# Chula Vista: A Guide to San Diego County's Second-Largest City > Chula Vista explained: its place in San Diego County, older west side vs. planned east side, the bayfront, Otay Lakes, trolley stations and getting around. Published October 24, 2026 · By Marisol Keane (https://www.sandiegoinformer.com/authors/marisol-keane/) · Neighborhoods (https://www.sandiegoinformer.com/neighborhoods/) URL : https://www.sandiegoinformer.com/neighborhoods/chula-vista/ San Diego Informer — Your practical guide to living in and exploring San Diego County — https://www.sandiegoinformer.com/ ## Quick take - Chula Vista is an independent city in South County, incorporated in 1911, with 275,487 residents at the 2020 Census. - West of I-805 you find the older city around Third Avenue; east of it, master-planned communities like Otay Ranch and Eastlake. - The Blue Line trolley stops at Bayfront/E Street, H Street and Palomar Street. - The bayfront has the Living Coast Discovery Center and the Gaylord Pacific resort, while Otay Lakes and the Elite Athlete Training Center sit on the east side. Chula Vista is an independent city in the South Bay, between downtown San Diego and the Mexican border. It is not a neighborhood of San Diego: it has its own city hall, its own services and its own mix of districts. With 275,487 residents counted in the 2020 Census, according to the [U.S. Census Bureau's QuickFacts](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/chulavistacitycalifornia), it is the second-largest city in San Diego County after San Diego itself. The quick way to understand Chula Vista is to split it in two. West of Interstate 805 is the older city, with the trolley, the bayfront and the Third Avenue downtown. East of I-805 are newer master-planned communities, rolling hills, Otay Lakes and the Elite Athlete Training Center. ## A short history The name is Spanish and is usually translated as "beautiful view," which makes sense once you see the hills sloping down to the bay. The City of Chula Vista's history page notes that residents voted to incorporate on October 17, 1911. For decades the area was known for lemon groves and small farms, before postwar growth turned the groves into neighborhoods. The city kept expanding east through the late 20th century. That is why Chula Vista feels like two different places depending on which side of the freeway you are on. ## West side and east side ### Western Chula Vista The west side holds the city's original grid. Third Avenue, in the older center of the city, is the old downtown, now called Third Avenue Village: low-rise storefronts, restaurants, a mix of family businesses and community events. Around it you find older single-family homes, apartment buildings and commercial strips along Broadway. This side is closest to the bay, the trolley and Interstate 5. It is also where much of the city's older housing stock is, so expect a wider range of ages and styles from block to block. ### Eastern Chula Vista East of I-805, development is newer and more planned. Communities such as Otay Ranch and Eastlake were laid out with curving streets, homeowners associations, shopping centers and parks built in from the start. Housing is mostly from the 1990s onward. The trade-off is distance. Eastern neighborhoods sit farther from the trolley and the coast, and daily life tends to depend more on a car. If you are comparing the two sides for a move, look at commute routes at the hours you would actually drive. Our [cost of living guide](/living/cost-of-living-in-san-diego/) covers the main budget lines across the county. | | West of I-805 | East of I-805 | |---|---|---| | Housing | Older homes and apartments, varied styles | Newer master-planned communities, many HOAs | | Getting around | Blue Line trolley, I-5, more bus routes | Mostly by car; SR-125 and I-805 | | Nearby | Bayfront, Third Avenue Village | Otay Lakes, Elite Athlete Training Center | ## The bayfront Chula Vista's shoreline on San Diego Bay has changed a lot. The Port of San Diego and the city have been developing a large Chula Vista Bayfront project, and its centerpiece, the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center, opened in May 2025, according to the [Port of San Diego](https://www.portofsandiego.org/press-releases/general-press-releases/now-open-port-and-city-leaders-celebrate-ribbon-cutting). The Port describes the overall bayfront plan as including parks and open space alongside the resort. ### The Living Coast Discovery Center The Living Coast Discovery Center is a small zoo and aquarium focused on bay and coastal wildlife, set on Gunpowder Point inside the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Getting there works differently than most places: - Park in the free lot at E Street and Bay Boulevard. - Take the center's shuttle in. There is no walking or biking path into the refuge, and walking along the access road is unsafe. - Check the [Living Coast's directions page](https://www.thelivingcoast.org/visit/directions) for current shuttle times and admission before you go. The [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service](https://fws.gov/refuge/san-diego-bay/visit-us/locations/sweetwater-marsh-unit) manages the refuge and lists its trails on the Sweetwater Marsh Unit page. Birding along