Getting around San Diego without stress

The county is spread out, so plan on a car for most of a mid-term stay. The good news: traffic is predictable, and both of our neighborhoods sit close to major freeways.

Freeway basics

• I-5 runs the coast; expect slow spots downtown and near La Jolla at rush hour.
• I-8 connects the beaches to Mission Valley and El Cajon — the East County lifeline.
• SR-52 and SR-163 are the fast cross-town links from Clairemont.
• I-15 heads north to Escondido and Temecula.

When transit works

The Trolley's Blue, Orange, and Green lines cover downtown, Old Town, Mission Valley, SDSU, La Mesa, El Cajon, and Santee. It is genuinely useful for a Padres game or a night downtown when you would rather not park.

Parking and airport

San Diego International is unusually close to the city — 15 to 20 minutes from Clairemont, about 25 from El Cajon. Beach neighborhoods use metered or permit parking in places, so read the signs; our rentals both include free parking on site.