Orange and Green downtown — first trips and conventions
The downtown stations sit inside the Gaslamp, one stop from the Convention Center and walking distance to Petco Park and the Embarcadero. Best for a trip where the car would sit in a garage.
San Diego Hotels Near a Trolley Station
Staying on the line is only a saving if you skip the parking charge too — so both are in the table.
Last updated
Quick answer
We track 8 hotels with a trolley station inside a ten-minute walk. Downtown is where this works best: the Gaslamp Quarter, Civic Center, Convention Center and Seaport Village stations sit among the Pendry, Solamar, US Grant, Manchester Grand Hyatt, Marriott Marquis and Hilton Bayfront, all on the Orange and Green lines. Old Town Transit Center puts you on the Blue and Green lines with the airport shuttle nearby, and Mission Valley's Green Line stops serve the cheapest rooms in the city. The trolley runs about $2.50 a ride with a $6 daily cap, so two people can cross the city all day for less than one night of downtown self-parking — which is why the parking column matters as much as the station column. Walk times in the table are our own estimates from each hotel's published address unless the row says otherwise; MTS and the hotels do not publish walk times.
What staying on the line actually saves
| Cost | With a car | On the trolley |
|---|---|---|
| Getting around for a day | Fuel plus event and attraction parking | $6 daily cap per person |
| Hotel parking | $45–55 self-park downtown, valet higher | Nothing, if you skip the car |
| Airport arrival | Rental counter queue plus daily charge | Bus to Old Town or a short rideshare downtown |
| What you give up | Nothing — full reach | La Jolla, North County and most beaches need a bus, rideshare or day rental |
Hotels within a ten-minute walk of a trolley station
Every property in our database with a recorded trolley station inside a ten-minute walk, shown with its parking charge — because the whole point of staying on the line is not paying for a car.
| Hotel | Nearest trolley station | Neighborhood | Price · typical rate | Parking | Resort fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtyard San Diego Old Town | Old Town Transit Center · Blue/Green Line · 8 min walk (our estimate) | Old Town | Mid-range · $170–$300 | Free self-park | None at last check |
| Residence Inn San Diego Mission Valley | Mission Valley Center · Green Line · 8 min walk (our estimate) | Hotel Circle, Mission Valley | Mid-range · $180–$320 | Free self-park | None at last check |
| Hilton San Diego Bayfront | Convention Center · Orange/Green Line · 10 min walk (our estimate) | East Village / Bayfront | Upscale · $250–$470 | Valet or self-park · $55/night | None at last check |
| Kimpton Solamar | Gaslamp Quarter · Orange/Green Line · 5 min walk (our estimate) | Gaslamp Quarter | Upscale · $290–$450 | Valet only · $50–60/night | None at last check |
| Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego | Seaport Village · Orange/Green Line · 9 min walk (our estimate) | Marina District | Upscale · $240–$450 | Valet or self-park · $45–60/night | Yes · amount not confirmed |
| Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina | Seaport Village · Orange/Green Line · 8 min walk (our estimate) | Marina District | Upscale · $250–$480 | Valet or self-park · $45–60/night | Yes · amount not confirmed |
| Pendry San Diego | Gaslamp Quarter · Orange/Green Line · 5 min walk (our estimate) | Gaslamp Quarter | Luxury · $550–$950 | Valet only · $55–65/night | Confirm at booking |
| The US Grant | Civic Center · Orange/Green Line · 3 min walk (our estimate) | Downtown core | Luxury · $350–$650 | Valet only · $50–60/night | Confirm at booking |
Courtyard San Diego Old Town
Trolley access, free parking, everything inside 12 minutes
Old Town Transit Center is a walk away, which means the trolley to downtown and the Coaster north without a car. Free parking and a pool at a mid-range rate.
Check current rates and fees on the hotel's own siteResidence Inn San Diego Mission Valley
Suites with kitchens, free parking, free breakfast
Hotel Circle at its most useful: kitchen suites, big free lot, breakfast included, trolley Green Line nearby and ten minutes to the Zoo. The best real-total value for a family with a car.
Check current rates and fees on the hotel's own siteHilton San Diego Bayfront
Anyone whose entire trip happens inside the Convention Center
Physically next door to the Convention Center with a walkway in, and a 10-minute walk to Petco Park in the other direction. The single most practical convention base if you don't want to cross a street with a badge on.
Check current rates and fees on the hotel's own siteKimpton Solamar
Quieter Kimpton rooftop, walkable to Petco Park
The second Kimpton downtown, calmer than the Palomar, with the same fee-free pet policy and a cabana rooftop pool.
Check current rates and fees on the hotel's own siteManchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Convention trips that still want a pool and bay views
The closest big-box hotel to the Convention Center that isn't attached to it. Bay-and-skyline rooms cost far less than a coastal ocean-view category, and the 18+ Balcony Pool is a rare adult space inside a family-scale hotel.
Check current rates and fees on the hotel's own siteMarriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Convention groups that want pools and a marina
Directly attached to the Convention Center's north end. The most conference-oriented hotel in the city, with enough pool deck that a trailing family isn't stuck in the room.
Check current rates and fees on the hotel's own sitePendry San Diego
Design-led luxury with the best hotel food downtown
Six bars and restaurants including Nobu on the roof. Adult by evening crowd rather than by policy, and the strongest luxury option that keeps you inside the Gaslamp.
Check current rates and fees on the hotel's own siteThe US Grant
Historic grandeur on Broadway
Restored 1910 landmark with the Grant Grill downstairs. Formal in a way nothing else downtown is, and no pool — a trade some travelers happily make.
Check current rates and fees on the hotel's own siteFilter: a recorded trolley station within a ten-minute walk, measured from the hotel's published street address. Walk times are our own estimates unless the row says they are the hotel's figure. Rates, parking charges and resort fees are ranges and were last checked 2026-09-12. Hotels bill parking and resort fees separately from the room rate — confirm both on the property's own site before booking.
Which line to base yourself on
The three lines cover different trips. Pick the one that matches what you actually plan to do.
Blue and Green at Old Town — airport and Balboa Park
Old Town Transit Center is the one interchange that ties the trolley, the COASTER, Amtrak and the airport bus together. Rooms cost less than downtown and the Blue Line runs north to UTC and La Jolla's edge.
Green Line in Mission Valley — cheapest rooms with a stop outside
Hotel Circle rooms are roughly half the downtown rate and usually include self-parking, with Green Line stops at Fashion Valley, Hazard Center, Rio Vista and Mission Valley Center.
Frequently asked
Can you get around San Diego without a car if you stay near the trolley?
For downtown, Balboa Park, Old Town, Petco Park, the Convention Center and Mission Valley, yes. The trolley does not reach the beaches, La Jolla or North County, so those days need a bus, a rideshare or a one-day rental.
How much does the trolley cost?
About $2.50 per one-way ride with a roughly $6 daily cap on a PRONTO card or the app, tapping on every boarding. Our trolley guide has the current fares and hours.
Which trolley station is closest to the Convention Center?
The Convention Center station on the Orange and Green lines sits directly outside, with Gaslamp Quarter and Seaport Village a few blocks either side. The Hilton Bayfront, Marriott Marquis and Manchester Grand Hyatt are all within roughly a ten-minute walk.
Does staying on the trolley line save money?
Mostly by letting you skip hotel parking, which runs about $45–55 a night downtown. If you still rent a car and park it, being near a station saves little — so treat the parking column in the table as the real number.
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