- Recommended
History Center of San Luis Obispo County
Regional history museum in a restored Carnegie Library with exhibits on Indigenous communities, ranching, rail, and town life.
Cheapest price on Sep 20
€59
Average ticket price on Sep 20
€65
Fastest journey on Sep 20
4 h 50 m
Average journey duration on Sep 20
5 h 30 m
Buses on Sep 20
2
Distance
315 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA will cost around €65 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €59.
On Sun, Sep 20, we found 2 buses from Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA, including 2 direct services.
On Sun, Sep 20 the direct buses cover the 315 km distance in an average of 5 h 30 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 4 h 50 m .
On Sun, Sep 20 the slowest buses will take 6 h 10 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.




Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €52 For those with little time, consider booking a bus, which has an average total journey time of 5h 34m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €52, while a train costs an average of €74.
Distance: 195 miles (315 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
€52 Average price Cheapest | €74 Average price | €38 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 34m Average total duration Fastest 5h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 45m Average total duration 6h 15m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 23m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.3 - 0.8kg 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 Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA:
A bus is €23 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA costing on average €74.
Other travel options to San Luis Obispo, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 15m.
Tickets start at around €52 compared to roughly €38 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about €-13.85. The journey takes 5h 4m versus 3h 23m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:30AM | Arrival Time 11:40AM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price €35 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:50PM | Arrival Time 07:00PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price €40 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:40PM | Arrival Time 07:50PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price €37 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 03:16PM | Arrival Time 09:15PM | Duration 5h59 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price €67 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:40PM | Arrival Time 08:50PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price €36 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 04:20PM | Arrival Time 10:30PM | Duration 6h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price €70 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 04:36PM | Arrival Time 10:30PM | Duration 5h54 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price €69 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 05:20PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 6h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price €69 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 05:36PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 5h54 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price €66 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:45PM | Arrival Time 10:35PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price €51 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 08:46PM | Arrival Time 02:15AM | Duration 5h29 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price €67 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 09:46PM | Arrival Time 03:15AM | Duration 5h29 | Departure days Thu, Fri | Cheapest price €69 |
The table below shows live departures for Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA buses for today, Saturday, September 19. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 5:20 PM Oakland, CA | 6h10 | 11:30 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 5:45 PM Oakland, CA | 4h50 | 10:35 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus 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 Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA run on average 1 times per day, taking around 5h 4m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €31 if you book in advance.
There are 1 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 06:00, the last at 16:10. The fastest bus covers the 195 miles (315 km) distance in 4h 50m.
Distance 195 miles (315 km) |
Average bus duration 5h 4m |
Cheapest ticket price €31 |
Buses per day 1 |
Direct buses 1 |
Fastest bus 4h 50m |
First bus 6:00 AM |
Last bus 4:10 PM |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Best time to book 28 days |
Discover the best of San Luis Obispo, CA — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect San Luis Obispo, CA trip today.
Regional history museum in a restored Carnegie Library with exhibits on Indigenous communities, ranching, rail, and town life.
Rail museum by the station with model layouts, restored equipment, and hands-on displays for families and train enthusiasts.
Children’s museum downtown with interactive science, art, and play exhibits designed for younger visitors and family outings.
Downtown creekside park with lawns, paths, public art, and regular community events in the center of the city.
Popular local peak with a short but steep trail, broad city views, and sunset scenery close to downtown.
Compact downtown district with shops, historic facades, galleries, and walkable streets linking major sights and events.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, 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 Luis Obispo, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Oakland, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA buses use the Oakland, West Oakland BART Station to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum) station pair. Use this guide to compare Oakland, CA and San Luis Obispo, CA bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Oakland, West Oakland BART Station is 2 km from Oakland city centre. Public transport options include:
Oakland, West Oakland BART Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at Oakland, West Oakland BART Station. ATMs are available at Oakland, West Oakland BART Station.
Ticket office support is available at Oakland, West Oakland BART Station.
Available at Oakland, West Oakland BART Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Oakland, West Oakland BART Station: Station is fully accessible with elevators.
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum) is 1 km from San Luis Obispo city centre. Public transport options include:
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum). ATMs are available at San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum).
Ticket office support is available at San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum).
Available at San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum): Basic accessibility features available.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need