Coronado Ferry Guide 2026: Routes, Fares & Schedule

The Coronado ferry is a 15-minute boat ride across San Diego Bay from downtown to the Coronado Ferry Landing. It costs $9 each way in 2026 and is run by Flagship from two downtown docks: Broadway Pier, with hourly departures starting before 5 a.m., and the Convention Center, with departures every 30 minutes from mid-morning to late evening. For a car-free day on Coronado, it is the easiest way over.

Fares and times below come from Flagship’s official Broadway Pier route and Convention Center route pages, checked in November 2026. Holiday, event-day and concert-night schedules differ, so check them before you go.

Coronado ferry routes compared

	Broadway Pier ↔ Coronado	Convention Center ↔ Coronado
San Diego dock	Broadway Pier, 990 N Harbor Dr	Fifth Avenue Landing, 600 Convention Way
Coronado dock	Coronado Ferry Landing, 1201 First St	Coronado Ferry Landing, 1201 First St
Crossing time	About 15 minutes	About 15 minutes
Frequency	Hourly, plus extra early-morning trips	Every 30 minutes
First / last from San Diego	4:50 a.m. / 10:00 p.m.	9:25 a.m. / 10:55 p.m.
First / last from Coronado	5:10 a.m. / 10:30 p.m.	9:10 a.m. / 10:40 p.m.
One-way fare (age 4+)	$9	$9
Best for	Embarcadero, Seaport Village, cruise terminal, Little Italy	Gaslamp, Petco Park, Convention Center hotels

Broadway Pier route

Broadway Pier is on the Embarcadero at the foot of Broadway, next to the cruise ship terminal. Departures for Coronado leave at 4:50, 5:30, 6:10, 6:50, 7:30 and 8:10 a.m., then hourly on the hour from 9:00 a.m. through the last boat at 10:00 p.m. Return trips from Coronado leave at 5:10, 5:50, 6:30, 7:10, 7:50 and 8:30 a.m., then hourly on the half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

This is the route to take if you’re staying near the waterfront, in Little Italy or near Seaport Village, or if you want the early commuter boats.

Convention Center route

This route leaves from Fifth Avenue Landing behind the Convention Center. Boats run every 30 minutes: from San Diego at :25 and :55 past the hour from 9:25 a.m. to 10:55 p.m., and from Coronado at :10 and :40 from 9:10 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. On some summer and fall concert nights at the nearby Rady Shell, the last boat from the Convention Center leaves earlier, at 10:25 p.m.

If you are staying in the Gaslamp Quarter, near Petco Park or in one of the big bayfront hotels by the Convention Center, this is the closer dock. Because it runs twice as often, it is also the better choice for midday sightseeing.

Chula Vista route

Flagship also runs a separate Convention Center to Chula Vista ferry ($15 one way, about 45 minutes, six round trips a day). It does not stop in Coronado. It is a small boat with no restrooms and is not wheelchair accessible.

Tickets, fares and the free commuter ferry

• Fare: $9 one way per person age 4 and up on either Coronado route. A round trip is two one-way tickets, so it costs $18.
• Buying tickets: Buy online through the “Buy Tickets” links on Flagship’s route pages. Coronado tickets are valid on any scheduled departure on the route you bought, subject to space, so you don’t need to commit to a time. A Broadway Pier ticket is not valid on the Convention Center boat.
• Changes: Flagship handles changes by phone at (619) 234-4111.
• Arrive early: Flagship asks riders to arrive at least 10 minutes before departure, and earlier on weekends, holidays and big event days, when boats can fill.
• Free commuter ferry: The City of Coronado subsidizes a free weekday-morning commuter service for walk-on passengers and cyclists between the Ferry Landing and Broadway Pier, and gives morning riders a voucher for a free return the same day. Flagship lists commuter hours on the Broadway route as 4:50 to 8:30 a.m., except on some weekday holidays. This mainly helps early risers. Most sightseers will pay the regular fare.

