Public Transportation

Note: Information may change. Updated transportation information will be posted as it becomes available, and as it becomes relevant when fairtime is near.



Take the COASTER train, SPRINTER, or BREEZE bus service to the Fair! If you live near the COASTER, SPRINTER, BREEZE, or San Diego Trolley lines, taking the public transportation is convenient and fun, plus you'll have a reliable designated driver, save money on parking fees and gas, keep it a little greener, and you miss traffic!

Take public transportation,
get big discounts

Present a same-day transit ticket (or monthly pass) at the West Gate ticket window, and receive $3.50 off Fair adult, senior or child admission.


Discount admission cannot be combined with any other admission discount; one discount per passenger ticket or pass (Amtrak, NCTD or MTS transit tickets); discount is available only at the Fair's West Gate.

Meet your safe-and-reliable-designated-late-night-to-and-from-the
Fair driver

Don't get tripped up trying to get to the Fair! It can be fun and easy any day with round-trip fare on the Fair Tripper, which includes transportation plus Fair admission for just $15; that's transportation to-and-from the Fair plus admission (regular adult admission to the Fair alone is $14). Late trains run until midnight.

Buy Fair Tripper tickets online (via the North County Transit District). The Fair Tripper is valid for any age; but remember, those 62 and older save more buying Fair admission and COASTER fare separately. Kids 5 and younger ride the COASTER free and get free Fair admission.

New this year, NCTD has added a late departure time of the COASTER from the Solana Beach station. A southbound train will leave at 10:52PM. and a northbound train will depart at 12:18AM. These new late trains will offer Fairgoers a great way to enjoy the Wine and Beer Festivals, concerts, and all the late night fun at the Fair and get home safely.

Take the COASTER train

For information on trains other than the Fair tripper, COASTER transportation is available to the Fair. Look for schedules here.

Take the BREEZE bus

NCTD will operate a special route during the Fair from the Escondido Transit Center directly to the Fair. For other locations and departure schedules, look here.

July 4 COASTER Service

On the Fourth of July, COASTER trains will not operate on the weekday schedule, but the new late train service will be available. Check www.gonctd.com after June 20 for the most up-to-date July 4 schedule information. Fairgoers who arrive on the COASTER and want to stay for fireworks can ride the shuttle buses to the Solana Beach COASTER station and catch the late COASTER train. A southbound train will leave at 10:52PM. and the northbound train departs 12:18AM. (Free shuttles to the Solana Beach COASTER station leave the Fairgrounds 30 minutes after the end of the fireworks.)

Before you board:

Certain items may not be brought into the Fair, and may be confiscated at the gate. Because you will not be able to return these items to your vehicle, please read our Can I Bring... page before departing.

Other public transportation to the Fair

The Solana Beach train station also is served by Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, which runs between San Diego and Los Angeles (San Diego to San Luis Obispo on some trains). Please see Amtrak's website. If you take Amtrak to the Fair, you may ride the NCTD shuttle to the Fairgrounds, but you will need to pay the bus fare, which is $1.75 each way; .75¢ cents for seniors.

Biking to the Fair. Bike racks are set up at the O'Brien Gate and the West Gate. You may lock your bikes at either location, using your own lock, at no charge. Search for bike routes here or here.

For San Diego Metropolitan Transit System bus and trolley schedules, http://www.sdmts.com