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Public Transit & Bus in Hillcrest, San Diego

intersection in hillcrest with an mta bus

Photo Credit: Hillcrest Town Council

What public transit services serve Hillcrest?

Hillcrest is a bus-first transit neighborhood. Frequent MTS routes run straight through the center of the community, making it easy to get to downtown, Balboa Park, Mission Valley, and beyond. Plus,

  • Route MTS Bus Route 3: Connects Hillcrest (via 4th/5th Avenues & University Avenue) with downtown and also extends to the Euclid Ave transit centre. Service begins early morning and runs until late evening on weekdays.
  • Route MTS Bus Route 10: Provides service along University Avenue through Hillcrest and connects to neighbourhoods like City Heights.
  • Route MTS Bus Route 11: Offers a north-east to south‐west link through Hillcrest and toward downtown and SDSU area.
  • Route MTS Bus Route 120: A more limited-stop/express style service running between downtown and Kearny Mesa, with key stops along 4th/5th Avenues and University in Hillcrest.

For Rowyn residents, there are several different bus stops conveniently all within a ~3-5 minute walk of the apartment building.

Is there Trolley Service?

Not directly in Hillcrest, but it's very easy to reach San Diego's trolley lines via a quick bus ride.

Do you need car if you live in Hillcrest?

Hillcrest is one of the few San Diego neighborhoods where you can live comfortably without a car, thanks to its walkable layout, dense mix of everyday essentials, and multiple MTS bus routes that run through the heart of the area. Many residents rely on walking, biking, or transit for most daily trips, especially if they work downtown or elsewhere along major bus corridors. Parking in San Diego can also be tricky, so many people turn to transit or walking when it’s practical.

That said, cars are still common: according to available data, 66.3% of Hillcrest workers drive alone to work, while another 6.3% carpool, which suggests a large share of households still keep at least one vehicle for convenience, weekend travel, or commutes outside the transit network.

Rowyn offers an gated underground garage with parking and EV charging. Parking entails an additional fee, with one parking spot per apartment residence.