landmark
LEGOLAND California
Carlsbad theme park designed for families with children aged 2–12, featuring over 60 LEGO-themed rides and attractions.
15 km · about 30 min drive
North AmericaUnited StatesCalifornia
Solana Beach
California, United States · North America
About Solana Beach
Solana Beach is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Del Mar, 15km from LEGOLAND California.
Solana Beach is in California, United States, with about 13,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Del Mar, about 4 km away.
Solana Beach station, also known as the Solana Beach Transit Center, is a train station on Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner passenger train and on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route located in Solana Beach, California. The tracks were lowered to their current position in the late 1990s,Read more
to alleviate congestion on Lomas Santa Fe Road and Downtown Solana Beach. Two tracks carry the Surf Line in a trench through the city of Solana Beach, including the station.
The station was designed by architect Rob Wellington Quigley, and was built in 1994 to replace the aging depot in Del Mar, California, two miles south which had been in use since the early 1900s. Funding for the station included $2.8 million from Proposition 116, which was a ballot initiative that designated $1.99 billion for passenger rail projects. An additional $3.3 million used for land acquisition and design was obtained through Transnet, a half-cent county sales tax. Quigley drew inspiration for the design from a group of Quonset huts that used to line North Cedros Avenue in the 1940s. To the basic semi-circular form of the hut, the architect added a tower reminiscent of those found on many train depots dating to the second half of the 19th century.
In the late 1990s, an $18 million project lowered the tracks and station platforms. This allowed for another track and platform and improved safety by eliminating the railroad crossing located south of the station.
In 2014, Solana Beach and the North County Transit District requested proposals to convert the station and some of the adjacent surface parking into offices, a restaurant and an underground parking structure. This could involve the station being repurposed with ticket sales and other train services moved to the train track level. The parking garage could complement the nearby Cedros Design District and adjacent Coast Highway 101. Neither of the two submitted proposals were selected.
Of the 73 California stations served by Amtrak, Solana Beach was the tenth-busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 1100 passengers daily. In 2021, Amtrak reports Solana Beach as 14th busiest in California with 94,621 riders in the year.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Solana Beach?
Within an hour or so of Solana Beach: LEGOLAND California (15 km), SeaWorld San Diego (26 km), San Diego Zoo Safari Park (28 km), San Diego Zoo (31 km).
Are there any good drives near Solana Beach?
The nearest famous roads are Tijuana-Ensenada Scenic Highway.
Where is Solana Beach?
Solana Beach is in California, United States, about 4 km from Del Mar.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 13,449
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Region
- California
- Timezone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Coordinates
- 32.9911, -117.2712
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United States
AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.
Full driving guide for United StatesTags
Worth the detour from Solana Beach
4 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
SeaWorld San Diego
Southern California's marine life park offering animal experiences, aquarium exhibits, and amusement rides.
26 km · about 30 min drive
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San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Expansive wildlife sanctuary in Escondido where animals roam in vast open-range enclosures mimicking their native habitats.
28 km · about 30 min drive
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San Diego Zoo
World-renowned zoo in Balboa Park home to over 12,000 animals of more than 650 species in naturalistic habitats.
31 km · about 35 min drive
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