Rent a car vs. Public Transportation

Whether you are a tourist, adventure traveler or an inhabitant of San Diego, California, there is always a question of finding the best means of traveling around the area, like getting to work on time, visiting San Diego’s attractions or traveling around the state. Public transport is a relatively cheap option that will get you where you need to go, but another popular way to get around is using the car rental network. So, what are the main differences between them and which one is ultimately a better choice?

Public transportation in San Diego, California

The public transport in San Diego, CA is well-connected with roads and railways. It also has a light rail system, which is called the San Diego Trolley (SDTI, colloquially known as the Trolley) and that system is operating in San Diego metropolitan area, which means it covers the County and a part of the State of California.

The Red Trolley

The Trolley has 4 regular lines (Blue, Orange, Green and Copper) plus the Silver Line heritage streetcar downtown, and it’s a cheap and popular way of getting around the city. There’s also a bus network which covers the entire San Diego county and another public transport option is the Coaster (commuter rail) which connects the city center and the suburban areas.

MTS bus network covers South, North, Southeast and Northeast of San Diego County, while the Coaster is available in the northern and central parts of the County. There’s also the Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation) — a train system that connects the city’s very center with the rest of USA.

Local transport prices in San Diego generally aren’t too expensive: as per numbeo.com, a one-way ticket will cost you about $2.50 while the monthly pass will set you back around $72.

Rent a car in San Diego, California

Car rental companies in San Diego and California are numerous; they have their offices almost everywhere, although you’ll most commonly find them on or near airports.

That’s no surprise because around 80% of San Diego’s residents drive a car every day, which makes cars a primary means of transportation in San Diego area. The network of roads interconnects the entire city and also features a lot of highways and freeways that adequately connect the city with the rest of California.

You most definitely couldn’t do this in public transport

The most important advantages of renting a car are traveling in comfort and saving time (and in the long run — money). When you use a rental car, you don’t have to stick to a strict timetable and you can easily decide when you will stop for a cup of coffee, grab a quick snack or just drive to the beach and chill out. Public transport on the other hand often gets into traffic jams, has a lot of mandatory stops and doesn’t cover the entire city and its suburban area.

With an extensive and well-connected San Diego roadway system, you can get almost anywhere in the city by car, which makes rent-a-car a perfect choice for tourists and travelers or first time visitors of the city.

One thing to note, though — be sure to avoid rush hours if you can, because that’s when the traffic jams in San Diego (and the rest of California) can become a real nightmare. The fact is, using a rental car in San Diego is the quickest and most efficient way to see the whole city and to visit other places in California and beyond, such as LA, San Francisco and Las Vegas — and that’s something you’d have a hard time doing using only public transport.

If you’re looking for a rental car to get around California feel free to check out our bargain car rental deals or visit our office near San Diego airport and we’ll be glad to help you out.