The new Chula Vista Ferry just started operating on June 1, 2026, and I couldn’t wait to check it out. So on Sunday, Greg and I went on a little adventure to check it out, and now I am sharing everything you need to know about the new San Diego-Chula Vista Ferry, if it is worth it and things to do in Chula Vista.
Quick Facts
Operator: Flagship Cruises & Events
Route: Safe Harbor Marina South Bay (Chula Vista) ⇄ Fifth Avenue Landing (downtown, behind the Convention Center)
Launched: June 1, 2026
Crossing time: ~45 minutes
Fare: $15 one-way per passenger
Vessel: the Balboa, 30 ft, capacity 32 passengers
San Diego – Chula Vista Ferry Schedule
The ferry runs daily every two hours and runs from Chula Vista to Downtown at 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM and 6 PM. From 5th Avenue Pier in Downtown San Diego, the Chula Vista ferry leaves at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM and 7 PM. Each one-way trip takes approximately 45 minutes.
| Chula Vista – Downtown | Downtown – Chula Vista |
| 8 AM | 9 AM |
| 10 AM | 11 AM |
| 12 PM | 1 PM |
| 2 PM | 3 PM |
| 4 PM | 5 PM |
| 6 PM | 7 PM |
Price & Tickets – Is it worth it?
How much is the ferry ticket to Chula Vista?
Each one-way ticket for the San Diego-Chula Vista ferry is $15 per person. You can buy a return ticket at the same time for $30 per person. Children under 4 ride free. There are currently no discounts for vets, daily commuters or other groups.
Where can I buy the ferry ticket?
You can either buy the ferry ticket on the ticket machine at either ferry landing or on the Flagship website. You can also scan the QR-code below and buy the tickets on your phone. On the ticket machine, you can use debit or credit cards, as well as cash, but no Apple Pay.
Greg and I bought a one-way ticket for 2 people at the ticket machine on 5th Avenue Pier as we weren’t sure if we would take the ferry back or not. As there is no discount to buy the return ticket at the same time, this gave us more flexibility and I highly recommend it. Also, there is no chance to lose the ticket.
Is it worth it?
It depends. The ferry is neither the cheapest nor the fastest way to get from downtown to Chula Vista, so if price and speed are your top two deciding factors, the ferry is not worth it.
However, if you are looking for a scenic way and a fun experience, nothing beats the ferry. I love being on a boat and it puts me in vacation mood instantly. We shared the ferry with 2 families with young kids and they all had a blast as well. I personally think that $15 for a 45 minute boat ride is a great value.
The Ferry Ride – What to expect
Greg and I arrived at the 5th Avenue Ferry Landing right behind the Convention Center about 15 minutes before the scheduled departure at 1 PM and bought a 1 way ticket on the ticketing machine. The ticket machine is pretty straight forward. first, you select your route (Coronado or Chula Vista), decide whether you want a one-way or return ticket, and then enter the number of passengers. After that, you are prompted for payment, which you can do either in cash, debit or credit card. Apple pay is currently not available.
You can also buy your tickets online on the Flagship website.
Important: Note that you only get one ticket for all passengers, so if some people in your group want to return at different times, I recommend buying individual tickets.
Once the ferry arrives, the captain will unlock the gate to the dock and check your tickets. If the Coronado ferry departs shortly before or after, there will only be one group of passengers allowed to access the dock at a time to make sure you end up on the right ferry.
The ferry boat to Chula Vista has space for 32 passengers and is partially covered to protect from sun and rain. There are cushioned benches on the perimeter of the boat as well as a center seating area in the front area of the boat. As we were only a total of 10 passengers on our ferry ride, we had plenty of space to move around, switch from sun to shade and side to side to take photos.
The ride was smooth, but you could definitely feel the waves. If you have motion sickness, I recommend taking preventative medication before you board.
There is no restroom on board and no option to buy food or drinks.
The ferry ride took a total of 45 minutes and we passed by the San Diego Convention Center, under the Coronado Bridge and by the 32nd Street Navy shipyard on the left, with Coronado and the Coronado Cays on the right. Passing under the Coronado Bay Bridge always feels special as only then you realize how huge this bridge actually is.
Parking & How to get to Ferry Ports?
Downtown – 5th Avenue Landing
There is metered parking at the South Embarcadero available, but it can fill up, especially if there is a show at the Rady Shell or during large conventions. Also keep in mind that the maximum time you can put on the meter at South Embarcadero is 3 hours, so that would not be enough to enjoy your trip to Chula Vista.
There is paid parking available at Seaport Village as well as the Convention Center ($35/day) as well as various hotels. If you park in downtown, please pay attention to the Special Event Parking fees that are $10/hour on metered parking within an approximately 0.5 mile radius around Petco Park.
I recommend taking public transportation to get there. You can take the trolley to either Seaport Village (0.7 miles), Convention Center (0.5 miles) , or Gaslamp Quarter trolley station (0.4 miles).
Chula Vista Safe Harbor Marina
There are various free parking lots near Chula Vista Bayfront operated by the San Diego Port Authority. Please take a look at their website for detailed information and parking lot locations.
You can take the trolley blue line to Chula Vista H Street Station and walk approximately 1 mile to Chula Vista Safe Harbor Marina.
There is also the Chula Vista Bayside shuttle from Downtown Chula Vista to the Gaylord Pacific. Get off at the Gaylord Pacific H Street exit, which is closer to the ferry landing than the resort exit.
Things to do in Chula Vista
To be honest, Greg and I have not spent much time in Chula Vista so far. It is not your typical tourist neighborhood and we have not gotten around to exploring much yet. But after this weekend, we can’t wait to go back. It surprised us not only with the stunning amenities at the Gaylord Pacific, but also the cute vibe of Downtown Chula Vista.
