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Transportation
By Plane
La Jolla is serviced by San Diego International Airport (about 8 miles away). Flights arrive at San Diego International Airport/Lindbergh Field (airport code: SAN), named after aviation hero Charles Lindbergh. It's located close to downtown San Diego and is served by most national and regional air carriers as well as AeroMéxico. Although no airline uses San Diego as a hub for connections, Southwest Airlines controls one-third of the airlift into the city.
By Car
If you're planning a road trip, being a member of the American Automobile Association (AAA) offers helpful perks. Members who carry their cards with them not only receive free roadside assistance, but also have access to a wealth of free travel information (detailed maps and guidebooks). Also, many hotels and attractions throughout California offer discounts to AAA members -- always inquire.
Visitors driving to La Jolla from Los Angeles and points north do so via coastal route I-5. From points northeast, take I-15 and link up with Highway 163 South as you enter Miramar (use I-8 West for the beaches). From the east, use I-8 into the city, connecting to Highway 163 South for Hillcrest and downtown. Entering the downtown area, Highway 163 turns into 10th Avenue. Try to avoid arriving during weekday rush hours, between 7 and 9am and 3 and 6pm. If you are heading to Coronado, take the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge from I-5. Maximum speed in the San Diego area is 65 mph, and many areas are limited to 55 mph.
San Diego is 130 miles (2-3 hr.) from Los Angeles; 149 miles from Palm Springs, a 2 1/2-hour trip; 532 miles, or 8 to 9 hours, from San Francisco.
By Train
Public transportation is scarce in La Jolla, but San Diego has many options. Trains from all points in the United States and Canada will take you to Los Angeles, where you'll need to change trains for the 2-hour, 45-minute journey to San Diego. You'll arrive at San Diego's Santa Fe Station, located downtown at Broadway and Kettner Boulevard. A few hotels are found within walking distance. The San Diego Trolley station is across the street. For price and schedule information, call Amtrak. Trains depart about 11 times per day, and one-way fare runs $25 (round-trip is $50).
By Bus
Greyhound buses serve San Diego from downtown Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and other southwestern cities, arriving at the downtown terminal, located at 120 W. Broadway. Several hotels, Horton Plaza, and the Gaslamp Quarter are within walking distance, as is the San Diego Trolley line. Buses from Los Angeles are as frequent as every 30 minutes, take about 2 1/2 hours for the journey, and round-trip fare is $25 (one-way is $15).
How to Get Around:
Like most southern California cities, the best way to get around is by car; either personal or rental. Rental cars are readily available at both the airport as well as throughout the city.
There is also Trolley service as well as local bus service in and around the city. The trolley route is the 16 miles between the Mexican border and the Santa Fe Depot in town.
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