Touring Coronado Island, actually a peninsula in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, is possible by car, but also by bicycle or on foot, since the town of Coronado isn't large, and the southern California climate is usually favorable for outdoor excursions. The main areas of interest to visitors are concentrated in certain parts of town, such as the Orange Avenue shopping district, the magnificent Hotel del Coronado or the town's beaches.
For drivers, two roads connect San Diego with Coronado: the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, which is a straight shot from downtown to 4th Street in Coronado, or the long way around via California Route 75, also known as Silver Strand Blvd.
Metered parking is available on the main shopping street of Coronado Island, Orange Avenue, and along some side streets. There's no fee for parking at the Coronado Ferry Landing, provided visitors patronize nearby shops. Parking is also free (with no strings attached) along Ocean Blvd. near the beach, but spaces aren't always available.
Hourly ferry service runs between the Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego and the Coronado Ferry Landing, a mode of travel suitable for both walkers and bicyclists, since bicycles can be taken aboard the ferry. Separately, the San Diego Water Taxi also offers service between the city and Coronado.
There are a number of establishments that will rent bicycles to visitors, at strategically located spots on the island: Bikes and Beyond (at the ferry landing); Holland's Bicycles on Orange Ave.; and Wheel Fun Rentals at the Coronado Island Marriott. The island is flat and easy to navigate by bike, and is only about a mile across from the ferry landing to the Hotel del Coronado.
For a nominal fee, the MTS Route 904 Coronado Shuttle will take visitors across the island along Orange Ave. Running every hour, the shuttle connects the ferry landing and Marriott on one side of the island with the Hotel del Coronado on the other.
