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MTS light rail
The Trolley is the backbone of getting around San Diego without a car: four light-rail lines connecting the border, downtown, Old Town, Mission Valley, UTC/La Jolla, SDSU and East County, running roughly every 15 minutes for $2.50 a ride.
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A one-way San Diego Trolley ride is $2.50 and a day pass is $6, paid with the Pronto app or a Pronto card. Four lines — Blue, Orange, Green and Copper — run about every 15 minutes from roughly 5am to midnight, and the Blue Line's UTC extension connects downtown to La Jolla in about 40 minutes.
One-way fare
$2.50 (valid 2 hours, transfers included)
Day pass
$6 — caps automatically with Pronto
Monthly pass
$72 (also fare-caps on Pronto)
Frequency
Every 15 min most of the day; 30 min late night
Hours
Roughly 5am–midnight, with limited late service
Payment
PRONTO app, Pronto card, or contactless tap on board
| Line | Route | Use it for | End-to-end time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Line | San Ysidro (border) ↔ downtown ↔ Old Town ↔ UTC | Border crossings, La Jolla/UTC, Old Town, Little Italy | ~70 min |
| Orange Line | Courthouse ↔ downtown ↔ Lemon Grove ↔ El Cajon | East County, La Mesa Village, Gaslamp | ~45 min |
| Green Line | 12th & Imperial ↔ Mission Valley ↔ SDSU ↔ Santee | Petco Park, Snapdragon Stadium, Fashion Valley, SDSU | ~55 min |
| Copper Line | El Cajon ↔ Santee (shuttle) | East County connections | ~10 min |
San Diego uses the PRONTO fare system. Download the PRONTO app, add a virtual card and scan the QR code at the validator on the platform, or buy a $2 plastic Pronto card from a station machine. You can also tap a contactless credit card or phone wallet directly on the validator. Fare capping is automatic: once you've paid $6 in a day or $72 in a month, the rest of your rides are free — so never buy a day pass up front.
There's no Trolley station at San Diego International. Ride the Blue or Green Line to Middletown or the Santa Fe Depot and take the free Route 992 connection or the airport shuttle loop; from the Old Town Transit Center, the 992 and airport flyer buses also connect. Budget 20 extra minutes versus a rideshare.
Most suburban stations have free park-and-ride lots — Santee Town Center, El Cajon Transit Center, Grossmont, Fashion Valley, Old Town and Palomar Street are the biggest. On Padres game days and during Comic-Con, outer lots fill by mid-morning; park at Grossmont or Santee and ride in rather than paying $40+ downtown.
$2.50 for a one-way ride valid two hours including transfers, with a $6 daily cap and $72 monthly cap when you pay with PRONTO.
Not directly. Take the Blue or Green Line to the Santa Fe Depot or Middletown station and connect to the free Route 992 airport bus.
The Blue Line extension reaches UTC and the VA/UCSD stops in about 40 minutes from downtown; from UTC take a short bus or rideshare down to La Jolla Shores or the Village.
Yes — ride the Blue Line to San Ysidro/Beyer Blvd, the last stop, then walk across at the PedWest or PedEast crossing.
Most lines run from about 5am to midnight, with reduced late-night service on the Blue Line only.
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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 .