Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Carlsbad travel guide

Carlsbad Tourism | Carlsbad Guide

You're Going to Love Carlsbad

With a population of 105,328, Carlsbad is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Carlsbad deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Article

Where to Eat in Carlsbad

If you’re looking for affordable options, Campfire (2725 State St) and Nick’s on State (2742 State St) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Dragon's Den Restaurant and Bar- LEGOLAND Castle Hotel (1 Legoland Dr) and Oak+Elixir (2917 State St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Carlsbad.

When to visit Carlsbad

Carlsbad in January
Estimated hotel price
$213
1 night at 3-star hotel
Carlsbad in January
Estimated hotel price
$213
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Carlsbad

Plane

When flying to Carlsbad, you’ll arrive at San Diego Carlsbad-Palomar (CLD), which is located 5 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Carlsbad departs from Las Vegas and takes around 1h 13m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Carlsbad. Located 0.2 miles from the city center, Carlsbad Village is the busiest station in Carlsbad. Another popular train station is Carlsbad Poinsettia, located 4 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Carlsbad is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 83 miles from Carlsbad. You’ll find branches of MEXRENTACAR and Midway, among others, in Los Angeles.

Plane

When flying to Carlsbad, you’ll arrive at San Diego Carlsbad-Palomar (CLD), which is located 5 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Carlsbad departs from Las Vegas and takes around 1h 13m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Carlsbad. Located 0.2 miles from the city center, Carlsbad Village is the busiest station in Carlsbad. Another popular train station is Carlsbad Poinsettia, located 4 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Carlsbad is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 83 miles from Carlsbad. You’ll find branches of MEXRENTACAR and Midway, among others, in Los Angeles.

Airports near Carlsbad

SANSan Diego
LAXLos Angeles
SNASanta Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

Airlines serving Carlsbad

Lufthansa
Good (7,149 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,361 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,019 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,963 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,628 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,852 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,778 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,465 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,800 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (804 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,267 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,585 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,554 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,388 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,080 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (355 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,233 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,291 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,890 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,212 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Carlsbad

Where to stay in Carlsbad

Average rates range from around $327 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $386 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Ocean Palms Beach Resort and La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Carlsbad - Legoland Area. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Carlsbad, with prices from $74 to $433 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Carlsbad are about 90% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Carlsbad by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Carlsbad

Most booked hotels in Carlsbad

See all
Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa
5 stars
Excellent (10, 27 reviews)
$1,250+
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The Seabird Resort - part of Destination by Hyatt
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, 227 reviews)
$366+
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Mission Pacific Hotel, part of JdV by Hyatt
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, 184 reviews)
$387+
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Lakehouse Hotel And Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 454 reviews)
$189+
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LEGOLAND California Resort And Castle Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 727 reviews)
$358+
View
Best Western Plus Oceanside Palms
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1793 reviews)
$123+
View

Renting a car in Carlsbad

Renting a car in Carlsbad costs $43 per day, on average, or $87 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 8% cheaper than airport locations in Carlsbad.

Expect to pay $3.48 per gallon in Carlsbad (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Carlsbad is Standard (Class Standard SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Ford Focus or similar) are, on average, 60% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Carlsbad costs $43 per day, on average, or $87 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 8% cheaper than airport locations in Carlsbad.

Expect to pay $3.48 per gallon in Carlsbad (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Carlsbad is Standard (Class Standard SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Ford Focus or similar) are, on average, 60% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Carlsbad

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$40/day

Compact

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$40/day

Economy
Find car rentals in Carlsbad

Carlsbad Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Carlsbad city guide for the best Carlsbad travel tips. To help you organize your Carlsbad trip ideas, this Carlsbad visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.