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NCTD commuter rail
The COASTER runs 41 miles of oceanfront track from downtown San Diego to Oceanside, and it's the single best way to do a car-free North County beach day — the last 20 miles hug the bluffs above the Pacific.
Last updated
The COASTER runs between Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego and Oceanside with stops at Old Town, Sorrento Valley, Solana Beach, Encinitas and Carlsbad. Adult fares are $5.00 for one zone, $5.75 for two zones and $6.50 for three zones one way, the full trip takes about an hour, and weekend service runs roughly every 1–2 hours. NCTD fares rise to a flat $6.50 one way on October 1, 2026.
Every COASTER stop from downtown San Diego to Oceanside, in order. Tap a marker for what you can walk to from that platform.
Pier, harbor, SPRINTER and Pacific Surfliner transfers.
Village shops, Tamarack Beach, LEGOLAND connections.
6Carlsbad Poinsettia
South Carlsbad beaches and Batiquitos Lagoon.
Coast Highway 101, Moonlight Beach, Swami's.
Cedros Design District and Fletcher Cove.
3Sorrento Valley
Tech campuses with shuttle connections; no visitor walk-ups.
Old Town State Historic Park and Trolley transfer.
Gaslamp, Little Italy, the Embarcadero and the USS Midway.
Station locations are approximate. Confirm departure times on NCTD's schedule for your travel date.
Route
San Diego (Santa Fe Depot) ↔ Oceanside, 8 stations
Fare
$5.00 (1 zone) / $5.75 (2 zones) / $6.50 (3 zones) one way; $13 for a 3-zone round trip
End-to-end
About 60 minutes
Weekday service
Frequent at commute times, hourly midday
Weekend service
Every 1–2 hours, plus late trains Friday/Saturday
Payment
PRONTO app or card (same as the Trolley)
Operators change fares and timetables on their own schedule. Every number below is checked against the operator's own page on the date shown — check the source link before you travel.
Adult one-way fare: $5.00 for 1 zone, $5.75 for 2 zones, $6.50 for 3 zones
Verified Sep 19, 2026 against NCTD — Bus & Train Fares + Passes — view the source
Announced change effective 2026-10-01: $6.50 flat adult one-way fare, all zones (SANDAG Phase I); a further Phase II increase is planned for 2027
Day pass: A 3-zone COASTER round trip is $13.00; the COASTER Regional day pass becomes $15 when the new fares start
Verified Sep 19, 2026 against NCTD — Bus & Train Fares + Passes — view the source
Announced change effective 2026-10-01: COASTER Regional day pass $15; COASTER Regional monthly pass $185
Fare capping: Fare capping does not apply to the COASTER. Tap on before boarding and tap off at your station or you are charged the full 3-zone fare.
Verified Sep 19, 2026 against NCTD — Bus & Train Fares + Passes — view the source
| Station | Walk to | Time from downtown |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Depot | Gaslamp, Little Italy, harbor, USS Midway | — |
| Old Town | Old Town State Historic Park, Trolley transfer | 8 min |
| Sorrento Valley | Tech campuses (shuttle connections) | 25 min |
| Solana Beach | Cedros Design District, Fletcher Cove beach | 40 min |
| Encinitas | Downtown 101, Moonlight Beach, Swami's | 45 min |
| Carlsbad Poinsettia | South Carlsbad beaches, Batiquitos | 50 min |
| Carlsbad Village | Village shops, Tamarack Beach, LEGOLAND shuttle | 55 min |
| Oceanside | Pier, harbor, Sprinter and Pacific Surfliner transfer | 60 min |
| Option | Downtown to Oceanside | Cost for two adults | Works best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| COASTER | About 60 min | $26 round trip (3-zone) | You want a beach day without parking or I-5 traffic |
| Pacific Surfliner | About 55 min | Roughly $64-$80 round trip | You are continuing north to LA or want a reserved seat and cafe car |
| Driving I-5 | 45-90 min, traffic dependent | Fuel plus $2-$5/hour beach parking | You are carrying beach gear or heading somewhere off the rail line |
| Rideshare | 45-75 min | $110-$180 round trip | Late nights after the last train only |
| MTS bus plus SPRINTER | 2 hours or more | $5 each with fare capping | You are travelling inland to Vista, San Marcos or Escondido |
Board at Santa Fe Depot in the morning, get off in Encinitas, walk five minutes to Moonlight Beach, eat on Coast Highway 101, then hop one stop north to Carlsbad Village for the afternoon and catch an evening train home. No parking meters, no I-5 traffic, and the ride itself is scenic.
They share the same tracks between San Diego and Oceanside. The COASTER is cheaper ($5.00–$6.50 vs roughly $16–$20), makes more stops and is aimed at commuters; the Surfliner is Amtrak, has bigger seats, a cafe car and continues north to Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. For anything inside the county, take the COASTER — our full side-by-side comparison covers fares, seating and luggage in detail.
Adult one-way fares are $5.00 for one zone, $5.75 for two zones and $6.50 for three zones, so a 3-zone round trip is $13. Seniors, riders with disabilities, Medicare recipients and youth pay about half. NCTD moves to a flat $6.50 adult one-way fare and a $15 COASTER Regional day pass on October 1, 2026.
Yes — weekend service runs roughly every one to two hours in each direction, with late-night trains on Friday and Saturday.
About an hour end to end, with eight stations along the coast.
Take the COASTER to Carlsbad Village or Poinsettia station and connect by bus or a short rideshare — the park is about 10 minutes from either station.
Eight stations, north to south: Oceanside, Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad Poinsettia, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Sorrento Valley, Old Town and Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego. The map above shows what you can walk to from each platform.
You need PRONTO or a contactless card, and you must tap on before boarding and tap off when you leave. Skipping the tap-off charges you the full three-zone fare, and COASTER trips do not count toward the $6 daily Trolley and bus cap.
Yes, both ride free in the designated bike and luggage cars, with no reservation. Space fills on summer weekends, so board early in the queue if you are travelling with a board.
Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad Poinsettia and Carlsbad Village all sit within a 5-15 minute walk of sand — Moonlight Beach from Encinitas station is the easiest walk of the four.
Much cheaper inside San Diego County: $5.00-$6.50 one way versus roughly $16-$20 on the Surfliner for the same stretch of track. The Surfliner is worth it only if you want a reserved seat, the cafe car or a trip that continues past Oceanside.
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Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.