Getting Around La Jolla

The major airport is San Diego International Airport, called Lindbergh Field locally. The airport's three-letter code is SAN. Major airlines depart and arrive at Terminal 1 (east) and Terminal 2 (west); commuter flights identified on your ticket with a 3000 sequence flight number depart from a third terminal, the commuter terminal. A red shuttle bus provides free transportation between terminals. Most international flights depart from and arrive at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX); both American Eagle and United Express have frequent flights between LAX and San Diego. Ground shuttle service is available between LAX and San Diego.

La Jolla is located off the I-5 freeway, north of downtown San Diego and Pacific Beach. There are several ways to get there: La Jolla Parkway to Torrey Pines Road from I-5 North (there is no exit to La Jolla Parkway from southbound I-5) or westbound State Route 52; Northbound Mission Boulevard and La Jolla Boulevard from Pacific Beach; Southbound Torrey Pines Road from Del Mar; Westbound La Jolla Village Drive to southbound Torrey Pines Road from southbound or northbound I-5. La Jolla Village Drive from I-5 can also get you to University City (east), or UCSD (west).

San Diego's public transit outfit, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), has a couple of bus routes serving La Jolla: Route 30 serves much of the community, connecting to Pacific Beach and Downtown to the south and UCSD and University City to the east, stopping within walking distance of many of La Jolla's attractions, such as the Cove and the Birch Aquarium. Route 101 serves University City and UCSD and runs north on Torrey Pines Road, connecting to Torrey Pines State Park and other destinations around there. In addition, a number of bus routes serve the UCSD campus.

When you're in "downtown" La Jolla (near the Cove), the best ways to get around do not involve a car. This area is dense enough that you can easily walk, bike, or roller skate around the neighborhood. Plus, parking can get a little difficult to find, so once you get a spot you might not want to risk losing it. For the areas of La Jolla outside downtown, such as around USCD or Torrey Pines, a car will be the easiest way to get around due to the distances and hilly terrain of the surrounding area.