Bikes, strollers and accessibility

Bikes are allowed on both Coronado routes if there is room. Space can run out on sunny weekends, so travel early or have a backup plan. Both Coronado boats are ADA accessible except for the open top deck. The top deck has the best skyline views, so head up there for the ride back in the evening if you can.

The Coronado Ferry Landing

The ferry docks at the Coronado Ferry Landing, a bayside shopping village at First Street and B Avenue. It has more than 25 independent shops, along with Peohe’s, Il Fornaio and Costa Azul for waterfront meals. Shops generally open from about 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., but restaurant hours vary. There are also rental counters for bikes, surreys, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. The landing pier and the lawn beside it have one of the best views of the downtown skyline in San Diego, especially at sunset.

On Tuesday afternoons (2:30 to 6 p.m.), the Coronado farmers market sets up at the Ferry Landing. It’s a good reason to time an afternoon crossing, and it is covered in our San Diego farmers markets guide.

Changes coming: In June 2026, the Port of San Diego approved a deal that could give the landing’s operator a new 35-year lease, tied to a two-year, two-phase renovation that would start in 2027, according to the Port’s announcement. A new restaurant called Maiden Coronado is under construction on the empty lot next to Il Fornaio and is expected to open in early 2027. For now the center is open as usual. Expect construction work and some tenant changes over the next few years.

Getting around Coronado from the ferry

Coronado is flat, compact and easy to get around without a car, but the Ferry Landing is on the bay side, and the Hotel del Coronado and the main beach are at the other end of Orange Avenue.

• Bike: This is the classic way to do it. Rent at the Ferry Landing or bring your own on the boat, then ride the residential streets to Orange Avenue, the Hotel del and Coronado Beach. See our San Diego biking guide for more routes.
• MTS Route 901: This regular bus runs between downtown San Diego (1st Avenue and Broadway) and Imperial Beach through Coronado, with a stop at the Hotel del Coronado. Check the MTS Route 901 timetable. It also gives you a way back to downtown without the ferry if you miss the last boat.
• Free summer shuttle (Route 904): In summer, the city-funded MTS Route 904 links the Ferry Landing, Orange Avenue, the Hotel del and the Coronado Marriott for free, about every 20 minutes. The 2026 season ran from June 7 to September 7, so it is not running now. Expect it to return next summer.
• Rideshare and walking: A rideshare to the Hotel del is a short trip. Walking takes longer, but Orange Avenue is lined with cafés and shops, so it’s a pleasant way to go.

Ferry to the Hotel del Coronado

There is no ferry dock at the Hotel del. The ferry lands at the Ferry Landing, and you continue by bike, bus, shuttle or rideshare as described above. If you are going to the Del for its history or the Kate Morgan ghost tour, see our Kate Morgan guide.

About the City of Coronado

Coronado is its own city, connected to the mainland by the Coronado Bridge and by the Silver Strand, a narrow strip of land running south toward Imperial Beach. It is often called “Coronado Island,” though it is not quite an island. Most of what visitors come for is close together: the Ferry Landing, the shops and restaurants of Orange Avenue, the Hotel del Coronado and the wide sand of Coronado Beach. Naval Air Station North Island takes up the northern part of the peninsula.

Tips for riding the Coronado ferry

• Pick the dock by where you’re staying, not by habit. The Convention Center boat runs twice as often, while Broadway Pier is closer to the Embarcadero and Little Italy.
• Ride back at sunset. The view of the skyline from the bay as the city lights come on is one of the best free views in San Diego, and the boat ride costs only the fare.
• Watch the last boat. The last departure from Coronado is 10:30 p.m. to Broadway Pier and 10:40 p.m. to the Convention Center. After that you will need a rideshare or bus over the bridge.
• Flying in or out? The Broadway Pier dock is a short ride from the airport. See our San Diego airport guide for transfers.