Download December Nights Transit Map
MTS to run a special event shuttle from City College to Balboa Park for December Nights
San Diego – As hundreds of thousands flock to December Nights, San Diego’s biggest holiday celebration, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will run a free special event shuttle between City College and Balboa Park Dec. 5 and Dec. 6. With more than 300,000 attendees expected over the weekend, heavy traffic and limited paid parking around Balboa Park will create long delays for visitors attending December Nights.
To make getting to the celebration easier, MTS's free special event shuttle will travel in the southbound bus-only lane on Park Boulevard and serve all southbound stops between Zoo Drive and Broadway, helping riders bypass congestion and arrive faster. Shuttle service will be available from 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and from 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Transit Service to December Nights:
From UC San Diego Blue Line or Orange Line:
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For access to the east side of Balboa Park, take the UC San Diego Blue Line or Orange Line to City College. Transfer to the free special event shuttle located on 11th Street.
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When leaving Balboa Park to head southbound back to City College, catch the special event shuttle at any southbound side bus stop (west side of Park Boulevard).
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For access to the west side of Balboa Park, take the UC San Diego Blue Line or Orange Line to Fifth Avenue Trolley Station. Transfer to northbound Route 3 or 120 at Fifth Avenue & C Street.
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Return service to the Trolley on southbound Route 3 or 120 is available at Fourth and Laurel Street until approximately 11:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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Please note: free rides are only available on the special event shuttle service. Route 3 and Route 120 will require payment. Riders can tap or scan their credit card directly on the validator for easy payments.
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From Green Line:
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Take the Green Line to Fashion Valley Transit Center, and transfer to the southbound Route 120, deboarding at Fourth and Laurel Streets.
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Transfers to and from the UC San Diego Blue Line are available at Old Town Transit Center.
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Transit Tips to Get to Balboa Park:
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Plan to arrive early and take extra time. Large crowds are expected and traffic congestion will be significant. Use the MTS Trip Planner to plan your trip ahead of time.
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Load $5 onto your PRONTO card using the PRONTO app prior to arriving at a transit station.
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Contactless Payment: Riders can also tap or scan a credit card or mobile wallet directly on a payment validator on the Trolley platform or while boarding a bus. One-way trips are only $2.50 and allow unlimited transfers for two hours.
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Park at one of dozens of Park and Ride lots, most of which are free, to access the Trolley system.
Detour Information:
Due to increased traffic around Balboa Park during December Nights, MTS advises riders on Route 7 and Rapid 215 to plan ahead, travel early, and expect delays from 3–11 p.m. on Friday and from 2–11 p.m. on Saturday. During the event, both routes will detour via State Route 163 and will not serve bus stops along Park Boulevard between University Avenue and City College. Regular service on Park Boulevard is expected to resume around 11 p.m. each night.
Riders are encouraged to use the free special event shuttle service as an alternative during event hours. For more information on detours and transit options, visit the MTS December Nights webpage.
About MTS
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 93 bus routes and four Trolley lines in 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego. MTS is a leader in advancing initiatives to create a greener, cleaner and better-connected transit system in San Diego. Each weekday, more than 250,000 passenger trips are taken throughout the MTS system, taking people to work, school, health appointments and other essential trips. In FY 2025, MTS served more than 81 million riders. For service schedule updates, news, alerts and more information on how you can use public transportation, go to www.sdmts.com.
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