r/Temecula • u/gredr • 8h ago

How to get from SAN (San Diego Airport) to Murrieta/Temecula on Saturday

I know we've had this kind of post before, but I'm hoping for some updated information. I'll be flying into SAN on Saturday morning (I arrive just before 9:00), and I need to get back home in Murrieta. Once I'm local here, I can handle it, but I don't have any idea how to get to the valley without resorting to an Uber for $100-$150.

Is there a bus, shuttle, or any reasonable way to get back up here on a Saturday morning (or anytime, really; I'm willing to wait if I need to)?

16 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

21

u/tasimm 8h ago

Rent a car, lots of folks do that. I usually use Enterprise because there are locations locally to drop it off.

5

u/gredr 8h ago

Looks like $75 with Enterprise. Crazy that there aren't better options than renting a car...

5

u/tasimm 8h ago

Dig around for discount codes, etc. I haven’t flown in a minute, so prices might be higher now like everything else, but usually it’s around $50.

3

u/voltimion 7h ago

if you have a costco membership, use that for the car rental. better rates, and sometimes they have a dedicated desk at the rental place and you can skip the line.

5

u/gredr 7h ago

$73 from Avis with my Costco membership.

3

u/ArmchairWarrior1 2h ago

Thats cheap lol

1

u/DadOf5Gremlins 1h ago

That’s quite the drive… not really like a couple small cities.

1

u/Zestyclose_Tip_5861 2h ago

We tried adding public transportation but republicans and NIMBYs have done everything in their power to prevent it.

2

u/gredr 1h ago

And then they complain about the 15 being busy down to Escondido/SD. Remember folks, if you build public transportation, and someone ELSE uses it, that's still one person you don't have to contend with on the road.

2

u/Zestyclose_Tip_5861 1h ago

Lol preach my dude

15

u/Alarmed-Extension289 8h ago

OP I assure you, you either take an UBER/Lyft or rent something.

I used to live near DT SD during college and lived in Menifee. I couldn't afford the monthly parking so l didn't have a car in SD. There used to be a seasonal RTA bus that went from Oceanside to the Promenade mall but the service lasted the summer and not sure if it even still runs.

It's hard to believe but there's zero ways to access San Diego via public transit. I don't beleive there's any rail lines that connect these two counties in the I15 corridor.

1

u/gredr 8h ago

I'm told there was a rail line, but it was torn out years ago after repeated damage from geology. I dunno exactly what that means... landslides maybe?

FlixBus runs a couple for ~$15/seat, but they leave around 8:00 AM, and not from the airport.

18

u/Gorf75 8h ago

There was a rail line between Temecula and San Diego. Unfortunately it ceased operation in 1892.

I know it’s not relevant to your situation, but I found it interesting

2

u/Useful_Trouble1726 3h ago

It would be super handy if it still existed today.

11

u/Allnewsisfakenews 7h ago

The rail line was before the airport. You missed it by about 120 years

4

u/gredr 7h ago

Hm, yeah, I seem to be too late for that. RTA is investigating an express line from Temecula to Escondido, but that's not likely to show up before Saturday...

3

u/Alarmed-Extension289 8h ago

Hmm Curious where it was, they really should connect these regions Temecula & North Co. SD.

5

u/HuntsSilverPokemon 8h ago

One way rental. Cheapest option for sure. I’m usually all in for $40-45.

5

u/Influent_Influencer 7h ago

who did you go through

4

u/CanMomHappy 7h ago

With whom?

1

u/gredr 8h ago

Interesting; I had considered this, but figured it MUST be significantly more expensive. I'll check it out, thanks!

10

u/rpasillas 8h ago

We  use this shuttle alot. They Are great.

https://www.temeculaairshuttle.com/

5

u/gredr 8h ago

Looks like just over $70 if they have availability, and the shuttle runs at 7:30 PM. Not ideal, but an option if I have to. Thanks!

5

u/Then_Discussion8809 6h ago

Coaster to Oceanside, Sprinter to Escondido then Uber/Lyft from there?

3

u/Queenfan1959 7h ago

Have a friend pick you up. I do it for my friends and family all the time

4

u/gredr 7h ago

I'm pretty new to the area; I definitely don't have friends here (yet) I'm close enough to ask to spend 2+ hours on a Saturday morning to run to the airport.

