- Must visit
USS Midway Museum
A large aircraft carrier museum on the waterfront with restored aircraft, flight deck exhibits, and naval history. One of the city's most visited cultural attractions.
Cheapest price
$74
Average price
$99
Fastest journey
5 h 30 m
Average duration
6 h 27 m
Buses per day
13
Distance
342 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Bakersfield, CA to San Diego, CA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Bakersfield, CA to San Diego, CA will cost around $99 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $74.
Of the 13 buses that leave Bakersfield, CA for San Diego, CA on Wed, Jul 01, 6 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, Jul 01 the direct buses cover the 342 km distance in an average of 6 h 27 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 30 m .
On Wed, Jul 01 the slowest buses will take 6 h 55 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
FlixBus
FlixBus
0
0
FlixBus · FlixBus
0
0
· 
FlixBusOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Bakersfield, CA to San Diego, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $40. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 5h 1m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $40, and a train costs an average of $58.
Distance: 212 miles (342 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$59 Average price Cheapest | $60 Average price | $47 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 27m Average total duration 5h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 31m Average total duration Fastest 5h 1m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 53m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.3 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Bakersfield, CA to San Diego, CA:
A bus is $1 (€0.98) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Bakersfield, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average $60 (€50).
Other travel options to San Diego, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 5h 57m.
You'll arrive about -3h -4m sooner (5h 57m by bus vs 3h 53m by car) and save roughly $-11.85 (€-9.76) compared to fuel and tolls ($59 (€49) vs $47 (€39)). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by Greyhound, FlixBus, Infobus.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:55AM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 9h15 | Departure days Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $54 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:10AM | Arrival Time 12:20PM | Duration 7h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $70 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:10AM | Arrival Time 06:20PM | Duration 13h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $55 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 04:25PM | Duration 6h55 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 05:35PM | Duration 6h35 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $91 |
Operator Tufesa Internacional | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 05:35PM | Duration 6h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $84 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:45PM | Arrival Time 10:45PM | Duration 10h00 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $95 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:55PM | Arrival Time 10:45PM | Duration 9h50 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $85 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:10PM | Arrival Time 11:50PM | Duration 10h40 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $80 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:10PM | Arrival Time 10:15PM | Duration 9h05 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $74 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:20PM | Arrival Time 10:45PM | Duration 8h25 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $54 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 12:10AM | Duration 7h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $49 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:10PM | Arrival Time 12:25AM | Duration 7h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $67 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 01:10AM | Duration 7h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $64 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 10:00PM | Arrival Time 03:30AM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $91 |
Operator Tufesa Internacional | Departure Time 10:00PM | Arrival Time 03:30AM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $84 |
The table below shows live departures for Bakersfield, CA to San Diego, CA buses for today, Tuesday, June 30. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+ FlixBus | 12:55 PM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 9h50 | 10:45 PM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 1 transfer | |
+ FlixBus | 12:55 PM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 9h20 | 10:15 PM San Diego, West Harbor Drive (The Headquarters at Seaport District), CA | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 1:10 PM Bakersfield, McKee Road / South H Street (Kern Delta Park), CA | 9h35 | 10:45 PM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 1:10 PM Bakersfield, McKee Road / South H Street (Kern Delta Park), CA | 9h05 | 10:15 PM San Diego, West Harbor Drive (The Headquarters at Seaport District), CA | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus+![]() | 1:10 PM Bakersfield, McKee Road / South H Street (Kern Delta Park), CA | 10h40 | 11:50 PM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 5:10 PM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 7h15 | 12:25 AM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 5:10 PM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 6h40 | 11:50 PM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 10:00 PM Bakersfield, CA | 5h30 | 3:30 AM San Diego, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Wednesday, July 1 | |||||
· | 5:10 AM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 7h10 | 12:20 PM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 1 transfer | |
· | 5:10 AM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 6h35 | 11:45 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 9:30 AM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 6h55 | 4:25 PM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 9:30 AM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 7h40 | 5:10 PM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 11:00 AM Bakersfield, CA | 6h35 | 5:35 PM San Diego, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 12:45 PM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 10h00 | 10:45 PM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 12:45 PM Bakersfield, Amtrak Terminal, CA | 9h30 | 10:15 PM San Diego, West Harbor Drive (The Headquarters at Seaport District), CA | 1 transfer | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare bus and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Bakersfield, CA to San Diego, CA run on average 30 times per day, taking around 5h 57m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $40 (€33) if you book in advance.
There are 11 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:30, the last at 23:37. The fastest bus covers the 212 miles (342 km) distance in 5h 30m.
Distance 212 miles (342 km) |
Average bus duration 5h 57m |
Cheapest ticket price $40 (€33) |
Buses per day 30 |
Direct buses 11 |
Fastest bus 5h 30m |
First bus 12:30 AM |
Last bus 11:37 PM |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 21 days |
Discover the best of San Diego — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect San Diego trip today.
A large aircraft carrier museum on the waterfront with restored aircraft, flight deck exhibits, and naval history. One of the city's most visited cultural attractions.
Balboa Park's flagship art museum, known for European old masters, South Asian art, and major rotating exhibitions in a landmark Spanish Colonial building.
Contemporary art museum with a major La Jolla campus and strong collection of postwar and current works, plus ocean-view architecture and installations.
San Diego's signature urban park, filled with gardens, plazas, museums, and Spanish Colonial architecture. It is one of the city's essential places to explore.
A scenic coastal area known for sea lions, turquoise water, dramatic cliffs, and some of the most photographed ocean views in San Diego.
A popular waterfront walking area with bay views, promenades, and public spaces near downtown, especially appealing at sunset and on casual strolls.
Baja-style fish tacos are a San Diego staple, usually made with battered or grilled local fish, cabbage, crema, and salsa in a corn tortilla.
A classic San Diego burrito filled with carne asada, fries, cheese, and salsa, reflecting the city’s Mexican borderland food culture.
A beloved local late-night dish of fries topped with carne asada, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.
An iconic casual spot in Barrio Logan known for house-made tortillas, rice, beans, and traditional Mexican plates with a no-frills atmosphere.
A long-running waterfront seafood market and eatery loved for fresh fish sandwiches, chowder, and a classic San Diego harbor setting.
A popular casual restaurant serving upscale fried chicken, sandwiches, and local beers in a lively indoor-outdoor setting.
San Diego is pricey by U.S. standards, especially for hotels and dining near beaches and downtown.
Tip 18-20% at restaurants; 20%+ for great service. Tip USD 1-2 per drink at bars, round up taxis, and tip hotel staff USD 2-5.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Bakersfield, CA to San Diego, CA by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at San Diego, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Bakersfield, CA to San Diego, CA buses use the Bakersfield to San Diego station pair, with some services arriving at San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park). Use this guide to compare Bakersfield, CA and San Diego, CA bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need