Gaylord Pacific
Of course I have heard about the huge Gaylord Pacific Marriott Bonvoy property, which opened last year in Chula Vista, but this was my first visit. With 1600 hotel rooms and a large convention center, this hotel has created a new hot spot for tourists in the South Bay.
The resort is absolutely beautiful. With 5 pools, including a wave pool, slides, and lazy river, this 4.25 acre water park really puts you in vacation mood. The best part? You can buy day passes for the pool area starting at only 12.50 per person. Pro Tip: Our waitress told us that day passes sell out very quickly you can only book within a 21 day booking window. The Gaylord Pacific releases new tickets each night at 12 am and that is the best time to snatch some.
We had lunch at the Hotel restaurant Marzul Coastal Cuisine. They serve Baja-inspired coastal dishes, including fresh oysters, fish tacos, and lamb birria. I had the swordfish tacos which were delicious, but a bit pricy for 2 small tacos. Greg had the lamb shank birria, which was very delicious, but a bit different than traditional birria. The sauce was very thick and rich (and tasty!), but not as brothy and savory as an authentic birria.
The highlight of our meal might surprise you, but it was actually the sweet potato side dish. Roasted chunks of sweet potato were smothered in a mouthwatering cream and tangy tamarind sauce that was to die for. For a fun texture, there was a sprinkle of puffed grains and a few sweet potato chips that took the dish to the next level.
Downtown Chula Vista
After lunch and exploring the hotel, Greg and I decided to walk to Downtown Chula Vista. Don’t do that! The walk is anything but scenic and long (1.9 miles). At least we had sidewalks as we strolled past picturesque construction sites and scenic strip malls. Take the free Bayfront Shuttle instead!
Downtown Chula Vista is not big, but there are some fun bars, restaurants, and breweries as well as shops to check out. Greg and I came across Chula Vista Brewery and decided to check them out. Their beers were tasty and they even have live music every Sunday (usually The Ritchie Orduño Trio, a Blues-y Latin Rock band that we had seen a few times at Gator by the Bay. Super cool vibe and fantastic music. Can’t wait to go back.
Afterwards, Greg and I decided to take a shared ride back to downtown, as we had dinner plans and were running out of time to make it back on the ferry.
Who is this ferry really for?
This ferry is perfect for people staying at the Gaylord Pacific who don’t have a car or don’t want to take the trolley and want to visit downtown San Diego during their stay. It is also a fun day trip for locals and visitors in downtown San Diego to see a different part of the city that is not very touristy (aside from the Gaylord Pacific Resort of course). The ferry is great if you are not pressed on time and want to make the way to your destination more fun and memorable.
I would not recommend taking the ferry if you have a limited time window or are pressed on time, or want to get to Chula Vista in the most direct, affordable, and fastest way possible.
My Personal Top Tips
Don’t buy return tickets – buying a return ticket does not give you any advantages or price reduction, so I recommend buying one-way tickets only. For your whole group, you will only receive one ticket, so if part of your group wants to take a different ferry, you can’t do that. Also, since the ferry only runs every 2 hours, keeping your return option open gives you more flexibility.
Take the free Bayfront shuttle to Downtown Chula Vista – Walking to Downtown Chula Vista from the Bayfront is not very scenic and quite long (almost 2 miles). I recommend taking the free Bayfront Shuttle.
How to get Gaylord Pacific Day Pass Tickets – Tickets go on sale daily at 12 am for the next 21 days and they usually sell out within hours. I recommend buying those tickets as close to the release time as possible, especially during the busy summer season.
FAQs
A one-way ticket is $15 per passenger, but children under 4 ride free. There are no discounts for seniors, military or other groups. Round trip tickets are available and are valid for all ferries returning that day. I recommend only buying a one-way ticket. This gives you more flexibility, for example in case some people in your group want to return early or you decide to take a different mode of transportation on your way back.
About 45 minutes each way across the bay, aboard the Balboa.
The first boat leaves Chula Vista at 8 a.m. and every 2 hours after until 6 PM. From downtown, the ferry departs every 2 hours between 9 AM and 7 PM. Because this is a brand-new service, double-check the current times on Flagship’s website before you go.
At Fifth Avenue Landing, right behind the San Diego Convention Center, walking distance to the Gaslamp Quarter and Seaport Village.
From Safe Harbor Marina South Bay on the Chula Vista Bayfront, near the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center.
Flagship Cruises & Events, the same company that runs the Coronado ferry.
No, it’s a separate route. The Coronado ferry is a short (~15-minute) hop and costs $9, while the Chula Vista ferry is a longer ~45-minute crossing to the South Bay for $15. Flagship operates all three ferry routes. See our Coronado ferry guide for that route.
Service launched June 1, 2026: San Diego’s first-ever passenger ferry connecting the South Bay to downtown.
Yes, you can bring bikes and strollers on board. However, they are on a first-come, first-served basis (no bike/stroller reservations), and space may be limited.
The Flagship ferry “Balboa” is a relatively small boat with a capacity for 32 passengers. The front part is covered by a soft cover, while the back portion of the boat is open air.
New tickets are released 21 days in advance at 12 am on the website. The single entry tickets sell out within hours. I recommend staying up to make sure you get tickets, especially if you want to visit on specific dates and during popular times. The multi-entry tickets are not quite as popular, but do sell out as well.
The single entry day passes for Gaylord Pacific Chula Vista are $12.50 per person and the multi-entry day passes are $30 per person. If you are staying at the resort, each room gets 4 multi-entry day passes.
No, pets are not allowed, but service animals are welcome.
No, the Chula Vista ferry is not wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant.
Last Updated on June 8, 2026 by Maria Haase
