The best ways to get from San Diego to Los Angeles

Given the reasonable, approximately 120-mile distance, settling in behind the wheel is a popular way to traverse between the two cities. Just make sure to download a good podcast or two, because routine traffic can stretch the two-hour journey to three hours or more. Morning and evening rush hours are notoriously bad in both metro areas, and Orange County—which sits smack dab in the middle—isn’t much better. Weekends offer little relief, especially the southbound trip on Saturday mornings. Yet, as you sit in traffic, you can remind yourself that the price of gas is less than a train or plane ticket, and you won’t have to deal with airport or station transfers. Plus, the guac-slathered taquitos at Pedro’s Tacos in San Clemente offer an excellent pitstop along the way.

Want to avoid traffic and airport security lines? Book a seat on Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner. Passengers enjoy perks such as free WiFi, reclining seats with power outlets, and scenic views as the sleek, two-level train glides along the coast. There’s also a small cafe and table seating which means you can nibble a hot sandwich while tapping away on your laptop. Exact times vary, but it’s typically a three hour journey from San Diego’s Santa Fe Depot to L.A.’s Union Station with numerous stops including the ARTIC hub in Anaheim. Twenty-six trains make the trip each day, and you can expect a one-way ticket to cost $44. An upgrade to business class scores you extra legroom plus free drinks and snacks. Toast the breezy journey with pint at the Imperial Western Beer Company inside the restored Art Deco interiors of LA’s Union Station.

Plan in advance, and you’ll save the most cash making the trek aboard a bus. Greyhound runs fourteen daily buses from a terminal near San Diego’s Petco Park to Downtown L.A. The fastest route is roughly two and a half hours with one way fare starting at $8. The bus carrier has taken efforts to rehabilitate its shabby image with competitive amenities such as free WiFi, reclining seats with power outlets, and e-ticketing and bus tracking via its app. Forget your book? Greyhound recently teamed up with Audible to offer passengers a free title via their streaming entertainment system. The German-based Flixbus is another option with service from San Diego’s Santa Fe Depot to various stops in Downtown L.A. with one-way fares starting at 99 cents. Perks include free WiFi, power outlets, seats with extra legroom.

Taking to the sky will have you soaring above traffic, but paying a premium. Yet, if you make peace with a higher price tag—note that discount carriers such as Southwest and JetBlue don’t fly direct from San Diego Airport (SAN) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)—there are several direct flights that will jet you between the two cities within an hour. Plus, San Diego’s centrally located airport is minutes from popular neighborhoods including downtown, Little Italy, and the swinging Gaslamp District.