There are 5 ways to get from Santa Monica to Imperial Beach by tram, train, bus, car, plane, or bus (Greyhound)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Tram, train
best- Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Linestram
- Take the train from Los Angeles to San Diego Old Town Transportation Centertrain
- Take the tram from Old Town Station to Palm Avenue Stationtram
5h 52mDrive 143.1 mi
cheapest- Drive from Santa Monica to Imperial Beachcar 143.1 mi
2h 35m$27–38Line 20 bus, bus
- Take the bus from Wilshire / Lincoln to 6th / Mainbus 20
- Take the bus from Downtown Los Angeles to San Ysidro, CAbus Las Vegas / ...
5h 58m$46–77Line 3 bus, fly, tram
- Take the bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Centerbus
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane LAX - SAN
- Take the tram from Civic Center Station to Palm Avenue Stationtram
4h 35m$156–825Line 33 bus, bus
- Take the bus from 5th / Santa Monica to Patsaouras Transit Plazabus 33
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to San Diegobus Los Angeles
6h 30m$28–47
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Monica to Imperial Beach is to drive which costs $26 - $40 and takes 2h 35m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Monica to Imperial Beach is to drive which takes 2h 35m and costs $26 - $40.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Monica to Imperial Beach. However, there are services departing from Wilshire / Lincoln and arriving at Palm Av & 9th St via Downtown Los Angeles, San Ysidro Transit Center and Iris Avenue Transit Center. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 58m.
No, there is no direct train from Santa Monica station to Imperial Beach station. However, there are services departing from Downtown Santa Monica Station and arriving at Palm Avenue Station via 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines, Los Angeles and Old Town Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 52m.
The distance between Santa Monica and Imperial Beach is 158 miles. The road distance is 143.9 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Monica to Imperial Beach without a car is to tram and train which takes 5h 52m and costs .
It takes approximately 5h 52m to get from Santa Monica to Imperial Beach, including transfers.
Santa Monica to Imperial Beach bus services, operated by Metro Los Angeles, depart from Wilshire / Lincoln station.
Santa Monica to Imperial Beach train services, operated by Metro Los Angeles, depart from Downtown Santa Monica Station.
Santa Monica to Imperial Beach bus services, operated by Metro Los Angeles, arrive at 6th / Main station.
What companies run services between Santa Monica, CA, USA and Imperial Beach, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Wilshire / Lincoln to Palm Av & 9th St via 6th / Main, Downtown Los Angeles, San Ysidro, CA, San Ysidro Transit Center, and Iris Avenue Transit Center in around 5h 58m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
- Phone
- +1-323-466-3876
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.net
Tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- https://www.metro.net
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Los Angeles to San Diego Old Town Transportation Center
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 42m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 619-557-4555
- Website
- sdmts.com
Tram from Old Town Station to Palm Avenue Station
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Website
- https://www.sdmts.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.sdmts.com/getting-around/departures-and-schedules
Tram from Civic Center Station to Palm Avenue Station
- Ave. Duration
- 33 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–12
- Website
- https://www.sdmts.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.sdmts.com/getting-around/departures-and-schedules
- Phone
- +1-323-466-3876
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.net
Bus from Wilshire / Lincoln to 6th / Main
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- https://www.metro.net
Bus from 5th / Santa Monica to Patsaouras Transit Plaza
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 38m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- https://www.metro.net
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- tufesainternacional.com
Bus from Downtown Los Angeles to San Ysidro, CA
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $40–65
- Schedules at
- tufesainternacional.com
- Adult One way
- $40–65
- Phone
- +1 310-451-5444
- Website
- bigbluebus.com
Bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- http://www.bigbluebus.com
- Schedules at
- http://www.bigbluebus.com/Routes-And-Schedules/
- Phone
- +1-800-231-2222
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.mx
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $24–40
- Schedules at
- greyhound.com.mx
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More Questions & Answers
Santa Monica to Imperial Beach train services, operated by Metro Los Angeles, arrive at 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Monica to Imperial Beach is 144 miles. It takes approximately 2h 35m to drive from Santa Monica to Imperial Beach.
There are 1527+ hotels available in Imperial Beach.



















