The cheapest and fastest buses from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA
Cheapest price
$48
Average price
$86
Fastest journey
5 h 15 m
Average duration
5 h 50 m
Buses per day
9
Distance
315 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA will cost around $86 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $48.
Of the 9 buses that leave San Luis Obispo, CA for Oakland, CA on Mon, Jun 01, 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Mon, Jun 01 the direct buses cover the 315 km distance in an average of 5 h 50 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 15 m .
On Mon, Jun 01 the slowest buses will take 6 h 11 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.
FlixBus1:05 PM5h15San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum), CA6:20 PMOakland, West Oakland BART Station, CA$481One-way0 transfers
6238 AMTRAK · 538 Capitol Corridor10:15 AM5h45San Luis Obispo, CA4:00 PMOakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA$851One-way1 transfer
4761 AMTRAK · 544 Capitol Corridor12:30 PM6h03San Luis Obispo, CA6:33 PMOakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA$851One-way1 transfer
4761 AMTRAK · 550 Capitol Corridor12:30 PM7h33San Luis Obispo, CA8:03 PMOakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA$851One-way1 transfer
6238 AMTRAK · 538 Capitol Corridor10:05 AM5h55San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA4:00 PMOakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA$911One-way1 transfer
FlixBus1:05 PM5h15San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum), CA6:20 PMOakland, West Oakland BART Station, CA$481One-way0 transfers
6238 AMTRAK · 538 Capitol Corridor10:15 AM5h45San Luis Obispo, CA4:00 PMOakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA$851One-way1 transfer
6238 AMTRAK · 538 Capitol Corridor10:05 AM5h55San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA4:00 PMOakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA$911One-way1 transfer
4761 AMTRAK · 544 Capitol Corridor12:30 PM6h03San Luis Obispo, CA6:33 PMOakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA$851One-way1 transfer
4765 AMTRAK · 14 Coast Starlight2:55 PM6h11San Luis Obispo, CA9:06 PMOakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA$991One-way1 transfer
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $46. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 4h 17m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $46, and a flight costs an average of $578.
Distance: 195 miles (315 km)
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$70 Average price Cheapest | $73 Average price | $578 Average price | $46 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 24m Average total duration 4h 54m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 37m Average total duration 6h 7m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 17m Average total duration Fastest 4h 17m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 3h 26m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | 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 San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA:
A bus is $3 (€3) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA costing on average $73 (€59).
A bus is $509 (€410) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA costing on average $578 (€466).
Other travel options to Oakland, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 54m.
Train takes on average 6h 7m.
You'll arrive about -2h -28m sooner (4h 54m by bus vs 3h 26m by car) and save roughly $-23.33 (€-18.78) compared to fuel and tolls ($70 (€56) vs $46 (€37)). 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 FlixBus.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 10:05AM | Arrival Time 04:00PM | Duration 5h55 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $91 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 10:15AM | Arrival Time 04:00PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $85 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 06:33PM | Duration 6h13 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $91 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 12:30PM | Arrival Time 06:33PM | Duration 6h03 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $85 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:05PM | Arrival Time 06:20PM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $48 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 02:45PM | Arrival Time 09:06PM | Duration 6h21 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $104 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 02:55PM | Arrival Time 09:06PM | Duration 6h11 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $99 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:05PM | Arrival Time 08:45PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $55 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 07:30PM | Arrival Time 03:03AM | Duration 7h33 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $84 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:00PM | Arrival Time 01:05AM | Duration 5h05 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $74 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 08:30PM | Arrival Time 04:03AM | Duration 7h33 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $84 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:30PM | Arrival Time 01:35AM | Duration 5h05 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $53 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:30PM | Arrival Time 02:35AM | Duration 5h05 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $48 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:05PM | Arrival Time 03:45AM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $55 |
Live departures
San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA bus times
The table below shows live departures for San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA buses for today, Sunday, May 31. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4761 AMTRAK · 744 Capitol Corridor | 12:20 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 5h36 | 5:56 PM Oakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA | 1 transfer | |
4761 AMTRAK · 746 Capitol Corridor | 12:20 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 6h39 | 6:59 PM Oakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA | 1 transfer | |
4761 AMTRAK · 746 Capitol Corridor | 12:30 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 6h29 | 6:59 PM Oakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA | 1 transfer | |
4761 AMTRAK · 744 Capitol Corridor | 12:30 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 5h26 | 5:56 PM Oakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 1:05 PM San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum), CA | 5h15 | 6:20 PM Oakland, West Oakland BART Station, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
4765 AMTRAK · 748 Capitol Corridor | 2:45 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 6h24 | 9:09 PM Oakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA | 1 transfer | |
4765 AMTRAK · 14 Coast Starlight | 2:45 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 6h21 | 9:06 PM Oakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA | 1 transfer | |
4765 AMTRAK · 14 Coast Starlight | 2:55 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 6h11 | 9:06 PM Oakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA | 1 transfer | |
4765 AMTRAK · 748 Capitol Corridor | 2:55 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 6h14 | 9:09 PM Oakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 4:05 PM San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Ave / High St (San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum), CA | 4h40 | 8:45 PM Oakland, West Oakland BART Station, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA by train, bus, or flight
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.
Jun 01
Jun 02
Jun 03
Jun 04
Jun 05
Jun 06
Jun 07
Why should you book San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs FlixBus?
- 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 train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu or Trainline?
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA
Buses from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA run on average 9 times per day, taking around 4h 54m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $46 (€37) 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 40m.
Distance 195 miles (315 km) |
Average bus duration 4h 54m |
Cheapest ticket price $46 (€37) |
Buses per day 9 |
Direct buses 1 |
Fastest bus 4h 40m |
First bus 6:00 AM |
Last bus 4:10 PM |
Cheapest Month Aug |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 5 days |
Bus providers: FlixBus from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CAYou can travel by bus between San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA with FlixBus for as low as $46 (€37). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
FAQs: Bus from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, 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 Oakland, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- Lake Merritt, a large tidal lagoon offering scenic walking paths and boating activities
- Oakland Museum of California, a museum dedicated to the art, history, and natural sciences of California
- Jack London Square, a waterfront area with dining, shopping, and entertainment options
- Redwood Regional Park, a vast park with hiking trails through towering redwood trees
- Chabot Space and Science Center, an interactive museum with planetarium shows and telescopes for stargazing.
- Visit the vibrant Temescal Alley, known for its unique shops and eateries
- Explore the historic USS Potomac, Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Floating White House"
- Enjoy a performance at the Fox Theater, a beautifully restored 1920s movie palace
- Discover the diverse flavors at the Oakland First Fridays street festival
- Take a scenic bike ride along the Bay Trail, offering stunning views of the San Francisco Bay.
- 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.
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA
Most popular bus connections from San Luis Obispo, CA
More options for your journey from San Luis Obispo, CA to Oakland, CA
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