the marsh is the main draw. **Bayfront shuttle vs. Living Coast shuttle** These are two different services. The Living Coast's own shuttle is the one that takes you into the refuge. A general bayfront shuttle does not go to the center, so check which one you are boarding. ## East side outdoors and sports ### Otay Lakes County Park On the far east side, the County of San Diego runs [Otay Lakes County Park](https://sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/OtayLakes.html) at 2270 Wueste Road, near the Lower Otay Reservoir. It has a playground, a lawn, short hiking trails and a native plant garden, and the county lists it as the proposed eastern gateway to the Otay Valley Regional Park. Hours and the day-use parking fee are posted on the county page; check them before you go. ### The Elite Athlete Training Center Near the reservoir is the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. It opened in 1995 as a U.S. Olympic Training Center, and the U.S. Olympic Committee transferred it to the City of Chula Vista in 2017, according to the center. It remains a training site for elite athletes. Public access is limited, so check the [center's website](https://trainatchulavista.com/about) for what is open to visitors. ## A first visit, step by step If you only have a day, keep it simple and pick one side of the city. 1. For the west side, ride the Blue Line to H Street or Bayfront/E Street, or park near Third Avenue. 2. Walk Third Avenue Village for lunch and a look at the older storefronts. 3. In the afternoon, drive or ride to the lot at E Street and Bay Boulevard and take the shuttle to the Living Coast Discovery Center. 4. Finish with a walk along the bayfront parks as the light drops over the bay. For the east side, start at Otay Lakes County Park in the morning while it is cooler, then explore the shopping and parks of the newer communities nearby. Inland Chula Vista gets warmer than the bayfront on summer afternoons, so bring water. ## Getting around Chula Vista The [San Diego Trolley](/getting-around/san-diego-trolley/) Blue Line runs north-south through western Chula Vista, with stations at Bayfront/E Street, H Street and Palomar Street, according to MTS. From these stops you can ride north to downtown San Diego or south toward San Ysidro and the border. MTS buses fill in the rest; check [sdmts.com](https://www.sdmts.com) for current routes and schedules. For driving, Interstate 5 runs along the west side near the bay, I-805 splits the city in the middle, and State Route 125 serves the eastern communities. Rush-hour traffic on all three can be heavy, especially northbound in the morning. If you are flying out of San Diego International Airport from Chula Vista, the trolley plus a connection is one option and driving is another. Our [airport parking guide](/getting-around/san-diego-airport-parking/) compares what happens once you get there. ## Is Chula Vista a good fit? That depends on what you want day to day. People who like walkable older blocks and transit tend to look at the west side. People who want newer homes, parks built into the neighborhood and quiet streets often look east, and accept more driving. Families weighing schools should check the districts directly: public schools in Chula Vista are run mainly by the Chula Vista Elementary School District and the Sweetwater Union High School District, and the address decides which school you are assigned. For prices, rents and taxes, rely on dated official sources or a licensed professional; they change too often for a guide to keep current. To compare Chula Vista with other parts of the county, browse our [Neighborhoods section](/neighborhoods/). ## Match the Chula Vista spot to its side of town Match each place or feature with what the guide says about it. - Third Avenue Village : The old downtown on the west side - Otay Ranch and Eastlake : Master-planned communities east of I-805 - Living Coast Discovery Center : Reached only by shuttle from E Street and Bay Boulevard - Otay Lakes County Park : County park on Wueste Road near Lower Otay Reservoir - H Street station : A Blue Line trolley stop in western Chula Vista [West side and east side](https://www.sandiegoinformer.com/neighborhoods/chula-vista/#west-side-and-east-side) Next up: [Riding the Blue Line to Chula Vista? Here is how the trolley, fares and lines work.](https://www.sandiegoinformer.com/getting-around/san-diego-trolley/) ## Questions readers ask **Is Chula Vista part of the City of San Diego?** No. Chula Vista is its own incorporated city, with its own city government, police and services. It sits in San Diego County, south of the City of San Diego. **How many people live in Chula Vista?** The 2020 Census counted 275,487 residents, which makes it the second-largest city in San Diego County after San Diego. The Census Bureau's QuickFacts page has the latest estimates. **Can you take the trolley to Chula Vista?** Yes. The MTS Blue Line stops at Bayfront/E Street, H Street and Palomar Street in western Chula Vista, with connections to downtown San Diego and San Ysidro. **How do you visit the Living Coast Discovery Center?** Park in the lot at E Street and Bay Boulevard and take the center's shuttle. There is no walking path into the refuge, so the shuttle is the only way in.