The San Diego Padres open the 2026 season Thursday at Petco Park, and East County baseball fans are being strongly encouraged to leave the car at home. With first pitch set for 1:10 p.m. and sellout crowds expected throughout the weekend, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is warning that Interstate 8 will be a parking lot.

Both the Green Line — serving Santee, SDSU, and La Mesa — and the Orange Line — serving El Cajon and Lemon Grove — will run every 15 minutes or better before game time. After the final out, trains will depart the 12th & Imperial Transit Center every 15 minutes, with extra Green Line service from the Gaslamp Quarter Station to help clear post-game crowds.

To celebrate the new season, MTS and the Padres unveiled a specially wrapped Trolley this week featuring key players from the current roster. Keep an eye out for the brown-and-gold train rolling into your local station.

For East County fans looking to park and ride, MTS recommends three high-capacity lots: El Cajon Transit Center (400+ free spots), Amaya Drive in La Mesa (230 free spots), and Grossmont Transit Center (220 free spots), all serving both the Green and Orange Lines. Note that while Santee Town Center is a popular boarding point, MTS officially recommends these hubs for the highest availability of gameday parking.

Paying is as easy as tapping a credit card, smartphone, or smartwatch on any station validator — no ticket machine needed. A one-way trip is $2.50, valid for two hours. Two children age 12 and under ride free with every paying adult. PRONTO app users should load at least $5 for a round trip and remember that each passenger needs their own separate payment. For schedules and alerts, visit sdmts.com.