Getting around Poway

Interstate 15 runs the length of Poway on the west edge of town, with the Poway Road and Rancho Bernardo Road interchanges doing most of the work getting people on and off the freeway.

SR-67 branches northeast toward Ramona and is the main route out of town in that direction — two lanes for much of its length, so it can back up on weekends and after wildfire-season closures.

Scripps Poway Parkway is the east–west connector linking the business park to I-15, and Twin Peaks Road, Espola Road and Pomerado Road carry most of the local east–west and north–south traffic within the city.

Peak congestion on I-15 runs roughly 6:30–9:00 AM southbound toward San Diego and 3:30–6:30 PM northbound back into Poway and North County.

Poway has no rail service of its own — the nearest Coaster stop is in Sorrento Valley and the nearest Sprinter service is in Escondido, both a drive away.

MTS bus routes serve Poway Road and connect into the broader San Diego transit network, with North County Transit District (NCTD) routes linking to Escondido's Sprinter and transit center for onward travel.

For most trips within Poway, a car is genuinely the practical option; transit works best for commuting into job centers along the rail lines rather than getting around town itself.

SAN is about 30 to 35 minutes from Poway via I-15, depending on time of day and whether you catch the Poway Road or Rancho Bernardo Road interchange traffic.

Rideshare and taxi are the simplest option door to door. There is no direct transit line from the airport to Poway, so plan on a car for the full trip.

Parking is free and plentiful nearly everywhere in Poway, from Old Poway Park and the Poway Center for the Performing Arts to the trailheads at Lake Poway and Blue Sky Ecological Reserve.

Trailhead lots at popular spots like Mt. Woodson can fill early on weekend mornings, especially near the Potato Chip Rock trailhead — arrive early or expect to circle for a spot.

Park-and-ride lots along I-15 and near the SR-67 interchange are useful if you're carpooling into San Diego or North County for work.

Poway's multi-use trail network is one of the best reasons to have a car-free afternoon here — miles of hiking and equestrian trails link Lake Poway, Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, Iron Mountain and Mt. Woodson.

Espola Road and Poway Road both have marked bike lanes and are the most-used on-street routes for cyclists commuting or connecting between trail systems.

Old Poway Park and the surrounding Poway Road corridor are the most walkable stretch in town, especially on Saturday mornings during the farmers market.

Poway sits inland in San Diego County, ZIP 92064, roughly between Rancho Bernardo to the west and Ramona to the east.

Check the live pages before you set out: