2024

ISLAND PACKERS

Shipping company

Recommended by the National Park Service, this organization offers boat trips to the park's islands. Santa Cruz Island and Anacapa Island are served year-round, while seasonal trips are offered to the other three islands, generally between April and November. Remember to book in advance, as boats fill up quickly and some islands are only served a few times a week or month. All departures are from the port of Ventura. In Santa Cruz, there are two options: get off at Scorpion Cove or Prisoners Harbor.

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 Channel Islands National Park
2024

FLIXBUS

Bus and coach

The German group has been operating in the U.S. market since 2018 and it is still expanding. It even bought the Greyhound institution in 2021. Flixbus is the certainty of the best value for money! San Francisco has 3 stops: at the corner of5th and Townsend, Daly City Bart Station (500 John Daly Blvd) and at Fisherman's Wharf (700 Beach Street). Currently, San Francisco serves 17 direct destinations, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, Redwood City, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Reno...

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 San Francisco
2024

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

Public transport

Between its sixty or so trolley stations and its hundred or so bus routes, San Diego is relatively easy to visit by public transport. The Metropolitan Transit System website is extremely clear: you'll find timetables and itineraries for every line. You can pay with cash or buy a Pronto card, which is more economical for repeated use. Once you've loaded your card with cash, you can simply swipe it at the terminals provided.

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 San Diego
2024

AMTRAK

Train

Amtrak operates daily trains to various destinations in California (a total of 74 stations in the region): San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles to the south, Oakland and Emeryville in the San Francisco Bay Area, by way of Sacramento. It even goes as far as Seattle. Take advantage of this opportunity to move from city to city and from park to park with this train service, which is quite rare in the United States. Tickets are not that expensive and the cars are comfortable. You can book a sleeping car and even a room with a shower.

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 Sacramento
2024

GREYHOUND

Bus and coach

Greyhound offers the most extensive intercity bus service in North America. For example, San Diego is particularly well connected to the rest of the country, especially to Los Angeles, which can be reached in 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic. You can easily reach other states, such as Nevada - about 10 to 12 hours to Las Vegas - Arizona - about 14 hours to Phoenix - and Utah - about 20 hours to Salt Lake City. Unsurprisingly, the fares are cheaper than the train.

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2024

BIG BLUE BUS

Public transport buses and coaches

With around twenty routes, this company covers Pacific Palisades - line 9 -, Santa Monica, Venice, Los Angeles International Airport - lines 3 and Rapid 3 - as well as Westwood, West Los Angeles, UCLA or Century City, and crosses Downtown - Rapid 10. A practical way to get around the city if you don't have a car and prefer to avoid the metro - and pay for a cab or VTC. Please note: cash is not accepted on board. You must pay for your journey with a TAP card or via the Transit, Token Transit and TAP applications.

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 Los Angeles
2024

L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Public transport

This public company manages the buses and subways in Los Angeles County. In total, there are some 110 bus lines and six subway lines: the A, which connects Downtown to Long Beach; the B, which connects Union Station to North Hollywood; the C, which connects to Redondo Beach from Norwalk; the L, which connects Azusa to Union Station and then to East L.A.; the D, which connects Union Station to Wilshire/Western; and finally the E, which connects Downtown to Santa Monica.

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 Los Angeles
2024

METROLINK

Train

This rail system, established in 1991, covers the entire City of Angels region, with Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego counties in the lead. It is an ideal way to connect remote cities to the metropolitan area, and also offers numerous connections to Amtrak trains. Finally, it includes several connections to the Los Angeles Metro and Coast Starlight, among others. If you have time, take the Coast Starlight for a scenic ride along the Pacific Coast.

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 Los Angeles
2024

Flagship Ferry

Boat and ferry

Every day, Flagship ferries leave Broadway Pier for Coronado about every hour - and vice versa. While it's entirely possible to get to this charming little island town by road - via Coronado Bridge - the ride is particularly pleasant on the water. Allow about 15 minutes and don't forget your sunscreen and a jacket. Also, note that bicycles are allowed on board at no extra charge. You can also rent one upon arrival.

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 San Diego
2024

AMTRAK

Train

Like the SNCF in France, the U.S. National Railroad serves the entire country. It crosses most of the California coast, from San Diego to San Francisco via Los Angeles, and several cities in the South, such as San Clemente, Santa Ana, Anaheim and Fullerton. An interesting alternative to the car, especially since the trip is breathtaking on the section that starts in the municipality of Del Mar and ends at the entrance to Dana Point, since the train runs along the ocean. All this for relatively affordable prices.

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 San Diego
2024

AMTRAK

Bus and coach

Like the SNCF in France, the national railroad company of the United States serves the entire country. It crosses most of the California coast, from San Diego to San Francisco, passing through Los Angeles and several cities in the South, such as San Clemente, Santa Ana, Anaheim and Fullerton. An interesting alternative to the car, especially since the trip is breathtaking on the section from the municipality of Del Mar to the entrance of Dana Point, since the train runs along the ocean. All this for relatively affordable prices.

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 San Diego
2024

GREYHOUND

Bus and coach

Greyhound buses are the cheap way to get across California and beyond. From here, there are several daily departures to Santa Cruz, San Francisco and Los Angeles. And it's cheaper than the train! The buses are functional and comfortable: wifi on board, electrical outlets, reclining seats, toilets... With their engine equipped with the latest technology, they leave a low carbon footprint: it's the green solution to travel! Check out the departures and prices on the Greyhound website.

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 Sacramento
2024

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Airline and services

Located in the middle of the city, between the ocean and the San Diego Freeway - Interstate 405 - Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is particularly prone to traffic jams, so allow plenty of time before your flight. If this is your point of entry into California, it's best to rent a car there. Otherwise, there are several options for getting to the City of Angels: FlyAway shuttles, cabs, VTCs like Uber and Lyft, or the subway.

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 Los Angeles

CHECKER CAB

Taxi and VTC
Recommended by a member
 Palm Springs

VETERAN’S CAB

Taxi and VTC
Recommended by a member
 San Francisco