Welcome to San Diego!!

You have gotten some great detailed advice here - the only thing I can add is that I live in Solana Beach and drive every day to downtown, and the traffic is never bad in the morning. Now getting home in the evening is a different story. , although hubby and I carpool, so its not that bad. Not sure where you are coming from in Carlsbad (north or south Carlsbad?), but if its near where I travel (I live near Coaster station in SB), morning driving will most likely always get you to the airport faster than the Coaster.

I occasionally use the Coaster, although you may find, as I have, that their schedule is not very convinient - they do not run as often as they should, and for the most part, its much slower than if you were to drive.

The commuter terminal is the best, I love it because it is never crowded and always easy to get through. I always use it when traveling internationally etc to get to LAX rather than driving to LAX.

Again, welcome to San Diego - its a great city!!