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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 buses cost $2.50 a ride ($6 daily cap with PRONTO) and cover the places the Trolley misses. The most useful routes for visitors are the free 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
$2.50 one way, $6 daily cap with PRONTO
Rapid lines
201/202, 215, 225, 235 — every 10–15 min at peak
Free route
992 airport connector
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 (free) | 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.
$2.50 per ride with two-hour transfers, capping at $6 per day and $72 per month through PRONTO.
Route 7 from downtown runs along Park Boulevard directly to the Zoo and the Balboa Park museums.
Yes — Route 992 connects the airport terminals to downtown and the Santa Fe Depot free of charge.
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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 .