San Marcos travel guide
San Marcos Tourism | San Marcos Guide
You're Going to Love San Marcos
With a population of 83,781, San Marcos is a must-see destination in California, United States. San Marcos deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in San Marcos
If you’re looking for affordable options, Decoy Dockside (1035 La Bonita Dr) and Urge Gastropub & Common House (255 Redel Rd) are great picks.
When to visit San Marcos
Looking for warm weather? Then head to San Marcos in July, when the average temperature is 75.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 42.8 °F, with an average temperature of 55.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in February, when precipitation is around 3.5″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in San Marcos, with an average rainfall of 0.1″.
How to Get to San Marcos
Plane
When flying to San Marcos, you’ll arrive at San Diego Carlsbad-Palomar (CLD), which is located 7 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to San Marcos departs from Salt Lake City and takes around 1h 53m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to San Marcos. The train journey from San Marcos to Burbank takes 0h 27m and costs around $11 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fullerton, expect to pay about $14 for a 0h 39m trip.
Car
Another option to get to San Marcos is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 91 miles from San Marcos. You’ll find branches of Ace and Kyte, among others, in Los Angeles.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to San Marcos, including FlixBus, Bus and Busbud. From Santa Barbara, the bus ride to San Marcos takes 120 miles and will cost you around $64. From Bakersfield, the ticket costs about $32 for a journey of 125 miles.
Airlines serving San Marcos
Where to stay in San Marcos
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott San Diego North/San Marcos and Hampton Inn San Marcos, CA.
Where to stay in popular areas of San Marcos
Most booked hotels in San Marcos
Renting a car in San Marcos
Renting a car in San Marcos costs $58 per day, on average, or $115 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 16% more expensive than at Los Angeles.
Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in San Marcos (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in San Marcos is Intermediate (Kia Sportage or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Hyundai Accent or similar) are, on average, 77% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.