LAX to San Diego by Bus
 

My fiance and I are flying into LAX in December and want to get to downtown San Diego. We'd rather not hire a car and are wondering the best way to get to San Diego by bus. Thank you!

Hi there

Is this a round-trip or one-way? If round-trip how long are you down there for? I am not sure of the costs or cost savings involved in this option, but when we did it a couple of years ago we took an organised Greyline Tour bus (they were fine about our suitcases) from Los Angeles down to San Diego Seaworld spent a few hours there, and then came back up to Anaheim before heading back in to LA. We actually left the tour in Anaheim (as we were stopping there a few days), but it was an excellent way to get from a to b, seeing some other stuff on the way. Perhaps there would be a tour that does something you want en-route, and that you could just leave the tour once you're in San Diego?

It might not work out but could be worth looking at?

Regards
Rachel

you could also take a train - Amtrack has trips a day I believe

i think the best way is a bus from LAX to the train. it stops right in downtown san diego.

It's straitforward to get from LAX to the L.A. Greyhound Terminal, from which you have a myriad of choices of busses down to San Diego. According to

www.los-angeles-lax.com/transportation.html
"Free shuttle service to the Metropolitan Transit Authority Metro Green Line Light Rail's Aviation station also leaves from the lower level under the LAX Shuttle sign."

Check out

www.mta.net/images/rail_map.pdf

for a map of the L.A. light rail, and how to get from LAX to Metro Center.

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/ri...ng_trip-03.htm

notes that the Greyhound Terminal is at 7th Street.

Note that I'm only saying what's POSSIBLE, not what's ADVISABLE. I've never ridden L.A. light rail, and my memory of the area around the bus terminal from 25 years is not good. Someone else, with more familarity with the system, could say whether this idea is a GOOD one.

To take the train you have to go to downtown Los Angeles first because that's the closest train station.

What time of day do you arrive at LAX?

You may be able to find a shuttle that will pick you up at LAX and take you to San Diego. It's not inexpensive, though.

Why would you rather not rent a car? Other than flying, that would be the simplest way to get to San Diego. Have you priced flights to San Diego from LAX?

Anthony99, you are wise to avoid renting a car. Avoid driving through Los Angeles traffic at all costs. We live in southern cal and we try our best to avoid this drive if we can get out of it!

See if the train will work. That would be the most enjoyable but sorry I don't know how far the train station is from the airport.

Yes, what about getting a flight from los angeles to san diego? that's the best way actually. We once drove san diego to Los angeles to catch a flight, never again. Now we always book a flight san diego to los angeles, then we fly out of Los angeles.

Saw a list of worst traffic in the USA. Los Angeles is in the top 10 worst traffic for cities.

Hi Anthony,

Try this site:
http://www.iflylax.com/lax_information_faqs.php#q5

It says, quote:
" How do I get from LAX to Union Station (train) and the Greyhound Bus Station? To Top The Metropolitan Express (private) bus and Metro Bus (public) routes #439 and #42 travels from LAX to downtown Los Angeles and to Union Station (train), which is only about 2 miles (over 3 kilometers) from the Los Angeles Greyhound Bus Terminal. You can board the Metropolitan Express (private) on the Lower/Arrival Level islands in front of each terminal under the green sign indicating Buses & Long Distance Vans. You can board the Metro Bus (public) at the LAX City Bus Center located in remote parking Lot C on 96th Street and Sepulveda Blvd.For your information, the Los Angeles Union Train Station Passenger Terminal is located at 800 North Alameda Street in downtown Los Angeles (zip code 90012), approximately 19 miles (31 kilometers) from LAX. The downtown Los Angeles Greyhound Bus Terminal is located at 1716 East 7th Street (zip code 90021), also about 19 miles (31 kilometers) from LAX."

Roundtrip from Los Angeles to San Diego on the train is $26.
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...mtrak/HomePage

Roundtrip on Greyhound bus would be $28:
http://www.greyhound.com/home.asp

Greyhound station is a real seedy part of town. The Union Train Station is quite a beautiful, historic building.

Just FYI.