San Diego International Airport (SAN) is connected to San Diego and the surrounding region by a layered network of ground transportation. The right choice depends on how many people are traveling, how much luggage you have, what time of day it is, and whether your destination is downtown or the suburbs.
Uber & Lyft
Uber and Lyft pick up at a dedicated rideshare lot reached by the free San Diego Flyer shuttle from each terminal. The total trip adds 8–12 minutes.
On-airport facility
The Consolidated Rental Car Center is a 10-minute San Diego Flyer ride from each terminal. All major brands and Sixt are co-located.
Rail & bus to San Diego
MTS Route 992 connects SAN with the Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego every 15 minutes for $2.50. From there, the Coaster commuter rail and Pacific Surfliner Amtrak service serve North County and the LA basin.
Hotel & intercity
FlyAway-style shuttles to Carlsbad, Oceanside, and the South Bay stage at the Transportation Plaza outside Terminal 1.
Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) at SAN
Uber and Lyft pick up at a dedicated rideshare lot reached by the free San Diego Flyer shuttle from each terminal. The total trip adds 8–12 minutes.
Surge pricing is common during weather delays and immediately after large arrival banks. If your phone shows surge pricing of 1.8x or higher, the rental-car shuttle for a same-day return is often a faster total-cost path than waiting for surge to drop.
Rental cars
The Consolidated Rental Car Center is a 10-minute San Diego Flyer ride from each terminal. All major brands and Sixt are co-located. Loyalty members of National (Emerald Club), Hertz (Gold Plus Rewards), Avis (Preferred), and Enterprise (Plus) usually skip the counter entirely. National's choose-any-car-on-the-aisle model is the fastest path through the facility for travelers who do not need a specific vehicle class.
Public transit to and from SAN
MTS Route 992 connects SAN with the Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego every 15 minutes for $2.50. From there, the Coaster commuter rail and Pacific Surfliner Amtrak service serve North County and the LA basin. For more on US airport transit options, see the ground transport overview.
Hotel and parking shuttles
FlyAway-style shuttles to Carlsbad, Oceanside, and the South Bay stage at the Transportation Plaza outside Terminal 1. Free shuttles run on each operator's own loop, typically every 10 to 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes overnight. If you do not see your hotel's shuttle, call the front desk before assuming you have missed it — schedules vary on weekends and holidays.
Cell phone waiting area
If somebody is picking you up in a private vehicle, ask them to wait at the cell phone waiting lot until you have your luggage and are at the curb. Pulling to the arrivals curb early at SAN forces the driver into the recirculation loop, which can add 15 to 25 minutes on a busy day.
Accessibility
All ground transportation options at SAN are required to provide equivalent service for travelers with disabilities. Accessible taxis are dispatched on request from the taxi stand. Public transit is wheelchair accessible. Hotel shuttles are required to provide wheelchair accommodation — call the hotel ahead to confirm a lift-equipped vehicle is on your departure-window schedule.
Parking is the alternative
If you are driving yourself, see the SAN parking guide for on-site garages, off-site lots, and a comparison of every published rate.