The cheapest and fastest buses from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA
Cheapest price
$26
Average price
$31
Fastest journey
3 h 20 m
Average duration
3 h 35 m
Buses per day
3
Distance
191 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, 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 Monica, CA will cost around $31 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $26.
Of the 3 buses that leave San Diego, CA for Santa Monica, CA on Mon, May 18, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Mon, May 18 the direct buses cover the 191 km distance in an average of 3 h 35 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h 20 m .
On Mon, May 18 the slowest buses will take 4 h 5 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.
6:25 PM4h05San Diego, CA10:30 PMSanta Monica, CA$261One-way0 transfers
8:35 PM3h20San Diego, CA11:55 PMSanta Monica, CA$261One-way0 transfers
9:35 PM3h20San Diego, CA12:55 AMSanta Monica, CA$401One-way0 transfers
9:35 PM3h20San Diego, CA12:55 AMSanta Monica, CA$401One-way0 transfers
8:35 PM3h20San Diego, CA11:55 PMSanta Monica, CA$261One-way0 transfers
6:25 PM4h05San Diego, CA10:30 PMSanta Monica, CA$261One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus, flight, and train for San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $23. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 3h 22m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $23, and a flight costs an average of $127.
Distance: 118 miles (191 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$33 Average price Cheapest | $50 Average price | $409 Average price | $35 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 52m Average total duration Fastest 3h 22m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 8m Average total duration 4h 38m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 45m Average total duration 5h 45m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 2h 21m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA:
A bus is $17 (€14) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA costing on average $50 (€40).
A bus is $376 (€304) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA costing on average $409 (€330).
Other travel options to Santa Monica, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 38m.
Flight takes on average 5h 45m.
Tickets start at around $33 (€26) compared to roughly $35 (€29) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $3 (€2). The journey takes 3h 22m versus 2h 21m 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.
Direct services are operated by FlixBus, Infobus, Greyhound.
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.
San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:00AM | Arrival Time 05:20AM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Sat | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:35AM | Arrival Time 05:20AM | Duration 2h45 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:00AM | Arrival Time 10:40AM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 06:30AM | Arrival Time 09:30AM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $56 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:45AM | Arrival Time 10:40AM | Duration 3h55 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:55AM | Arrival Time 11:35AM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:35AM | Arrival Time 11:35AM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:45AM | Arrival Time 11:25AM | Duration 3h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 07:51AM | Arrival Time 10:56AM | Duration 3h05 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $83 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:55AM | Arrival Time 11:35AM | Duration 3h40 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 11:25AM | Duration 2h55 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:40AM | Arrival Time 12:45PM | Duration 4h05 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:55AM | Arrival Time 11:25AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:25AM | Arrival Time 12:45PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:50AM | Arrival Time 12:45PM | Duration 2h55 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 09:51AM | Arrival Time 12:56PM | Duration 3h05 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $83 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 10:45AM | Arrival Time 01:45PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $56 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 11:30AM | Arrival Time 02:30PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $56 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 11:51AM | Arrival Time 02:36PM | Duration 2h45 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $83 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:40PM | Arrival Time 04:55PM | Duration 4h15 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:10PM | Arrival Time 04:55PM | Duration 3h45 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:35PM | Arrival Time 04:55PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:45PM | Arrival Time 05:40PM | Duration 3h55 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 01:51PM | Arrival Time 04:36PM | Duration 2h45 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $83 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:45PM | Arrival Time 05:50PM | Duration 3h05 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:45PM | Arrival Time 06:40PM | Duration 3h55 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:45PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 3h35 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 03:51PM | Arrival Time 06:36PM | Duration 2h45 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $83 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:55PM | Arrival Time 05:50PM | Duration 1h55 | Departure days Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:15PM | Arrival Time 07:35PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $49 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:40PM | Arrival Time 08:45PM | Duration 4h05 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 05:51PM | Arrival Time 08:36PM | Duration 2h45 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $83 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:25PM | Arrival Time 10:30PM | Duration 4h05 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 10:20PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 07:35PM | Arrival Time 10:20PM | Duration 2h45 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:40PM | Arrival Time 11:55PM | Duration 4h15 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 07:51PM | Arrival Time 10:56PM | Duration 3h05 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $83 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 08:20PM | Arrival Time 12:20AM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $56 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:35PM | Arrival Time 11:55PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:40PM | Arrival Time 12:55AM | Duration 4h15 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:35PM | Arrival Time 12:55AM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Sun | Cheapest price $33 |
Live departures
San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA bus times
The table below shows live departures for San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA buses for today, Sunday, May 17. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:35 PM San Diego, CA | 3h20 | 11:55 PM Santa Monica, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 9:35 PM San Diego, CA | 3h20 | 12:55 AM Santa Monica, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Monday, May 18 | |||||
![]() | 6:25 PM San Diego, CA | 4h05 | 10:30 PM Santa Monica, 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 Monica, CA by bus, flight, or train
Compare bus, flight, 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.
May 18
May 19
May 20
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 24
Why should you book San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs FlixBus?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for FlixBus, but also compare tickets for the likes of Infobus or Greyhound to find the best option for your trip from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare FlixBus with all available travel options, which are bus, flight and train to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu, Trainline or Busbud?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of Infobus or Greyhound to find the best option for your trip from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus, flight and train to find the ideal travel option from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA
Buses from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA run on average 44 times per day, taking around 3h 22m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $23 (€18) if you book in advance.
There are 42 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 118 miles (191 km) distance in 1h 55m.
Distance 118 miles (191 km) |
Average bus duration 3h 22m |
Cheapest ticket price $23 (€18) |
Buses per day 44 |
Direct buses 42 |
Fastest bus 1h 55m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Apr |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 28 days |
Bus providers: FlixBus, Infobus, Greyhound from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CAYou can travel by bus between San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA with FlixBus, Infobus, Greyhound for as low as $23 (€18). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
Infobus
Greyhound
FAQs: Bus from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, 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 Monica, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- Infobus
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Transport for wheelchairs and mobility aids.
- Greyhound
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- Santa Monica Pier, an iconic landmark featuring an amusement park, aquarium, and scenic views of the Pacific Ocean
- Third Street Promenade, a bustling pedestrian street known for shopping, dining, and street performances
- Santa Monica State Beach, a popular beach offering sunbathing, swimming, and beach volleyball
- Palisades Park, a picturesque park with walking paths, ocean views, and public art installations
- Tongva Park, a modern urban park with unique landscaping, play areas, and art installations.
- Pacific Park, a family-friendly amusement park located on the Santa Monica Pier with rides and games
- Santa Monica Farmers Market, a vibrant market offering fresh produce, local goods, and live music
- Heal the Bay Aquarium, an educational marine center located under the Santa Monica Pier
- Bike along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, a scenic coastal path perfect for cycling enthusiasts
- Enjoy a sunset yoga session on Santa Monica Beach, offering a serene experience with ocean views.
- Infobus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a partial refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may incur a fee.
- Greyhound
- You can cancel your ticket for a refund or exchange up to 24 hours before departure, for a cancellation fee applied.
- FlixBus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 15 minutes before departure and receive a voucher for future travel. Refund requests for delays over 120 minutes are possible.
- Infobus
- One carry-on bag up to 5kg (40x20x25) and one checked bag up to 20kg (50x30x80).
- Greyhound
- One carry-on bag up to 25 lbs (11 kg) and one checked bag up to 50 lbs (23 kg).
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- Infobus
- 10€ per additional bag.
- Greyhound
- $15 per additional bag.
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- Infobus
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- larger pets may require a separate ticket.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from San Diego, CA to Santa Monica, CA
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