Anaheim to San Diego

[Keeblerelf928]

We are traveling to Disneyland for a last minute trip in a week. It was a quarter the price to fly home out of San Diego vs any of the local to Anaheim airports so we are taking time at the end to go visit the San Diego Zoo and see LaJolla. My original plan was to take Amtrak from Anaheim to the station closest to La Jolla and then uber to the hotel. Uber to the zoo and back and then Uber to the airport the next morning. We are in Disneyland from Wed-Sun (Tickets for Thurs/Fri/Sat). We leave Disneyland on Sunday, plan on the Zoo on Monday and fly home on Tuesday morning.

I'm now debating whether we should rent a car. I've driven in Boston, NYC, Orlando and most of the northeast/mid Atlantic including the beltway around DC but I've heard San Diego traffic is insane and I'm not sure how to plan a day around driving between Anaheim and La Jolla. We could literally take the entire day to drive between the two. What do people recommend? Train or Car Rental? and if we rent a car what are some good stops between? I have 2 kids, 6 & 10 and we travel with a booster seat regardless, so no concerns there.

 

[mdmost]

If the price is about the same, I would opt for a car rental. I didn't find the drive to and from Anaheim and San Diego to be that bad. I also didn't find the traffic in San Diego that bad either. La Jolla and the San Diego Zoo are about 30 minutes from each other. I would maybe hit up La Jolla on the way back from Disneyland or going towards Disneyland since it's a bit west off the 5 and you can just go in and back out. We opted to stay in La Jolla and drive to the Zoo and other places and it didn't seem bad at all.

As far as stops, I would definitely check out some of the surf towns like Oceanside and San Clemente. San Clemente might be my favorite California town. There's also lots of pretty missions along the 5.

One thing about a car though, gas and parking. How much does your Disneyland hotel charge for parking as well as where ever you stay in San Diego?

The train ride to and from San Diego could be a fun adventure for young kids. It goes right through a lot of those surf towns. My issue is just the logistics of multiple rideshares versus your own vehicle that there's no waiting.

I'm going to San Diego towards the end of the month for the Dodgers-Padres game and I can't wait to get back.

 

[Christine]

@Keeblerelf928 I live in the DC area and visit San Diego often. It is not insane at all and I find it quite easy and non-aggressive compared to my usual day in traffic! Yes, they get backups but they are nothing to me. Sunday is a good day to travel down to San Diego.

Is your hotel in La Jolla? That is about a 20 minute drive to downtown SD and the zoo. Right now the zoo has free parking but most of the hotels charge for parking and it's pricey.

I like visiting La Jolla to see the seals. Beyond that, I don't overly care much for the shops and stuff. They are a little spread out and many of the stores are what I have here.

Anyway, if you post where you are staying I might have different suggestions.

 

[Keeblerelf928]

@Christine our hotel is in La Jolla and offers free parking for overnight guests. I’ve heard there isn’t a ton to do beyond seeing the seals and beach and shopping isn’t on our list for this trip so I wasn’t too worried with stores. I know my kids will want good ice cream or other dessert lol. Our flight is early on Tuesday morning so it’ll only be Sunday night, and Monday all day.

 

[sjmac42]

Oh my goodness, rent a car of course. Quicker to get to your hotel using 1 mode of transport rather than mucking around with trains, buses, rideshares and all the transfers that will entail.
If you had a few days, sure the train is an option. You don’t so rent a car in Anaheim.
As for stops, you can just drive straight to SD and enjoy the city and Bay or drive Hwy 1 as far as Laguna Beach/Dana Point stopping off in Newport Beach on the way, easily fills a day.