NCTD service alert: Free Ride Day. Wednesday, Oct 7. FREE rides on COASTER, SPRINTER, BREEZE, FLEX and NCTD+ Celebrate California’s Clean Air Day by riding FREE all day on COASTER,… NCTD details
Free rides Wednesday, Oct 7. NCTD's Clean Air Day: COASTER, SPRINTER and BREEZE are free all day on the normal weekday schedule, no PRONTO card or fare needed. NCTD+ is free 6am to 8pm with promo code FREERIDE. LIFT, MTS and Amtrak Rail 2 Rail are not included. Text PJ your trip.
Official: NCTD service alert: FREE Ride Day, Wed. Oct. 7; also reported by 10News · The Coast News. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Padres home games, the next two weeks
Tue Oct 6 · Milwaukee Brewers at Padres · first pitch 6:30pm
NL Division Series, Game 3. TV: FS1 / FOX ONE, Fox Deportes / FOX ONE.
Down: Oceanside → Santa Fe Depot 2:36pm → 3:37pm, 3:36pm → 4:37pm, 4:36pm → 5:37pm.
Home: Scheduled trains north from Santa Fe Depot after first pitch: 7:40pm, 9:20pm. The 9:20pm is the last scheduled train, 2 hours 50 minutes after first pitch.
Wed Oct 7 · Milwaukee Brewers at Padres · first pitch 7:00pm
NL Division Series, Game 4. TV: FS1 / FOX ONE, Fox Deportes / FOX ONE.
Down: Oceanside → Santa Fe Depot 2:36pm → 3:37pm, 3:36pm → 4:37pm, 4:36pm → 5:37pm.
Home: Scheduled trains north from Santa Fe Depot after first pitch: 7:40pm, 9:20pm. The 9:20pm is the last scheduled train, 2 hours 20 minutes after first pitch.
Free Ride Day: NCTD says COASTER, SPRINTER and BREEZE rides are free this day (see the alert above).
NCTD says extra northbound trains run after many Padres home games: they leave Santa Fe Depot 60 minutes after the last out (or the fireworks), never later than midnight. As of 9:15am PT, NCTD's Padres page does not mention the playoff games, so check it on game day.
Santa Fe Depot to the ballpark
Petco Park is about a mile from Santa Fe Depot. The MTS Green Line trolley goes from Santa Fe Depot to Gaslamp Quarter station, next to the ballpark, in about 5 minutes (median of 655 scheduled trips in MTS schedule data, checked October 3, 2026).
From NCTD: parking is free at most COASTER stations, a COASTER Regional Pass includes a free transfer to the MTS trolley, you can pay with the PRONTO app, riders 18 and under ride free with a Youth Opportunity Pass PRONTO account, and alcohol is not allowed on COASTER trains.
Sources: MLB schedule data, NCTD COASTER schedule data, NCTD Padres page, NCTD Padres service announcement, MTS schedule data. Scheduled times; check NCTD for service alerts.
Game-day help
Food picked up before first pitch, a supply run for the watch party: PJ does one-stop errands for $35 a stop in Solana Beach, Del Mar and Cardiff (things, not passengers). Text PJ. Game times and TV: Padres game today.
Need a human?
This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.
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Questions people ask
Can I take the Coaster to the Padres game at Petco Park?
Yes. For the Tuesday Oct 6 game (first pitch 6:30pm), the 4:36pm Coaster from Oceanside reaches Santa Fe Depot at 5:37pm. From there the MTS Green Line trolley runs about 5 minutes to Gaslamp Quarter station, next to the ballpark.
Is there a Coaster home after the Padres game?
The last regularly scheduled train north leaves Santa Fe Depot at 9:20pm on Tuesday Oct 6. NCTD says extra northbound trains run after many Padres home games: they leave Santa Fe Depot 60 minutes after the last out (or the fireworks), never later than midnight. As of 9:15am PT, NCTD's Padres page does not mention the playoff games, so check it on game day.
How far is Petco Park from Santa Fe Depot?
About a mile. The MTS Green Line trolley from Santa Fe Depot to Gaslamp Quarter station takes about 5 minutes.
Know someone who needs this?
Something changed here? Text PJ and we'll update this page.
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