- Must visit
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
A renowned fusion of zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and natural history museum focused on the Sonoran Desert. It is one of Tucson’s signature attractions and excellent for understanding local desert
Cheapest price
$126
Average price
$155
Fastest journey
10 h 25 m
Average duration
11 h 35 m
Buses per day
17
Distance
587 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson, AZ will cost around $155 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $126.
It's difficult to get from San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ without transferring at least once.
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Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $85. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 27m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $85, and a flight costs an average of $179.
Distance: 364 miles (587 km)
Most popular Bus | Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$138 Average price | $119 Average price Cheapest | $364 Average price | $83 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
13h 38m Average total duration 13h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 14h 2m Average total duration 13h 32m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 27m Average total duration Fastest 2h 27m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 5h 38m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ:
A train is $19 (€15) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ costing on average $138 (€113).
A train is $245 (€201) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ costing on average $364 (€298).
Other travel options to Tucson, AZ take longer:
Bus takes on average 13h 8m.
Train takes on average 13h 32m.
You'll arrive about {timeSavings} sooner ({durationInMinutes} by bus vs {drivingDurationInMinutes} by car) and save roughly {savingsAmount} compared to fuel and tolls ({cheapestPrice} vs {drivingPriceInCents}). 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 {directProviders}.
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 Greyhound | Departure Time 02:35AM | Arrival Time 04:40PM | Duration 14h05 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $193 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:40AM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 13h30 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:55AM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 12h15 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $81 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:35AM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 13h45 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $71 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:15AM | Arrival Time 08:15PM | Duration 11h00 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $81 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:25AM | Arrival Time 04:35AM | Duration 19h10 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:50AM | Arrival Time 08:15PM | Duration 10h25 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $71 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 12:40PM | Arrival Time 04:35AM | Duration 15h55 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $81 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:10PM | Arrival Time 04:35AM | Duration 15h25 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:45PM | Arrival Time 11:35AM | Duration 21h50 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $121 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:45PM | Arrival Time 12:35PM | Duration 21h50 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $156 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 04:25PM | Arrival Time 11:35AM | Duration 19h10 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $93 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 07:10PM | Arrival Time 09:40AM | Duration 14h30 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $82 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 07:55PM | Arrival Time 09:40AM | Duration 13h45 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 08:10PM | Arrival Time 11:35AM | Duration 15h25 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $74 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:10PM | Arrival Time 12:35PM | Duration 15h25 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $158 |
The table below shows live departures for San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ buses for today, Friday, June 19. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
· | 7:10 PM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 14h30 | 9:40 AM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 1 transfer | |
· | 7:55 PM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 13h45 | 9:40 AM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 1 transfer | |
| Saturday, June 20 | |||||
FlixBus · FlixBus+![]() | 5:40 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 16h20 | 10:00 PM Tucson, E Broadway Blvd (Dave's Hot Chicken Parking Lot), AZ | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus+![]() | 5:40 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 13h30 | 7:10 PM Tuscon, University of Arizona Transportation Office, AZ | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+![]() | 5:40 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 15h40 | 9:20 PM Tucson, Downtown, AZ | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 6:55 AM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 12h15 | 7:10 PM Tuscon, University of Arizona Transportation Office, AZ | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 6:55 AM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 15h05 | 10:00 PM Tucson, E Broadway Blvd (Dave's Hot Chicken Parking Lot), AZ | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 6:55 AM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 14h25 | 9:20 PM Tucson, Downtown, AZ | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 7:35 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 13h45 | 9:20 PM Tucson, Downtown, AZ | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 7:35 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 11h35 | 7:10 PM Tuscon, University of Arizona Transportation Office, AZ | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 7:35 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 14h25 | 10:00 PM Tucson, E Broadway Blvd (Dave's Hot Chicken Parking Lot), AZ | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+![]() | 7:35 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 12h40 | 8:15 PM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 2 transfers | |
· | 9:15 AM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 11h00 | 8:15 PM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+![]() | 9:25 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 19h10 | 4:35 AM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 2 transfers | |
· | 9:50 AM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA | 10h25 | 8:15 PM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus+![]() | 12:40 PM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center | 15h55 | 4:35 AM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus+![]() | 1:10 PM San Diego, West Harbor Drive (The Headquarters at Seaport District), CA | 15h25 | 4:35 AM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 1 transfer | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, 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.
Buses from San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ run on average 16 times per day, taking around 13h 8m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $74 (€60) if you book in advance.
The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:20. The fastest bus covers the 364 miles (587 km) distance in 10h 15m.
Distance 364 miles (587 km) |
Average bus duration 13h 8m |
Cheapest ticket price $74 (€60) |
Buses per day 16 |
Fastest bus 10h 15m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:20 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 21 days |
Discover the best of Tucson — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Tucson trip today.
A renowned fusion of zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and natural history museum focused on the Sonoran Desert. It is one of Tucson’s signature attractions and excellent for understanding local desert
One of the largest non-government aviation museums in the world, displaying hundreds of aircraft indoors and outdoors. It is especially popular with aviation enthusiasts and families visiting Tucson.
The city’s leading art museum, with collections spanning Latin American, Western, Indigenous, and contemporary art in the historic El Presidio area. A strong choice for both major exhibitions and a
A scenic desert canyon area with paved and unpaved trails, mountain views, and classic Sonoran scenery. It is one of Tucson’s top outdoor destinations and especially popular for walking and photograp
A spectacular desert landscape filled with iconic saguaro cacti, scenic drives, and hiking trails. It is one of the defining Tucson experiences and a priority for first-time visitors.
Known for dense saguaro forests and excellent sunset views, this section of the park is especially photogenic and widely featured on social media. It is a top outdoor stop near the Arizona-Sonora Dese
A bacon-wrapped hot dog in a bolillo roll, typically topped with beans, onions, tomatoes, mustard, mayo, and jalapeo salsa. It is one of Tucsons signature borderlands street foods.
Air-dried beef, often shredded and served with eggs, chiltepin, or in burritos and plates. It is a hallmark of Sonoran cooking and strongly associated with Tucson.
An open-faced flour tortilla baked until crisp and topped with melted cheese, sometimes with green chiles. This simple dish is a long-standing Tucson and Arizona favorite.
Upscale dining with desert views, known for Southwestern ingredients, polished service, and a romantic hacienda setting. Good choice for a fine dining meal in Tucson.
Well-known downtown spot celebrated for refined Mexican cooking, colorful presentations, and an intimate atmosphere. A long-time favorite for distinctive regional flavors.
Popular casual venue serving regional Mexican dishes with Sonoran influences, including tacos, bowls, and breakfast. Relaxed atmosphere and consistently well-liked food.
Tucson is generally affordable by U.S. city standards, with reasonable food costs and many mid-priced hotels.
Tip 15-20% in restaurants; 20% for great service. Tip bartenders USD 1-2 per drink, taxi and rideshare drivers 10-15%, and round up for cafes.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson, AZ, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ buses use the San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park) to Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) station pair, with some services arriving at Tucson, Downtown. Use this guide to compare San Diego, CA and Tucson, AZ 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