Train or drive from LA to SD?
 

I need to be in Beverly Hills for work in late January, and then I'm going to head to San Diego to see friends. I haven't been to LA in years and never been to SD.
I always love driving, but not sure how traffic generally is on that route or how scenic the ride is?
Amtrak - business class - is the exact same rate as the cheapest (reliable) rental car I can find (about $55). Is that the best bet, and would it be better to go to "Old Town" or "Santa Fe Depot"? My friend lives in north San Diego, so it looks like Old Town is a bit closer, but not sure if either station is much easier to get out of or more preferable for another reason?
Are there other/nicer train options? In doing some quick research, it looks like there are but I am not sure how they compare to Amtrak.

Thanks in advance!

The only train between Los Angeles and San Diego is Amtrak. You say your friend lives in north San Diego. Is that north San Diego county or north San Diego city? From north to south, Amtrak stops in Oceanside and Solana Beach before heading into San Diego proper.

Amtrak is just so relaxing and scenic, especially through south OC and north SD county, where it passes along the coast for several miles between Dana Point and Del Mar. The traffic between LA and SD can vary from mildly bearable to horrific, depending on the day/time. I chose the train every time I can and never regret it. Business class comes with free drinks and snacks. The snack box has been pared back, but the drinks include beer/wine. Some of the Surfliner trains even have an observation car attached, but they will all have a cafe car.

For SD, it really depends where you are going. Both Old Town and downtown stations are also connected to the light rail lines in SD, which makes much of the area within easy reach via the Blue and Green lines.

Thanks for the quick response, and I should have known to expect it from you ;). He's definitely closest to the Old Town station (about 15-minutes vs. ~30-mins to Solana). I appreciate the info though. Would you recommend train vs. driving? I love both, so I'm not married to one or the other, but looking for what is nicest and easiest logistically in that stretch.

If you opt to go by train, be aware of this Amtrak service advisory:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...91f734a842.png

I like the train for reasons given above. There are stretches that are exceptionally scenic. Get a seat on the ocean side. The train runs closer to the water in many stretches than the highway. It's a very relaxing way to come

I choose the train whenever I don't have a strict timeline and don't need a car at the destination. As mentioned above, great scenery next to the ocean during part of the ride. Delays are not uncommon, and every once in a while it's standing room only in coach, but business class has reserved seating so should be immune to the latter.

If you don't need a car, take the train. You may be able to use to the trolley to get you closer to your destination. Go south, to go north as it were.

but if you're in old town hit the local restaurants for good Mexican food and margaritas!

Thanks all for the responses! I think I'm just scared from countless Amtrak trips in the Northeast corridor, but sounds like a no-brainer here. I do need to travel on a Sunday, so really appreciate that advisory.

The drive from Beverly Hills to San Diego can be scenic, but traffic is unpredictable. If your friend is in North San Diego, Old Town station is more convenient, but Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner offers a traffic-free ride with some really nice coastal views

Note that the details of the advisory change from week to week, so you really need to check the Amtrak app/website to find out about the details for your particular travel date.

Also, Business Class is good (two/two configuration, mostly on top deck), but seats are guaranteed (sale limited to capacity) rather than reserved (there's no assigned seating). In other words, you line up to board Business Class, Amtrak employees will direct you to which car(s) to enter, but you pick your seat upon entering the train car.

(This is based on recent experience in October 2024.)

Joining the chorus to also suggest taking the train, especially if you don't don't need a car in SD and don't have one to return in LA. As long as there's no bustitutions.
The scenery is really nice and the train so relaxing. It feels so much nicer to ride than the trains on the NEC, even if it's less time competitive to driving than parts of the NEC (e.g., NYC to PHL.)

Anyone know how busy the train is on Sundays these days? As others have already said, I took it once pre-COVID on a weekend and it was jam-packed; people were standing in the vestibules and sitting on the stairs. So the modest upcharge for business class is a good deal for guaranteed seating. People boarding at origin stations have less of a problem finding seats, but it's still nicer to have fewer people standing around in the car.

Do show up a little early for boarding to secure a window seat by the ocean

Yet another thing to be aware of is that the Pacific Surfliner doesn't just operate between LA and SD. Some of the runs start/end farther north, in a few cases as far north as San Luis Obispo. So even if you are going to be boarding the southbound train at LA Union Station, there may be a bunch of passengers already occupying seats, who boarded farther north and are continuing south.

Also be aware that the best scenery (IMO) is between San Juan Capistrano and SD. That is the coastal portion of the route, and you will not see the beach constantly, but rather intermittently. (Just set realistic expectations. ;))

I have taken that train many times. I appreciate the lounge in the Los Angeles Amtrak Station. In the morning there is coffee, tea, muffins, a clean bathroom and the receptionist will announce time of boarding and best of all there is a friendly gentleman who will meet you there and drive you in a golf cart right to the entrance of the train. I have always enjoyed that ride to San Diego.

Is it still the custom for a few days in the summer to have a bunch of people moon the train? If so, that alone might make the trip quite, uh, interesting,