- Must visit
Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT)
Tijuana’s flagship cultural complex with art exhibitions, a museum space, performances, and the landmark dome theater. A key stop for understanding the city’s cultural identity.
Cheapest price
$36
Average price
$40
Fastest journey
3 h 45 m
Average duration
3 h 45 m
Buses per day
2
Distance
160 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Santa Ana, CA to Tijuana is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Santa Ana, CA to Tijuana will cost around $40 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $36.
Of the 2 buses that leave Santa Ana, CA for Tijuana on Sun, Jul 12, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sun, Jul 12 the direct buses cover the 160 km distance in an average of 3 h 45 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h 45 m .
On Sun, Jul 12 the slowest buses will take 3 h 45 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.




Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Santa Ana, CA to Tijuana among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $31. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 2h 4m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $31, and a bus costs an average of $28.
Distance: 99 miles (160 km)
Most popular Bus | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$44 Average price | $32 Average price Cheapest | $1 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 12m Average total duration 3h 42m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 34m Average total duration Fastest 2h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 51m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Ana, CA to Tijuana:
A train is $12 (€9) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Santa Ana, CA to Tijuana costing on average $44 (€36).
Other travel options to Tijuana take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 42m.
You'll arrive about -2h -51m sooner (3h 42m by bus vs 1h 51m by car) and save roughly $-42.47 (€-34.92) compared to fuel and tolls ($44 (€36) vs $1 (€0.91)). 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 Greyhound.
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 Futura Net | Departure Time 06:24AM | Arrival Time 08:49AM | Duration 2h25 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator Futura Net | Departure Time 08:39AM | Arrival Time 11:04AM | Duration 2h25 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 02:05PM | Duration 4h05 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator Futura Net | Departure Time 10:59AM | Arrival Time 01:24PM | Duration 2h25 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:35PM | Arrival Time 08:15PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator Futura Net | Departure Time 02:39PM | Arrival Time 05:04PM | Duration 2h25 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sun | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator Futura Net | Departure Time 05:09PM | Arrival Time 07:34PM | Duration 2h25 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 10:05PM | Duration 4h05 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sun | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator Futura Net | Departure Time 07:09PM | Arrival Time 09:34PM | Duration 2h25 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator Futura Net | Departure Time 09:09PM | Arrival Time 11:34PM | Duration 2h25 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:35PM | Arrival Time 02:50AM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue | Cheapest price $44 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:35PM | Arrival Time 03:50AM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue | Cheapest price $41 |
The table below shows live departures for Santa Ana, CA to Tijuana buses for today, Saturday, July 11. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 6:24 AM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 8:49 AM Tijuana, Calle Ing. Juan Ojeda Robles | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 6:24 AM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 8:49 AM Tijuana, Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto) | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 8:39 AM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 11:04 AM Tijuana, Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto) | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 8:39 AM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 11:04 AM Tijuana, Calle Ing. Juan Ojeda Robles | 0 transfersDirect | |
· | 10:00 AM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 4h05 | 2:05 PM Tijuana, Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas (Hotel City Express) | 1 transfer | |
· | 10:00 AM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 4h20 | 2:20 PM Tijuana, Plaza El Mexicano | 1 transfer | |
· | 10:00 AM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 3h45 | 1:45 PM Tijuana, Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto) | 1 transfer | |
0 | 10:59 AM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 1:24 PM Tijuana, Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto) | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 10:59 AM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 1:24 PM Tijuana, Calle Ing. Juan Ojeda Robles | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus+![]() | 2:35 PM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 5h15 | 7:50 PM Tijuana, Plaza El Mexicano | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus+![]() | 2:35 PM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 5h40 | 8:15 PM Tijuana, Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus+![]() | 2:35 PM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 6h00 | 8:35 PM Tijuana, Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas (Hotel City Express) | 1 transfer | |
0 | 2:39 PM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 5:04 PM Tijuana, Calle Ing. Juan Ojeda Robles | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 2:39 PM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 5:04 PM Tijuana, Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto) | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 5:09 PM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 7:34 PM Tijuana, Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto) | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 5:09 PM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 7:34 PM Tijuana, Calle Ing. Juan Ojeda Robles | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 7:09 PM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 9:34 PM Tijuana, Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto) | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 7:09 PM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 9:34 PM Tijuana, Calle Ing. Juan Ojeda Robles | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 9:09 PM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 11:34 PM Tijuana, Calle Ing. Juan Ojeda Robles | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 9:09 PM Santa Ana, CA | 2h25 | 11:34 PM Tijuana, Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare bus 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.
Buses from Santa Ana, CA to Tijuana run on average 7 times per day, taking around 3h 42m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $28 (€23) if you book in advance.
There are 3 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:30, the last at 22:05. The fastest bus covers the 99 miles (160 km) distance in 3h 45m.
Distance 99 miles (160 km) |
Average bus duration 3h 42m |
Cheapest ticket price $28 (€23) |
Buses per day 7 |
Direct buses 3 |
Fastest bus 3h 45m |
First bus 12:30 AM |
Last bus 10:05 PM |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 3 days |
Discover the best of Tijuana — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Tijuana trip today.
Tijuana’s flagship cultural complex with art exhibitions, a museum space, performances, and the landmark dome theater. A key stop for understanding the city’s cultural identity.
Regional history museum inside CECUT covering the natural, indigenous, colonial, and modern history of Baja California. Well curated and especially useful for first-time visitors.
Contemporary art museum building within CECUT known for rotating exhibitions by Mexican and international artists. Strong choice for modern art fans.
Tijuana’s most famous street, lined with shops, nightlife, public art, and historic tourist culture. Essential for first-time visitors and still highly active.
Beach district at the edge of the city with a seaside boardwalk, ocean views, and a relaxed atmosphere distinct from downtown Tijuana.
A creative pedestrian passage known for murals, design shops, and a more contemporary local vibe. Popular with younger visitors and social media users.
The original Caesar salad was created in Tijuana. It is a tableside-tossed salad of romaine, croutons, Parmesan, egg-based dressing, and Worcestershire, and it remains one of the city’s signature food
Slow-cooked beef birria folded into tacos, often served with rich consommé for dipping. It is a beloved Baja street food and a popular late-night and weekend staple in Tijuana.
Tijuana’s red-marinated pork tacos, shaved from a vertical spit and served on small corn tortillas with salsa, onion, and cilantro. They are among the city’s most iconic everyday eats.
Historic dining room famous for the original Caesar salad, with classic service and an old-school atmosphere in central Tijuana.
Acclaimed contemporary Baja restaurant by chef Javier Plascencia, known for refined regional ingredients, creative plates, and polished modern dining.
Widely known taqueria celebrated for adobada and asada tacos, with a busy local feel and one of the city’s most recognized late-night taco stops.
Prices are generally lower than in many U.S. border cities. Street food is cheap, while hotels and upscale dining vary by area.
Tip 10-15% in restaurants if service is not included. Round up for taxis. Small tips are appreciated for hotel staff, bartenders, and delivery drivers.
Official public transport app
Tijuana Terminal de Autobuses (Aeropuerto), Tijuana -> Zona Centro, Tijuana
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Santa Ana, CA to Tijuana 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 Tijuana, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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