoop is helpful for getting across the UCSD space and close by buying facilities.
Suggestions for getting bus or trolley tickets: The simplest option to pay for a bus ticket in San Diego is through the use of PRONTO. PRONTO is the fee system for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD). You should use a PRONTO card or the PRONTO app to pay your fare. Both choice permits you to load funds onto the cardboard or app after which faucet the cardboard or scan the app when boarding the bus. In any other case, you want actual change if paying money. You should use PRONTO on the trolley’s as effectively. Bus tickets for adults price $2.50 per manner and $6 for an all-day cross!
Coaster Practice
For these coming from North County San Diego, the Coaster commuter practice is a scenic and cheaper choice than Amtrak, which follows the same route. Plus, you possibly can skip some freeway site visitors relying on the time of day.
You’ll be able to board the Coaster from cities like Oceanside, Carlsbad, and Encinitas, disembarking on the Sorrento Valley station. From Sorrento Valley, take MTS bus routes like 921 or 972 to achieve UCSD, then change to one of many La Jolla-bound buses. Notice that the Coaster doesn’t cease at Sorrento Valley on a regular basis so relying in your practice or day of the week chances are you’ll take it to Outdated City and use the instructions under.
Amtrak Practice to La Jolla through Outdated City Station
Touring by Amtrak to La Jolla is a scenic and handy choice. The closest cease is Outdated City Transit Heart (sure, it’s adjoining to Outdated City San Diego). That is the one we use after we take the practice to Disneyland or Los Angeles.
Reaching Outdated City Station by Amtrak
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner service, which runs alongside the California coast, stops on the Outdated City Transit Heart in San Diego. (Vacationers heading to La Jolla may additionally use the Solana Seashore Station, although it takes a bit longer.) That is the place you’ll get off.
From Outdated City Station to La Jolla
When you arrive on the Outdated City Transit Heart, you have got actually two choices to achieve La Jolla:
- MTS Buses: Route 30 gives a direct connection to La Jolla, making stops in key areas together with UCSD and La Jolla Shores.
- Rideshare or Taxi: The drive from Outdated City to La Jolla usually takes about 15-20 minutes, relying on site visitors and the place you’re going. I normally take an Uber, however there are additionally typically taxis hovering across the station.
In abstract, most individuals will self-drive or take Uber to get to La Jolla from San Diego airport and different locations across the County. Our MTS public transportation system is getting higher and can be a viable choice for residents and vacationers that takes longer however is cheap. You may as well take a look at my 1-Day La Jolla Itinerary, high issues to do in La Jolla, and finest locations keep in La Jolla.