Coronado – Easy to get to, Easy to get around…
From 25 cent parking meters to 25mph speed limits, here’s all the transport info you need for Coronado Island.
Travel Time
Coronado Island is less than 10 miles from both San Diego International Airport and Amtrak’s Santa Fe Train Depot, with a drive time of under 20 minutes.
Los Angeles is two hours north (3-4 in heavy traffic), Legoland is 40 minutes drive and the US-Mexico border is 20 minutes south.
Mainland attractions including San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and the USS Midway are just 15 minutes by road, or you can ride our Flagship Ferry (see info below).
Coronado Bridge
Even the approach to Coronado is unique – Highway 75 takes you over the bay with a magnificent two-mile-long bridge that feels like its own thrill ride. At its peak you will get a glorious overview of the island, from yacht-dotted bay in the foreground to the fairytale turrets of the Hotel Del Coronado on the distant ocean shore.
As you enter the island you will pass through a vintage toll booth but there is no longer a fee so sail on through!
A Laid-Back Speed
As you drive into Coronado, take the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the relaxed island pace. The speed limit is 25mph and you’ll be sharing the road with lots of cyclists and even a golf cart or two.
You can expect a steady stream of traffic on Orange Avenue, especially during the summer months, but there is always something interesting or scenic to view as you cruise along.
Parking on the Island
Metered parking is just 25 cents per hour (with a 2 Hour Limit) and free on Sundays, Holidays and after 6pm.
Parking along Ocean Boulevard at Coronado’s Central Beach is free. Spaces fill quickly but parking on residential streets is permitted during the day in most neighborhoods. It may take a little longer to find parking during the summer and holidays so do allow extra time.
Coronado Plaza offers underground parking for $20 for 2 hours.
The Hotel Del Coronado has guest parking for $10 for 2 hours with a validated ticket from one of the hotel restaurants. Overnight self-parking for guests is typically $30, but currently $20 in the lead up to the pool reopening.
The carpark at Coronado Ferry Landing is convenient for visiting bayside stores, restaurants and beach rentals.
RVs under 24 feet in length can park on any street for 72 hours, but cannot be used as a residence. Larger vehicles require a permit.
Car Free Coronado
Coronado is easily enjoyed without a car. In fact many residents live quite happily without one on this island paradise — quite unusual in Southern California!
Walking
Coronado Island is about 1 mile long and wide, extending a further 8 miles down the Silver Strand/Highway 75 to the Loews Coronado Bay Resort at the Coronado Cays.
Sidewalks are well-maintained and there is an abundance of picturesque properties and blooming gardens to enjoy, as well as the Orange Avenue shopping district and the stunning water views. You can walk from the Hotel Del Coronado beach to the Ferry Landing Bayfront in under an hour.
Biking
Bicycles are everywhere in Coronado, ridden by people of all ages — a true hallmark of island lifestyle.
Rentals of all types and sizes – including tandems, surreys and children’s taga-longs – are available throughout town. Click here for Bike Listings.
Children are required to wear helmets and cyclists are encouraged to avoid riding on the busy Orange Avenue.
There are 15 miles of dedicated bike paths that meander through our historic neighborhoods and along the pristine coastline. Favorites include paths along the bay, under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, along the Coronado Golf Course, and down the Silver Strand, which is part of the California Scenic Highway with the ocean on one side and coastal marsh on the other.
On the eastern side of the Silver Strand, you can explore an interpretive trail, called Nature’s Bridge, taking you through rare coastal sage-scrub habitat. The trail features five discovery points which highlight the fragile ecology of the Strand. At the southernmost tip of Coronado you can enjoy the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. Bicycle maps are available from the rental shops or at the Coronado Visitor Center.
Golf Carts
Golf carts are a wonderful option for traversing the island while embracing the sunshine and sea breezes. You can rent by the hour, the day or longer. For many locals this is their main mode of transport and you’ll see their dogs happily riding shotgun!
Coronado Island Ferry
Take a nostalgic ride across the bay from Coronado Ferry Landing to San Diego – many folks stay on and just enjoy the roundtrip! You can opt for the 5 minute ride to the Convention Center and the nearby Gaslamp District or the 15 minute trip to Broadway Pier for the USS Midway and Seaport Village. Or stay on board for a scenic roundtrip!
Ferry tickets cost $4.75 each way, kids under 4 are free.
The Ferry departs from Ferry Landing at First Street and is accessible to wheelchairs. Bikes permitted.
Public Transportation
There are 2 bus options for Coronado: MTS Bus 901 travels off Island and into San Diego while MTS Bus 904 travels along Orange Ave to the Community Center, City Hall on Glorietta Bay and the Bayfront and Ferry Landing. One-way fare is $2.50, all day fare is $6.
Map out your transportation plan on the MTS travel planning page.
Taxis, Shuttles etc
- Super Shuttle, Service from San Diego Airport and Amtrak Station. (800) 974-8885
- Coronado Livery, Shuttle service to San Diego Airport and Amtrak Station. (619) 435-6310
- Coronado Yellow Cab Company, 24-hour taxi service, 7 days a week. (619) 435-6211
- For Lyft or Uber, download the application onto your smartphone.
Car Rental
- Enterprise Rent-a-Car, 1323 Orange Ave, (619) 522-6111
- Hertz Car Rental at Coronado Marriott Resort, 2000 Second St, (619) 435-6660
- Hertz Car Rental at Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave, (619) 435-2482
- Veloce Exotic Car Rental, 1500 Orange Ave, (619) 350-3049
Resources for Visitors with Disabilities
Coronado is a flat island with sidewalks that are suited to wheelchairs, with appropriate ramping. The public transit system and the Coronado-San Diego Ferry are wheelchair accessible.
Beach Wheelchairs: The Coronado Beach Lifeguard Division wants to share the beach experience with as many people as possible. To assist those who are mobility impaired to enjoy our beautiful beaches, power and manual beach wheelchairs are available at no cost. These beach wheelchairs are equipped with large, wide wheels which allow users to be rolled across the sand for a “Front Row Seat” at the shoreline’s edge.
The beach wheelchairs are stored at the Main Lifeguard Tower located at Central Beach (920 Ocean Blvd., Coronado, CA 92118). Two disabled-access parking spaces are available at that location. In addition, there is a wheelchair ramp and walkway over the sand that lead directly to the Main Lifeguard Tower. Staff are able to provide assistance with transferring into and out of the beach wheel chair.
Please be prepared to fill out a checkout form and to leave a valid Photo I.D. on hold as collateral until the beach wheelchair is returned. You may leave your personal wheelchair inside the Main Beach Lifeguard Tower while using a beach wheelchair. All the info you need can be found here: City of Coronado Beach Wheelchair program.
For more information on the local area, please visit sandiego.org: DISABILITY ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL IN SAN DIEGO
Operator Assisted TDD Users 800-855-1155
TDD Voice Service 800-772-3140