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MTS bus network
Buses fill in everywhere the Trolley doesn't go — Balboa Park, the beaches, North Park, La Jolla — and the Rapid lines run frequently enough that you don't need a schedule.
Last updated
MTS local buses cost $3 for most adult one-way trips ($7 daily cap with PRONTO) and cover the places the Trolley misses. The most useful routes for visitors are the paid Route 992 from the airport, Route 7 to Balboa Park and the Zoo, Routes 8/9 to Mission and Pacific Beach, and Rapid 215 up El Cajon Boulevard to North Park and SDSU.
Fare
$3 adult one way; $7 daily cap with PRONTO since Oct 1, 2026
Rapid lines
201/202, 215, 225, 235 — every 10–15 min at peak
Airport connection
Route 992 is paid ($3 adult); the separate San Diego Flyer airport shuttle is free
Cash
Accepted on board, exact change, no bills over $20
Bikes
Two-bike racks on the front of every bus, free
| Route | Goes to | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 992 | Airport ↔ downtown / Santa Fe Depot ($3 adult fare) | Every 15 min |
| 7 | Downtown ↔ Balboa Park ↔ San Diego Zoo ↔ North Park | Every 15 min |
| 8 / 9 | Old Town ↔ Mission Beach ↔ Pacific Beach | Every 15–30 min |
| 30 | Old Town ↔ Pacific Beach ↔ La Jolla ↔ UTC | Every 15 min |
| Rapid 215 | Downtown ↔ North Park ↔ City Heights ↔ SDSU | Every 10–15 min |
| Rapid 235 | Downtown ↔ I-15 corridor ↔ Escondido | Peak express |
| Rapid 201/202 | UTC ↔ UCSD ↔ La Jolla Village | Every 10 min |
Route 7 from downtown runs along Park Boulevard and stops at the Zoo entrance and the Balboa Park museums — about 15 minutes from the Gaslamp and far cheaper than the $20 park-adjacent lots on busy weekends. Rapid 215 also serves the park's eastern edge.
Take the Trolley to Old Town, then Route 8 or 9 to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, or Route 30 for Pacific Beach and La Jolla. The full trip from downtown runs 40–55 minutes; on a July Saturday it beats hunting for beach parking.
$3 per adult ride on most local services since October 1, 2026; PRONTO caps at $7 daily and $85 monthly for standard adult fares.
Route 7 from downtown runs along Park Boulevard directly to the Zoo and the Balboa Park museums.
Route 992 is not free; the regular adult fare is $3. For a free airport-to-transit connection, use the separate San Diego Flyer shuttle between the airport and Old Town Transit Center.
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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.