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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.
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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. Fares are $5.50–$6.50 one way depending on distance, the full trip takes about an hour, and weekend service runs roughly every 1–2 hours.
Route
San Diego (Santa Fe Depot) ↔ Oceanside, 8 stations
Fare
$5.50–$6.50 one way; $13 day pass
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)
| 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 |
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 ($5.50–$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.
One-way fares run $5.50 to $6.50 depending on how many zones you cross, with a $13 regional day pass. Kids, seniors and military ride discounted.
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.
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Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .