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.

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Where to Eat in Carlsbad

If you’re looking for affordable options, Nick’s on State (2742 State St) and King's Fish House - Carlsbad (5625 Paseo del Norte) are great picks.

When to visit Carlsbad

Carlsbad in January
Estimated hotel price
$225
1 night at 3-star hotel
Carlsbad in January
Estimated hotel price
$225
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 Phoenix and takes around 1h 22m.

Train

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 Ace and Economy Rent a Car, 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 Phoenix and takes around 1h 22m.

Train

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 Ace and Economy Rent a Car, among others, in Los Angeles.

Airports near Carlsbad

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

Airlines serving Carlsbad

KLM
Good (1,430 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,632 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,008 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,583 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,104 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,814 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,092 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,683 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,051 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,440 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,506 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,531 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,332 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (879 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,095 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,606 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,337 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,413 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,470 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,149 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Carlsbad

Where to stay in Carlsbad

From 5-star hotels such as the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, North San Diego to great affordable options like the Staybridge Suites Carlsbad - San Diego By IHG, Carlsbad offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $223 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $406 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Motel 6 Carlsbad, Ca - North and Best Western Carlsbad by the Sea. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Carlsbad, with prices from $62 to $2,209 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Carlsbad are about 43% 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
Mission Pacific Hotel, part of JdV by Hyatt
4 stars
Excellent (9.3, 196 reviews)
$221+
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Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Spa & Golf Club
5 stars
Excellent (9.3, 177 reviews)
$495+
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Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa
5 stars
Excellent (10, 26 reviews)
$1,208+
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The Seabird Resort - part of Destination by Hyatt
4 stars
Excellent (9, 249 reviews)
$219+
View
Lakehouse Hotel And Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 484 reviews)
$138+
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Best Western Plus Oceanside Palms
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1851 reviews)
$89+
View

Renting a car in Carlsbad

Renting a car in Carlsbad costs $42 per day, on average, or $85 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 2% cheaper than airport locations in Carlsbad.

Expect to pay $3.29 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 $39.52 and $52.69. The most frequently booked car type in Carlsbad is Standard (Toyota Tacoma or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Ford Escape or similar) are, on average, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Carlsbad costs $42 per day, on average, or $85 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 2% cheaper than airport locations in Carlsbad.

Expect to pay $3.29 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 $39.52 and $52.69. The most frequently booked car type in Carlsbad is Standard (Toyota Tacoma or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Ford Escape or similar) are, on average, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Carlsbad

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$28/day

Economy

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$29/day

Supplier choice
Find car rentals in Carlsbad