Are you planning a trip to Universal Studios from San Diego? If so, then you are at the right place to get all the information about traveling between Universal Studios and San Diego.
Here, we will cover the following topics about making your way from San Diego to Universal Studios.
How far is Universal Studios from San Diego?
How to get from San Diego to Universal Studios?
We will discuss each of these in detail below.
How far is Universal Studios from San Diego?
The distance between San Diego and Universal Studios is 130 miles. The average time required to get to Universal Studios from San Diego is 2 hr 21 minutes. However, it may vary based on the time of the day and mode of transportation.
You can click on the links below to see the time required to go from San Diego to Universal Studios through various modes.
San Diego to Universal Studios via car – 130 miles/2 hr 21 minutes
San Diego to Universal Studios via bus – 4 hr 23 minutes
How to get from San Diego to Universal Studios?
There are numerous ways to get from San Diego to Universal Studios.
In this guide, we’ve listed the following ways to help you make an informed decision about your travel plans.
| Mode | Duration | Approximate Cost |
| Rent a Car & Drive | 2 hr 21 minutes | $54 |
| Hail a Taxi | 2 hr 51 minutes | $365.88 |
| Uber/Lyft | 2 hr 58 minutes | $150 |
| Public Transportation | 3 hr 46 minutes | $32 |
Rent a Car & Drive
You have the option of renting a car and driving it yourself. However, you need to be at least 21 years old to rent a car in the USA.
The cost of a car rental starts at roughly starting $54 per day. It may vary depending on the type of vehicle. You can check the car rental charges in San Diego here.
Car Rental charges at San Diego
In addition to car rental charges, you will be responsible for paying for petrol and parking.
Parking charges are $30 per car at Universal Studios. You can refer to the below link to get the latest parking charges.
Parking Rates at Universal Studios
The 130 miles drive should only take 2 hr 21 minutes. However, if you get caught in a jam, your journey can take up more time.
You can see the latest time required to go from San Diego to Universal Studios in the link below.
San Diego to Universal Studios via car
Hail a Taxi
Taxicabs are available for direct transportation to Universal Studios.
You can check the available taxi stands in San Diego here.
At Universal Studios, you can request a drop-off at Universal Studios Hollywood Park entrance.
Taking this option will cost around $365.88 and will take 2 hr 51 minutes.
You can check the latest rates here.
Taxi charges from San Diego to Universal Studios
Uber/Lyft
Ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft are authorized to provide drop-off and pick-up services at San Diego and Universal Studios.
They can pick up passengers at the designated areas preferred while booking.
At Universal Studios, you can request a drop-off at Universal Studios Hollywood Park entrance.
Always confirm that you are getting in the correct vehicle with the designated driver shown on the app.
Prices will vary depending on the distance traveled from the pick-up point to the requested location and also based on the time of travel. Sometimes, based on traffic and demand, surge pricing will also be activated.
So, you can check Uber and Lyft to find the best prices.
If you want to see the charges for traveling from San Diego to Universal Studios using the Lyft app, then you can get a fair estimate from the Lyft website itself.
San Diego to Universal Studios estimated Lyft rates are mentioned below.
| Lyft | $150-165 |
| XL | $240-260 |
| Lux | $285-320 |
| Lux Black | $500-540 |
| Lux Black XL | $540-580 |
Kindly note that these fares are estimates only. It does not reflect variations due to surge pricing, discounts, traffic delays, or any other factors.
Public Transportation (Bus & Metro)
Unfortunately, there is no direct bus from San Diego to Universal Studios. The average time taken to reach Universal Studios is 3 hr 46 minutes or more by bus.
You can see the routes and times required to go from San Diego to Universal Studios via bus in the link below.
If you are opting for public transportation, here is one of the easiest ways to go from San Diego to Universal Studios.
Walk towards San Diego bus stand.
Board Line Pacific Surfliner bus from there.
Get down at Union Station.
Walk towards Union Station Rail Station.
It will take you a 3-minute walk to get to Union Station Rail Station.
Board the Metro B Line (Red) from there.
Get down at Universal / Studio City Station.
It will take you a 14-minute walk to get to Universal Studios Hollywood.
It will cost you around $32 – $42 to go from San Diego to Universal Studios using Public Transportation.
You’ll need to do some research and explore the various options available.
In Universal Studios Hollywood, you will find a free shuttle that will take you from the front gate of Universal Studios Hollywood. The shuttle runs every 10 to 15 minutes, seven days a week, from 7 am to until two hours after park closing.
FAQs
The cheapest way to get from San Diego to Universal Studios is by using Public Transportation as mentioned in the article. It will cost you only $32 to go from San Diego to Universal Studios.
The fastest way to go from San Diego to Universal Studios is by using Rent a Car & Drive. It will take 2 hr 21 minutes and cost you around $54. You can check depending on whether you took it.
Important Links
Before wrapping up, we are sharing some of the important links mentioned in this guide. If you are short of time or want to get the latest updates, you can check this link directly.
| Route Map from San Diego to Universal Studios | Click Here |
| Bus Route from San Diego to Universal Studios | Click Here |
| Car Rental charges at San Diego | Click Here |
| Parking Rates at Universal Studios | Click Here |
| Taxi charges from San Diego to Universal Studios | Click Here |
| Lyft Fair Rates from San Diego to Universal Studios | Click Here |
Wrapping Up
So, what is the best way to get from San Diego to Universal Studios?
It all depends on your travel needs.
If you are on a tight budget, try public transportation.
If you put luxury first, try booking an Uber or Lyft between San Diego and Universal Studios.
Once you have your tickets and transportation ready, you can be ready to enjoy your trouble-free tour at Universal Studios.
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