Stay downtown if your trip is ballgames at Petco Park, nights in the Gaslamp, pasta in Little Italy, the Zoo and Balboa Park, and you’d rather skip the car. Stay in La Jolla if your trip is the coast: morning swims at the Shores, sea lions at the Cove, a kayak to the sea caves, the bluffs at Torrey Pines and sunset dinners over the water. The UC San Diego Blue Line trolley runs from Santa Fe Depot downtown to UC San Diego and UTC in about 29 minutes, but it does not reach La Jolla Village or the beaches, so plan on a car or rideshare if you stay in La Jolla.
Where to stay in La Jolla for the coast
La Valencia Hotel: above La Jolla Cove, walking distance to Village restaurants.
Grande Colonial: historic Village hotel on Prospect Street.
Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton: near La Jolla Shores at 7955 La Jolla Shores Dr., with the rooftop restaurant Sea & Sky.
La Jolla Shores Hotel: on the beach at La Jolla Shores.
Sheraton La Jolla Hotel: in the UTC area, closer to the trolley than to the beach.
San Diego Marriott La Jolla: in the UTC area, closer to the trolley than to the beach.
Related La Jolla guides
FAQ
Can I get from La Jolla to downtown San Diego without a car?
Partly. The Blue Line trolley serves UC San Diego and UTC, not La Jolla Village or the beaches.
Is La Jolla part of San Diego?
Yes. La Jolla is a community within the City of San Diego, which is why many La Jolla addresses read “San Diego, CA 92037.”