How to Get from San Diego to Disneyland

Whether you are a San Diego local or a visitor exploring the many great attractions in the area like LEGOLAND and the San Diego Zoo, you might be wondering what the best way to get from San Diego to Disneyland is. Disneyland is approximately 95 miles from San Diego, and the journey by car will typically take about an hour and a half depending on traffic.

There are a few different ways to get from San Diego to Disneyland, including driving yourself, taking an Uber or train, and more. We will cover these all in our guide and discuss the pros and cons of the different options you have. Keep reading for the best ways to get from San Diego to Disneyland!

If you're traveling from the airport to Disneyland, see our guide on how to get from John Wayne Airport to Disneyland for everything you need to know.

What Is the Best Way to Get from San Diego to Disneyland?

The best way to get from San Diego to Disneyland will largely depend on the circumstances of your trip, like whether you're a visitor or a local, the length of your trip, the size of your group, and your vacation itinerary.

For locals, driving from San Diego to Disneyland will be the fastest and most convenient option. However, if you're willing to be more flexible with your timing and are staying in Anaheim for a few days, taking the train can be a good option that saves you the hassle of needing to drive.

For those visiting from out of town who are planning on exploring the surrounding area of San Diego and Orange County/Los Angeles, getting a rental car is the most reasonable option. For visitors who only need transportation from San Diego to Disneyland and are spending entire days at the park, Uber or Lyft can be a good option. We'll break all of this down below!

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Driving From San Diego to Disneyland

The first option for getting from San Diego to Disneyland is by driving either your own car or a rental car. Getting a rental car will typically cost about $50-100 per day depending on the season, the size of the car, etc.

For San Diego locals, driving your own car is the best option, especially if you're planning on enjoying a one-day trip. Make sure to keep in mind the cost of theme park parking at Disneyland. Standard parking is $35 per car or motorcycle for standard parking and $55 per vehicle for preferred parking.

If you're a local driving from San Diego to Disneyland for a day trip, allow plenty of travel time if you want to arrive in time for rope drop. We recommend being at the gates at least 30 minutes before park opening, which means that you'll also want to have ample time for parking and taking the tram to the park entrance. This may mean that you'll need to leave as early as 5:30 or 6 am so that you have enough time to arrive for rope drop. See our Disneyland morning strategy for our advice on making the most of your mornings!

If you are starting your Southern California vacation in San Diego and are planning to explore beyond going to theme parks, it would be reasonable to get a rental car for your journey. Driving is going to be the easiest and fastest way to get from San Diego to Disneyland. You'll have control over when you leave, more flexibility, and greater comfort overall. This will also be the easiest option for getting to other theme parks like Knotts Berry Farm and Universal Studios Hollywood during your trip (see how to get from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood in our guide). However, if you are planning on spending your days at the parks, it would not be worth it to get a rental car if you are not making good use of it due to the costs that would accumulate over the course of your trip (hotel parking cost, daily rental cost, etc.).

While we mentioned above that the journey by car should take about 90 minutes, the length of your journey will depend on the time of day you're driving. If you decide to leave in the middle of the day, you may be caught in traffic, which means the drive could take two hours or more.

To get from San Diego to Disneyland by car, you'll take the I-5 North, then take the Katella Avenue or Harbor Boulevard exit. As you approach the Disneyland Resort area, you'll follow the signs to theme park parking. After parking, you'll take the tram to Downtown Disney and walk to the Esplanade, where the front gates of the parks are. See our Downtown Disney map for a full overview of the shopping, dining, and entertainment district!

Lyft/Uber from San Diego to Disneyland

While it is an option to take a Lyft/Uber to Disneyland, this might not be the best option due to the price of the trip. You can see our guide to Uber and Lyft at Disneyland for everything you need to know!

The estimates below are rough numbers, as the specifics will depend on where exactly you are getting picked up and dropped off and whether you are utilizing Uber X or Uber XL.

Uber from San Diego to Disneyland 

According to the Uber website, the average route price from Anaheim to San Diego is around $116. An Uber XL, which accommodates up to 6 people, is estimated to cost around $198.

The price of the ride will depend on which part of San Diego you're departing from. A trip from downtown San Diego, for instance, will cost more than a trip from Carlsbad. You can go to the Uber website to input your pickup point and see what your price estimate would be for where you're starting.

Lyft from San Diego to Disneyland 

The average route price from the San Diego International Airport (as a reference point) to Disneyland will be around $120-140 according to Lyft's website. This is comparable to the Uber pricing above. Lyft XL is estimated to cost between $185-210.

The length of the trip will be the same as what we mentioned for driving above depending on what time of day you choose to make the journey. For visitors who are starting their vacation in San Diego and enjoying a multi-day Disneyland trip, this option eliminates the stress of needing to drive and pay for gas and overnight hotel parking. Uber/Lyft can be a reasonable choice for those who are not planning on exploring the surrounding area with a rental car and just need transportation to get from San Diego to Disneyland.

Taking the Train from San Diego to Disneyland

Another option for getting from San Diego to Disneyland is taking the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train to the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). This option will take slightly longer than driving at about 2 hours, and one-way tickets start at $30.

There is a small transportation gap once you arrive at the train station to get to Disneyland Disneyland. From here, you can easily take the ART Route 14 or 15 bus, which will take you straight to Disneyland in about 20-30 minutes. See our guide to the ART Shuttle bus for everything you need to know! You could also opt for an Uber ride to the parks from here, which will be the fastest option.

While taking the train saves you the hassle of driving, keep in mind that you'll be tied to the train's schedule. This means that you may be arriving at the parks after rope drop, or you might need to take a train at an extremely early time to be there in time for park opening.

For locals who are planning on traveling from San Diego to Disneyland and back within a day, this option is going to be less flexible than driving. Taking the train is usually going to be longer than driving yourself, and you'll also need to allot time for getting from the station to Disneyland. However, if you're planning on a multi-day Disneyland trip, or if you are willing to plan around the train's schedule, this could be an appealing option due to not having to worry about driving or parking.

Plan Your Disney Vacation Today!

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You can find more information on planning your vacation in our guides:

• Flying to Disneyland–Which Airport to Fly Into and How to Get to the Resort
• Best Hotels Near Disneyland 2025: Disneyland Hotel Reviews to Help Plan Your Stay
• Disneyland On-Property Hotel Perks 2025 – Perks Worth The Cost?
• Character Meet and Greets at the Disneyland Resort: Ultimate Guide to Characters
• New Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood: NEW Fast & Furious Rollercoaster, Super Nintendo Land Now Open

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