4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest buses from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA
Cheapest price
$108
Average price
$112
Fastest journey
15 h 28 m
Average duration
23 h 46 m
Buses per day
3
Distance
649 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA will cost around $112 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $108.
Of the 3 buses that leave San Diego, CA for Santa Cruz, CA on Sun, May 31, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sun, May 31 the direct buses cover the 649 km distance in an average of 23 h 46 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 15 h 28 m .
On Sun, May 31 the slowest buses will take 1 d 15 h 41 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.
4:25 AM16h08San Diego, CA8:33 PMSanta Cruz, CA$1081One-way0 transfers- 5:10 AM15h28San Diego, CA8:38 PMSanta Cruz, CA$1131One-way0 transfers
- 5:25 AM39h41San Diego, CA9:06 PMSanta Cruz, CA$1161One-way0 transfers
- 5:10 AM15h28San Diego, CA8:38 PMSanta Cruz, CA$1131One-way0 transfers
- 4:25 AM16h08San Diego, CA8:33 PMSanta Cruz, CA$1081One-way0 transfers
- 5:25 AM39h41San Diego, CA9:06 PMSanta Cruz, CA$1161One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus and flight for San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $108. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 16h 40m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $108, and a flight costs an average of $1225.
Distance: 403 miles (649 km)
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Flight |
|---|---|
$117 Average price Cheapest | $1673 Average price |
17h 10m Average total duration Fastest 16h 40m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 25h 17m Average total duration 22h 17m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA:
A bus is $1556 (€1254) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA costing on average $1673 (€1349).
Other travel options to Santa Cruz, CA take longer:
Flight takes on average 22h 17m.
San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 04:25AM | Arrival Time 08:33PM | Duration 16h08 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $108 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 05:10AM | Arrival Time 08:38PM | Duration 15h28 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $112 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 05:25AM | Arrival Time 09:06PM | Duration 39h41 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $116 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 06:10AM | Arrival Time 09:09PM | Duration 14h59 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $113 |
Live departures
San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA bus times
The table below shows live departures for San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA buses for tomorrow, Saturday, May 30. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4:25 AM San Diego, CA | 16h08 | 8:33 PM Santa Cruz, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 5:10 AM San Diego, CA | 15h28 | 8:38 PM Santa Cruz, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 5:25 AM San Diego, CA | 39h41 | 9:06 PM Santa Cruz, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA by bus or flight
Compare bus and flight 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.
May 30
May 31
Jun 01
Jun 02
Jun 03
Jun 04
Jun 05
Journey information
Overview: Bus from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA
USAUSA
Buses from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA run on average 1 times per day, taking around 16h 40m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $108 (€87) if you book in advance.
The earliest bus runs at 13:20, the last at 22:10. The fastest bus covers the 403 miles (649 km) distance in 14h 59m.
Distance 403 miles (649 km) |
Average bus duration 16h 40m |
Cheapest ticket price $108 (€87) |
Buses per day 1 |
Fastest bus 14h 59m |
First bus 1:20 PM |
Last bus 10:10 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
FAQs: Bus from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
More options for your journey from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, CA
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Most popular buses to and from Santa Cruz, CA and San Diego, CA
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