🐾
🚇
Getting Around San Diego with Your Pet
🇺🇸San Diego, United States·Updated 30 July 2026
San Diego is honestly a car city when you travel with a dog. MTS runs the buses and the Trolley across the whole metro, but its rule is strict: any non-service animal must be fully inside an enclosed carrier you can hold on your lap, which rules out every medium and large dog. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner takes carry-on pets up to 20 pounds with a paid reservation, the Coronado ferry takes service animals only, and San Diego International Airport has both indoor and outdoor animal relief areas. For a big dog, the practical answer is a rental car or Uber Pet, and the good news is that Dog Beach, Fiesta Island and Coronado Dog Beach all have their own free parking.
| Mode | Policy | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| MTS Bus & Trolley | 💡 | |
| Amtrak Pacific Surfliner | 💡 | |
| Coronado Ferry (Flagship Cruises) | 💡 | |
| San Diego International Airport (SAN) | 💡 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a large dog on San Diego public transport?
No. MTS, which runs every bus and the Trolley, requires any non-service animal to be fully contained in an enclosed carrier you can hold on your lap. There is no off-peak exception and no muzzle-and-short-leash workaround as some other US cities allow, so a medium or large dog cannot legally ride at all. Plan on a rental car or Uber Pet. Service animals ride free on bus and Trolley without a carrier.
Can I take my dog on the Coronado ferry?
No. Flagship Cruises publishes a welcome for service animals aboard its vessels, excepting the Patriot Jet Boat, but its policy does not extend to pet dogs. Since Coronado Dog Beach at the north end of North Beach is one of the best off-leash beaches in the region, this matters: get there by car over the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, by MTS route 901 if your dog fits a carrier, or by Uber Pet.
Is the train a realistic option with a dog in Southern California?
Only for small pets. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner carries dogs and cats up to 20 pounds including the carrier, for 29 dollars per reservation, in Coach only, with just five pet places per train. It is genuinely useful for a day trip north to Solana Beach, Oceanside or on to Los Angeles, but you must book the pet slot well ahead and the carrier has to stay closed under your seat for the whole journey.
Pet-Friendly Hotels in San Diego
Our top-rated pet-friendly hotels, handpicked and verified.
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
★★★★★ · 9.2/10
€120/night
The Bower Coronado
★★★★★ · 8.9/10
€120/night
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
★★★★★ · 8.8/10
€120/night
More San Diego guides
Pet-friendly destinations nearby
Looking for a place to stay elsewhere? These destinations near San Diego also welcome your dog.