I was curious about getting to the San Diego County Fair using the Fair Tripper package where you get admission to the fair and roundtrip transportation all in one price. It could save you the hassle of fighting the traffic on I-5 and the cost of parking (from $10 in the Horsepark to $55 for Preferred Parking).

One important note: Fair Tripper tickets are only valid on the day you purchase them, so don’t buy them in advance.

I took Coaster Train 631 that departed the Santa Fe Depot downtown at 11:20 a.m. on Thursday, 19 June (Juneteenth, a federal holiday), and we arrived on time at the Solana Beach Station at 11:59 a.m. (You can see the full Coaster schedule HERE.) It was a short walk on the pedestrian overpass over the tracks to the front of the station where the free shuttle bus pick-up point was located.

The problem was that the southbound train coming from Oceanside arrived at pretty much the same time as our northbound train, and there were two train loads of people waiting for the shuttle to take them to the fairgrounds. Even with three shuttle buses of varying size running every 15 minutes or so, it took 50 minutes from getting off the train to getting onto the shuttle, plus another ten minutes or so to drive to the west entrance gate. (I did run into a friend who said it took him about an hour and fifteen minutes driving up I-5 from around Carmel Valley Road to the parking lot.)

Shuttles are advertised to run every 15 minutes, and I believe that with it being a federal holiday and the resulting higher volume of people, added with the timing of the arrival of the southbound train, the shuttle service got slammed. Was it ideal? No. Was it horrendous waiting? No. I struck up a pleasant conversation with those in line around me, and that helped pass the time.

Two of the shuttles were nicer 30-50 passenger buses, and one was a school bus painted white. I would not consider the buses to be accessible for those with mobility issues. You had to enter them by going up several narrow steps to get to the seats; there were no deployable ramps on the buses I rode.

The shuttle back to the Solana Beach Station had about eight passengers on it, leaving at around 2:15 p.m. in time to catch the 3:01 p.m. train back to downtown San Diego.

That brings up another point. By using Fair Tripper, you are beholden to the Coaster schedule. The last train leaving Solana Beach varies by day of the week and direction you are going, and the last train can be as early as 8:01 p.m. Take a good hard look at the Coaster schedule for the specific day you’re traveling and I would recommend trying to get on the return shuttle at least an hour before that scheduled departure time. (I set an alarm on my cell phone to remind me it was time to make my way back to the shuttle pick-up point at the West entrance.)

The fair, of course, is quite expansive with the Fun Zone with all the rides and arcades; a gazillion food vendors; and a variety of exhibits in the various halls. There was some live entertainment on smaller stages near the Paddock and Bing Crosby Hall.

Of course, you can go bonkers with spending at the fair. An okay pulled pork sandwich (without sides) and a medium soft drink (24 oz.) set me back $23.22.

So is getting to the fair using the Fair Tripper package worth it? You might save a few dollars (you do the math), and it appears that the time to get to the fairgrounds compared to driving and parking may be a wash. But if you want to leave the hassle of driving to someone else, don’t want to fight for parking, and you have a bit of time and patience, Fair Tripper is the way to go.

Explore San Diego and beyond.

What You Need to Know

Location:	Del Mar Fairgrounds 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014
Transit:	Coaster commuter rail trains to Solana Beach station, with free shuttle to the fairground’s West entrance.
Hours:	11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily 11 June through 6 July Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Phone:	(858) 755-1161
Websites:	https://www.sdfair.com/ https://gonctd.com/fairtripper/
Cost:	The costs listed below are for the Fair Tripper package only. Weekday (Wed. & Thurs.) General Admission FAIR TRIPPER (age 13-61): $20 Senior FAIR TRIPPER (age 65+): $17 Youth FAIR TRIPPER (age 6-12): $17 Weekend (Fri., Sat. Sun., & July 4) General Admission FAIR TRIPPER (age 13-61): $25 Senior FAIR TRIPPER (age 65+): $22 Youth FAIR TRIPPER (age 6-12): $22 Price includes around trip ride on NCTD Coaster train and admission to the fair, as well as a free shuttle from the Solana Beach station to the West entrance of the fairgrounds.
Tips:	Fair Tripper tickets are only valid on the day of purchase; do not buy them in advance. You can buy your Fair Tripper tickets using the Pronto app on your phone, or buy paper tickets at the ticket kiosks on the train platforms. Do not lose your paper tickets—they are required for admission to the fair and for your return trip home. Tickets are not refundable. There can be a long wait for the shuttle at the Solana Beach station, so be prepared. Know the train schedule so you don’t miss the last train home on the day you visit.
Date Visited:	19 June 2025