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.
Kids Free all October. Kids 12 and under get in free with a paid adult at 70+ San Diego museums through Oct 31, with each venue's coupon from the San Diego Museum Council. Text PJ for a museum-day plan.
Official: San Diego Museum Council: Kids Free in October 2026 · SanDiego.org: Kids Free San Diego. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park by train, the next Saturday and weekday
Tuesday Oct 6
Morning trains:
- Arrive about 8:08am: the 6:36am Coaster to Santa Fe Depot (7:37am), then MTS 215 from Santa Fe Depot at 7:48am to Park Bl & Zoo Pl (8:02am), about a 6-minute walk.
- Arrive about 9:09am: the 7:36am Coaster to Santa Fe Depot (8:37am), then MTS 215 from Santa Fe Depot at 8:49am to Park Bl & Zoo Pl (9:03am), about a 6-minute walk.
- Arrive about 9:45am: the 8:16am Coaster to Santa Fe Depot (9:17am), then MTS 215 from Santa Fe Depot at 9:25am to Park Bl & Zoo Pl (9:39am), about a 6-minute walk.
- Arrive about 10:44am: the 9:16am Coaster to Santa Fe Depot (10:17am), then MTS 215 from Santa Fe Depot at 10:24am to Park Bl & Zoo Pl (10:38am), about a 6-minute walk.
Home: board MTS 215 at Park Bl & Zoo Pl by 8:56pm to reach Santa Fe Depot for the last Coaster north at 9:20pm.
Saturday Oct 10
Morning trains:
- Arrive about 8:27am: the 6:56am Coaster to Santa Fe Depot (7:57am), then MTS 215 from Santa Fe Depot at 8:08am to Park Bl & Zoo Pl (8:21am), about a 6-minute walk.
- Arrive about 9:43am: the 8:16am Coaster to Santa Fe Depot (9:17am), then MTS 215 from Santa Fe Depot at 9:23am to Park Bl & Zoo Pl (9:37am), about a 6-minute walk.
- Arrive about 11:08am: the 9:36am Coaster to Santa Fe Depot (10:37am), then MTS 215 from Santa Fe Depot at 10:48am to Park Bl & Zoo Pl (11:02am), about a 6-minute walk.
Home: board MTS 215 at Park Bl & Zoo Pl by 10:20pm to reach Santa Fe Depot for the last Coaster north at 10:40pm.
NCTD and MTS scheduled times; walks are straight-line estimates. Check NCTD and MTS for service alerts, and the place itself for opening hours.
How the trip works
Ride the Coaster south, then an MTS bus up to the zoo entrance on Zoo Drive in Balboa Park; this page finds the connection for each train. From NCTD: parking is free at most COASTER stations and a COASTER Regional Pass includes a free transfer to MTS. More by train: everywhere the Coaster goes.
Sources: NCTD and MTS schedule data, OpenStreetMap.
Day-trip help
Snacks or sunscreen picked up before the train, a forgotten jacket brought to the station: PJ does one-stop errands for $35 a stop in Solana Beach, Del Mar and Cardiff (things, not passengers). Text PJ.
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.
Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25.
Questions people ask
Can I take the Coaster to the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park?
Yes. On Tuesday Oct 6, for example: the 6:36am Coaster to Santa Fe Depot (7:37am), then MTS 215 from Santa Fe Depot at 7:48am to Park Bl & Zoo Pl (8:02am), about a 6-minute walk.
What is the last train home from the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park?
Board MTS 215 at Park Bl & Zoo Pl by 8:56pm to reach Santa Fe Depot for the last Coaster north at 9:20pm.
Where is the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park?
2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego.
Know someone who needs this?
Something changed here? Text PJ and we'll update this page.
More free local tools: the North County toolkit.