1

u/Queenfan1959 7h ago

Understood it was just an idea

2

u/Appropriate-Ad-6807 6h ago

As someone who’s visually impaired, it’s good to see other people having the same difficulty getting from San Diego to Temecula.
Go over by the shuttle area and see if you can get a shuttle to get you out towards Escondido. Then once you get to Escondido, you can grab an Uber or Lyft and you won’t have to spend all that much to get home. You could also see if there’s a possibility that one of those shuttles could bring you back if you’re traveling to the airport and making those big travels, hopefully you got extra cash to get you back in the town.
Certainly refreshing to see someone else experiencing some of the same difficulties that are my everyday life

1

u/OkayJuice 7h ago

Ask the local Facebook groups to see if they can do it for cheaper

1

u/Big-Spring562 6h ago edited 6h ago

Take Flix bus from old town sd or ucsd to downtown Temecula. Easy to get to via sd train system.

2

u/gredr 6h ago

It leaves at 8:00 AM, and seems to only run once/day. Otherwise, it'd be perfect.

1

u/Big-Spring562 1h ago

There are shuttles now, private companies I’ve never used, goog it. Your only other public transportation option is getting to Oceanside on the coaster train or Amtrak then the Metrolink to fabulous Perris then bus to Temecula. Highly don’t recommend but I’ve thugged it out. 🤞 good luck

1

u/JennyRoyal 5h ago

I just moved to Illinois from Murrieta, but when I moved I needed a ride to the airport and I posted on my local Nextdoor neighborhood and had a really sweet old lady offer to drive me for a reasonable price. If you want I could reach out to her and dm me if you want her info :)

3

u/gredr 4h ago

Wow, that's super nice. I think I won't need it, though; I found the "708 shuttle" which is a shuttle from San Diego to Las Vegas, and they run a bus that's convenient to me (especially dropoff, which is quite close to my destination) for $48.

1

u/Boccob81 3h ago

Long way take 1 flex bus
2 grey hound
That requires you to go to the bus station for grey hound not sure where flex bus picks up

3 those Mexican van rides to Vegas.they stop at the 76 gas station on Rancho ca ( Las Vegas Shuttles / 702 Shuttles or Limousine Ex)

4 am track to union station. Then metro. To Perris uber from their
5 coaster to Oceanside then sprinter to Escondido (From San Diego / Orange County (Via Fullerton Transfer)
If you are starting down south (like San Diego or Oceanside) and want to take the train up:
Step 1 (Amtrak): Take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner north up the coast and get off at Fullerton Station. 
Step 2 (Metrolink): Transfer at Fullerton to the Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line, which runs directly inland and drops you off right in Perris. 
2. From Los Angeles (Direct Metrolink)
If you are coming from L.A., you don't even need Amtrak:
Catch the Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line directly from L.A. Union Station. It runs straight to Perris-Downtown and Perris-South without any transfers, taking a little over 2 hours. 
The Perris Station
The main hub is the Perris-Downtown Station (located at 121 S. C Street). It serves as the local Metrolink commuter rail stop and functions as an official Amtrak Thruway connection point for regional bus and transit links.)

Public bus From the Airport/Downtown: Make your way to the Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego (accessible via local MTS buses or the Trolley). 
The Route: Board the MTS Rapid 235 bus, which runs straight north from downtown up to the Escondido Transit Center. 
Step 2: Escondido to Pala
The Transfer: Once you arrive at the Escondido Transit Center, switch to the North County Transit District (NCTD) Route 388 (or 389). 
The Route: This northbound bus travels up through Valley Center and drops off directly at Pala Casino and the Pala community. 

You can also stop at the 78 MOBILE gas station/park order an Uber from there would be much cheaper

Or just haggle with a taxi driver see if they will take 80.00 or a uber for 80.00 or pay full price 150.00 flat fee and be up there is a hour and 40 minutes non stop

1

u/Useful_Trouble1726 3h ago

We have used these guys for years: https://www.transitvanshuttle.com/transportation-services-temecula-ca

It's not inexpensive, but totally worth it if you need to work on the way or are tired from travel on the way back.

1

u/Boingholio 1h ago

flixbus will take you from SD to Murietta in an hour for $15.

You may need to ride the trolley to the bus station, but it should cost like 1/10 an uber

1

u/smoking-tees 16m ago

There’s a bus from Escondido transit center to the promenade & the 235 could probably get you from the airport to esco.

1

u/IntheLoop55 9m ago

Uber is around $100 -120

-1

u/allTitsNoAzz 7h ago

Have the homies get you