How to Take the Trolley to Snapdragon Stadium

The quickest answer: ride the San Diego Green Line Trolley straight to Stadium Station, which sits right next to the stadium. Trains run roughly every 15 minutes and cost $2.50 per adult one-way. No transfers needed if you board the Green Line; everything else connects to it. Below: how to get here from any line, what the post-game boarding crush actually looks like, fares, and the money-saving SDFC season pass.

Getting Here on the Green Line

San Diego's Green Line provides direct Trolley service from El Cajon, La Mesa, SDSU, Mission Valley, Old Town, or Downtown right to Stadium Station. Trolley comes roughly every 15 minutes and costs $2.50 per adult. The other MTS lines feed into the Green Line, but you'll need to transfer:

• UC San Diego Blue Line — transfer at Old Town
• Orange Line — transfer at Grossmont Station
• Copper Line (from Santee) — transfer at El Cajon Transit Center
• Rapid 215 — Bus line, transfer at SDSU

From Stadium Station to the Gates

Stadium Station sits directly west of the stadium. The walk from the platform down the ramp to the stadium perimeter is short — roughly 0.1 miles, or a 2-to-3-minute stroll across flat concrete plazas. The path funnels you straight toward the West Gate, right by the Sycuan Piers.

The Post-Game Trolley: What Actually Happens

Getting out is where most first-timers panic. Here's the real setup after a sold-out event, so you know what you're walking into:

• You'll queue at ground level first. To keep the elevated platform from dangerously overcrowding, MTS holds riders on the plazas and approach ramps below. You don't walk straight onto the platform — you funnel through a line.
• Tap in on the ramp. Fare validators are positioned along the approach ramps. Scan your PRONTO app or tap your card/contactless payment before you're let up to the loading area. Have it ready to avoid holding up the line.
• They run extra trains, stacked. MTS heavily blankets the line post-event with special-event trains departing every 15 minutes or better in both directions until the crowd clears. Head straight to the trains after the final whistle and you will not be stranded.
• But it doesn't run all night. Extra service runs hard for about an hour after the event (a 9:30 PM finish usually means heavy service past 10:30 PM). If you're lingering at a tailgate or the stadium bars, note that the final scheduled departures typically pull out around midnight. Staying late? Check the PRONTO app or MTS site for the last train.

Trolley vs. Driving

Is it better to take the trolley or drive? The case for the trolley:

1. Trolley tickets for the whole family still cost less than one parking space
2. You'll get out faster, especially for events where everyone stays to the end
3. A DUI is far more costly no matter how you measure it

If you need to drive part of the way, use the many park-and-ride lots throughout San Diego. Driving the whole way instead? See our Parking & Tailgating guide.

Trolley Cost

The one-way fare is $2.50 and includes unlimited transfers for two hours when using PRONTO. Thanks to fare capping, you'll never pay more than $6 in a day (the equivalent of a day pass). Reduced fares (50% off) are available for Senior/Disabled/Medicare riders.

Helpful hint: Load funds in advance on the PRONTO app or card to avoid delays after the event.

18 & Under Ride Free

All riders 18 & under ride free with a Youth PRONTO card or app account. More in the Kids & Family Guide.

SDFC All-Season Pass

Get Trolley rides to all 17 San Diego FC home matches for only $56 — a 33% savings versus paying the standard $5.00 round-trip fare match by match. The pass covers regular-season home matches only (no friendlies or playoffs) and must be loaded onto your individual PRONTO card or app account. More info.

More Resources

• Tickets / Box Office
• Restaurants & Bars Nearby
• Snapdragon App
• Upcoming Events
• Parking & Tailgating
• What You Can Bring In
• Traffic & Directions

Last updated June 2026