Downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter and Balboa Park are walkable and reachable by trolley, so a rental car is not essential for a downtown-focused trip.
San Diego Spreads Out More Than It Looks
La Jolla, Coronado, and the northern beach communities sit far enough from downtown, and the trolley network doesn’t reach all of them, that a car makes visiting several neighborhoods in one trip much easier.
When a Car Helps
Torrey Pines’ coastal bluffs, the wineries around Temecula roughly an hour north, and a full day covering La Jolla, the beaches, and Coronado are all more practical with your own car.
Compare rental rates above if La Jolla, Temecula, or the beach towns are part of your plans, or check flight and hotel options if you’re keeping things downtown.