How many days do you need in San Diego? A 3-day itinerary grouped by area
Three days is enough to see San Diego's five headline sights if you do one area per day: Balboa Park and the Zoo, then the downtown waterfront and Coronado, then Old Town and La Jolla. One day means picking a single area; five days adds Point Loma and either the Safari Park or Torrey Pines.
- Days needed
- 3
- Transit fare
- $3 / $7 day
- Longest leg
- 34-42 min
- Ferry
- $9, 15 min
One area per day; matches the 3-day plans most travel guides use
MTS adult one-way and earned day pass since Oct 1, 2026; 18 and under free with Youth PRONTO
Route 30, Old Town Transit Center to Silverado & Herschel in La Jolla (weekday timetable)
Broadway Pier hourly or Convention Center every 30 min to Coronado
The short version
- Day 1 Balboa Park + Zoo, Day 2 USS Midway + Coronado ferry, Day 3 Old Town + La Jolla
- MTS bus and trolley fare is $3 one-way since Oct 1, 2026; MTS lists a $7 day pass earned by paying with PRONTO
- MTS Route 30 runs Old Town to La Jolla in 34-42 minutes, about every 30 minutes
- The Coronado ferry is $9 each way and crosses in 15 minutes
- Cabrillo National Monument is $20 per car on a 5-day trip, valid 7 days
San Diego's main sights sit in four clusters: Balboa Park (Zoo and museums), the downtown waterfront (USS Midway, ferry to Coronado), Old Town, and La Jolla up the coast. Driving between clusters is where first-timers lose time, so we give each cluster its own day. That makes three days the sweet spot; travel guides such as Nomadasaurus's 2026 plan use the same length. You can do all of it on MTS buses, the trolley and the ferry, but see do I need a car? if you're still deciding.
1 day vs. 3 days vs. 5 days
| 1 day | 3 days | 5 days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you see | One cluster: Balboa Park + Zoo, or Midway + Coronado | Zoo/Balboa Park, Midway, Coronado, Old Town, La Jolla | The 3-day plan plus Point Loma and a full-day trip |
| Paid admissions (adult) | $78 Zoo or $39 Midway + $18 ferry | About $135: Zoo $78, Midway $39, ferry $18 | Add Cabrillo $20 per car; Safari Park priced separately |
| Car needed? | No | No; MTS + ferry covers it | Helpful for Cabrillo, Torrey Pines or the Safari Park |
| Best for | Cruise stop, work trip, layover | First visit | Families, or anyone adding beach time |
1 day
- What you see
- One cluster: Balboa Park + Zoo, or Midway + Coronado
- Paid admissions (adult)
- $78 Zoo or $39 Midway + $18 ferry
- Car needed?
- No
- Best for
- Cruise stop, work trip, layover
3 days
- What you see
- Zoo/Balboa Park, Midway, Coronado, Old Town, La Jolla
- Paid admissions (adult)
- About $135: Zoo $78, Midway $39, ferry $18
- Car needed?
- No; MTS + ferry covers it
- Best for
- First visit
5 days
- What you see
- The 3-day plan plus Point Loma and a full-day trip
- Paid admissions (adult)
- Add Cabrillo $20 per car; Safari Park priced separately
- Car needed?
- Helpful for Cabrillo, Torrey Pines or the Safari Park
- Best for
- Families, or anyone adding beach time
Day 1: Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo
Be at the Zoo (2920 Zoo Dr) for the 9 a.m. opening and ride the included bus tour first. A 1-day pass is $78 adult / $68 ages 3-11; parking is $16 if you drive. From downtown, MTS Route 7 (about every 15 minutes midday) and Rapid 215 stop at the Zoo. After the Zoo closes (5 p.m. through Nov 25, 2026), walk El Prado in Balboa Park, which is free; museum costs are in Balboa Park admission and is the Explorer Pass worth it. Have dinner in Little Italy or the Gaslamp.
El Prado is free to walk after the Zoo closes.
Day 2: USS Midway, then the ferry to Coronado
Take the trolley to Santa Fe Depot and walk 5-10 minutes to the USS Midway (910 N. Harbor Dr), open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; adults pay $39 online. Give it about three hours, then walk to Broadway Pier (990 N. Harbor Dr) for the $9, 15-minute ferry to Coronado (hourly; the Convention Center boat runs every 30 minutes). Spend the afternoon at the Hotel del and on Coronado Beach for sunset, then ferry or take MTS Route 901 back. On Sundays Route 901 runs only to 12th & Imperial, not into downtown. Check the return ferry times before you go: Coronado ferry schedule.
