San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA bus with FlixBus

Bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles

There are nine buses per day running down through California from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The fastest bus completes the journey in about 8h 50min, while the slowest options arrive after about 16h 45min. The providers on this route are Amtrak, Greyhound, and FlixBus. When departing from San Francisco, the departure station is Transbay Transit Center in Salesforce Plaza at the intersection of Mission Street and Fremont Street. Arrival stations in Los Angeles are Union Station and Los Angeles Bus Station at the intersection of East 7th Street and Decatur Street.

San Francisco to Los Angeles Bus Time: Daily Departures

There are nine total options per day to travel via bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The first bus departs at around 8:45 a.m. from the San Francisco Transit Center, arriving at Los Angeles Bus Station at the intersection of East 7th Street and Decatur Street around 5:30 p.m. This journey lasts about 8h 50min and is operated by Greyhound Lines. The final bus of the day departs around 10:30 p.m. from Transbay Transit Center in Salesforce Plaza at the intersection of Mission Street and Fremont Street. It arrives at Union Station in Los Angeles after about 11h at approximately 9:30 a.m. on the following day, and is operated by Amtrak. Greyhound operates five of the buses per day, with Amtrak and FlixBus each operating two buses per day.

How long is the journey by bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

The total duration of your journey will depend on the departure time and bus operator that you select. The fastest bus departs around 9:30 p.m. and completes the journey in about 8h 45min. It leaves from Transbay Transit Center and is operated by Greyhound Lines. There is no change required for this bus, though others on this route require one or two changes. The second-fastest bus of the day is also operated by Greyhound, departing from San Francisco Transit Center around 4:15 p.m. and arriving about 1:00 a.m. after 8h 50min.

San Francisco Lights. Source: Shutterstock

What is/are the departure and arrival stations for buses from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

Departure bus station: The departure station for buses from San Francisco to Los Angeles is Transbay Transit Center in Salesforce Plaza at the intersection of Mission Street and Fremont Street. It connects with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) lines and Muni Metro, so you can access the station from throughout the Bay Area and avoid leaving a vehicle at the station. The station features a five acre rooftop park the length of four blocks, numerous pieces of public artwork, nearly 300 digital displays to support travelers finding their way, self-service kiosks and ticketing counters, a rotating array of food trucks, pop-up retail shops, carts and cafes, shopping and dining options, free Wi-Fi, restrooms, and bike lockers.

Arrival bus station:The arrival station for buses from San Francisco to Los Angeles is Union Station, located on Alameda Street in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. It is the largest passenger terminal in the Western United States, serving almost 110,000 travelers each day. It connects with Amtrak routes, Metrolink, Metro Rail, Metro Busway, and other private bus companies. The station features granite seating sculptures, glass mosaics, decorative murals, and wall-mounted electronic art.

Which bus companies travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

There are three companies operating buses from San Francisco to Los Angeles - Greyhound Lines, Amtrak, and FlixBus. Greyhound operates five of the nine buses per day, with Amtrak and FlixBus each operating two buses per day.

Greyhound buses from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Greyhound Lines operates five buses per day from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The first departs at around 8:45 a.m. and arrives in Los Angeles at about 5:35 p.m. after 8h 50min. The final Greyhound bus of the day leaves from San Francisco around 9:30 p.m. and arrives in L.A. at about 6:15 a.m. after a 8h 45min journey.

Amtrak buses from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Amtrak operates two buses per day from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The first departs at around 10:20 a.m. and arrives in Los Angeles at about 9:50 p.m. after 11h 30min. The final Amtrak bus of the day leaves from San Francisco around 10:30 p.m. and arrives in L.A. at about 9:35 a.m. after a 11h 5min journey.

Flixbus buses from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Flixbus operates two buses per day from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The first departs at around 9:55 p.m. and arrives in Los Angeles at about 5:00 a.m. after 16h 5min on the following day. The final Flixbus bus of the day leaves from San Francisco around 9:55 p.m. and arrives in L.A. at about 5:40 a.m. after a 16h 5min journey.

San Francisco Troley. Source: Shutterstock

Bus San Francisco to Los Angeles: Services on Board

All travelers on a Greyhound, Amtrak, or Flixbus bus can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi and charging outlets o their seats to keep devices powered through the journey. There are restrooms available on every bus, plus storage space over seats or beneath the bus for luggage. Each passenger can bring three pieces of luggage that are stored under the bus, usuall larger or heavier items, plus an additional piece of luggage that can be stored in overhead storage, generally the smaller and lighter items.

Oversized items - bikes, skis, golf clubs, etc. - are permitted, but require an additional fee to store under the bus. However, strollers and car seats do not require the payment of an additional fee. Each of these companies provide support for travelers with disabilities, which should be arranged in advance by contacting the provider after purchasing your tickets. Pets are not allowed on board except documented guide dogs.

How to find cheap bus tickets from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

When you are looking for bus tickets to get from San Francisco, Omio is the best tool you can use to find cheap tickets that match your schedule. Using the Omio search tools and filters, you can sort your search results according to provider, departure and arrival stations, price range, and plenty of other ways to customize your search. You can even sort the results according to cheapest, fastest, or a combination of both. When you find a great deal, consider booking in advance to ensure the price does not increase.

Omio also offers the ability to search a range of dates simultaneously, so consider being flexible with your travel dates. The slower buses are generally less expensive, so consider choosing buses that have a longer duration of travel along with changes in the middle of the journey.

To Los Angeles by bus—travel tips

Considering a journey to Los Angeles, and looking for something that will push you over the edge? The City of Stars earned a variety of nicknames for a reason, from LaLa Land to Tinseltown. One of the allures of this major city is the possibility of walking down the street and rubbing shoulders with celebrities or famous athletes. To really increase your odds, catch a Lakers game at Staples Center to see Lebron James and Anthony Davis, or visit Dodgers Stadium for a baseball game and see the 2020 World Series Champions.

If you are looking for a way to keep the kids happy, look no further than the Happiest Place on Earth - Disneyland. From Space Mountain to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, this theme park is sure to have something that your entire family will love. You simply cannot go wrong with a visit to L.A.