How do I reach secondary airports or ports?

Ride into the main city first, then swap to intercity rail or ferry operators. Booking apps like Trainline, JR East, or obilet list live seat counts.

What about luggage storage?

Use lockers at San Diego stations or the airport itself if you need to bounce between hops.

SANUnited StatesTPL: regional-hop-plan

San Diego International Airport

San Diego, United States

Drop-off

Downtown San Diego (Santa Fe Depot area)

Pin before customs

Fastest

MTS Route 992

bus · 15m

Data

Nov 28

Audit

Quick verdict

Fastest into town

Service: MTS Route 992
Headway: 15
Backup: San Diego Flyer · 20-30m

Note

Direct city bus between both SAN terminals and Downtown San Diego, terminating near Santa Fe Depot at Broadway & Kettner. Runs about every 15 minutes most of the day, 7 days a week, taking around 15 minutes between the airport and downtown transit hubs.

Beyond downtown

San Diego: Regional Hop Plan

For travelers continuing beyond the main city core. Targets queries likesan diego airport busandsan to city centerfor eSIM funnels.

International business

Brief

Ideal for connecting directly into the city’s finance or embassy districts.

Service: MTS Route 992
Mode: bus
Freq: 15m
Note: Direct city bus between both SAN terminals and Downtown San Diego, terminating near Santa Fe Depot at Broadway & Kettner. Runs about every 15 minutes most of the day, 7 days a week, taking around 15 minutes between the airport and downtown transit hubs.

Regional coaches

Brief

Good when you need a one-seat ride into the suburbs or satellite cities.

Service: San Diego Flyer
Mode: bus
Freq: 20-30m
Note: Free airport shuttle linking both SAN terminals with Old Town Transit Center, a major hub for Amtrak, COASTER, and San Diego Trolley lines that connect quickly to Downtown San Diego. Operates daily from about 04:45 to 00:30 with shuttles every 20–30 minutes.

What locals actually do

Brief

Even locals pad 30 minutes of buffer during peak traffic.

Service: San Diego Flyer
Mode: bus
Freq: 20-30m
Note: Free airport shuttle linking both SAN terminals with Old Town Transit Center, a major hub for Amtrak, COASTER, and San Diego Trolley lines that connect quickly to Downtown San Diego. Operates daily from about 04:45 to 00:30 with shuttles every 20–30 minutes.

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FAQs

01How do I reach secondary airports or ports?: Ride into the main city first, then swap to intercity rail or ferry operators. Booking apps like Trainline, JR East, or obilet list live seat counts.
02What about luggage storage?: Use lockers at San Diego stations or the airport itself if you need to bounce between hops.