The crossing takes about 15 minutes each way.
Day 3: Old Town, then La Jolla
Start at Old Town State Historic Park (free, museums open 10 a.m.), steps from the Old Town Transit Center on the trolley. Around midday take MTS Route 30 from the same transit center to La Jolla: the timetable shows 34-42 minutes to Silverado St. & Herschel Ave., with buses about every 30 minutes on weekdays and weekends. Walk to La Jolla Cove for the sea lions, then stay for sunset. By rideshare, Old Town to La Jolla is about 15-20 minutes. Parking tips: La Jolla Cove parking.
Stay for sunset; it comes before 5 p.m. in November and December.
The 3-day plan by area
San Diego Zoo
9 a.m. opening, bus tour first
6 hoursEl Prado walk
Free
2 hours
USS Midway
Museum suggests 4-5 hrs
3 hoursFerry + Hotel del + beach
$9 each way
4 hours
Old Town SHP
Free
2 hoursRoute 30 to La Jolla
34-42 min
1 hoursLa Jolla Cove
Through sunset
3 hours
Hours are our estimates, using times the attractions recommend where they give one.
Transit legs and costs
| Leg | How | Time | Cost (adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown to Zoo | MTS Route 7 or Rapid 215 | Route 7 every ~15 min midday | $3 |
| Old Town to Santa Fe Depot | Green or Blue Line trolley | Short ride | $3 |
| Broadway Pier to Coronado | Flagship ferry | 15 min, hourly | $9 |
| Coronado to downtown | MTS Route 901 (to 12th & Imperial on Sundays) | Varies | $3 |
| Old Town to La Jolla | MTS Route 30 | 34-42 min, every ~30 min | $3 |
Downtown to Zoo
- How
- MTS Route 7 or Rapid 215
- Time
- Route 7 every ~15 min midday
- Cost (adult)
- $3
Old Town to Santa Fe Depot
- How
- Green or Blue Line trolley
- Time
- Short ride
- Cost (adult)
- $3
Broadway Pier to Coronado
- How
- Flagship ferry
- Time
- 15 min, hourly
- Cost (adult)
- $9
Coronado to downtown
- How
- MTS Route 901 (to 12th & Imperial on Sundays)
- Time
- Varies
- Cost (adult)
- $3
Old Town to La Jolla
- How
- MTS Route 30
- Time
- 34-42 min, every ~30 min
- Cost (adult)
- $3
Sources: MTS fares and Route 7/30 timetables effective Sept 6, 2026; Flagship Cruises; checked Nov 3, 2026. MTS lists a $7 'Day Pass Earned' for PRONTO riders; check sdmts.com for how it applies.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 3, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryFares
San Diego MTS · Checked November 3, 2026
$3 one-way, $7 day pass earned, youth 18 and under free
- PrimaryRoute 30 timetable
San Diego MTS · Effective September 6, 2026
Old Town to Silverado & Herschel 34-42 min; ~30-min weekday and weekend frequency
- PrimaryRoute 7 timetable
San Diego MTS · Effective September 6, 2026
~15-minute midday frequency from downtown
Flagship Cruises & Events · Checked November 3, 2026
$9 one-way, 15 min, Broadway Pier hourly, Convention Center every 30 min
- PrimaryPlan your visit
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance · Checked November 3, 2026
9-5 hours Nov 1-25, 2026; Routes 7 and 215; $16 parking
- PrimaryZoo tickets
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance · Checked November 3, 2026
$78 adult, $68 child
- PrimaryBuy tickets
USS Midway Museum · Checked November 3, 2026
$39 online adult
- PrimaryFees
National Park Service, Cabrillo National Monument · Checked November 3, 2026
$20 vehicle, $10 individual, valid 7 days
- BackgroundMTS Route 901
Transit Wiki · Checked November 3, 2026
Sunday service only between 12th & Imperial and Imperial Beach
Times of San Diego · September 30, 2026
$3 single ride from Oct 1, 2026
Nomadasaurus · Updated January 13, 2026
Recommends 3 days
- BackgroundHow to get to La Jolla
La Jolla Mom · Updated February 24, 2024
Old Town to La Jolla by rideshare about 15-20 min
- BackgroundUSS Midway Museum guide
La Jolla Mom · Updated July 26, 2026
Trolley to Santa Fe Depot, 5-10 min walk
- BackgroundOld Town San Diego guide
La Jolla Mom · Updated July 13, 2026
Free admission, near Old Town Transit Center