The cheapest and fastest trains from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Cheapest price
$90
Average price
$90
Fastest journey
6 h 45 m
Average duration
6 h 45 m
Trains per day
1
Distance
319 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA will cost around $90 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $90.
Of the 1 trains that leave San Francisco, CA for San Luis Obispo, CA on Wed, May 27, 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, May 27 the direct trains cover the 319 km distance in an average of 6 h 45 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 6 h 45 m .
On Wed, May 27 the slowest trains will take 6 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.
11 Coast Starlight8:39 AM6h45Emeryville station, Emeryville, CA3:24 PMSan Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA$901One-way0 transfers
11 Coast Starlight8:39 AM6h45Emeryville station, Emeryville, CA3:24 PMSan Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA$901One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $38. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 55m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $38, and a flight costs an average of $189.
Distance: 198 miles (319 km)
Compare train with
| Train | Most popular Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$73 Average price | $72 Average price Cheapest | $430 Average price | $48 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
7h 14m Average total duration 6h 44m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 42m Average total duration 5h 12m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 55m Average total duration Fastest 1h 55m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 3h 29m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA:
A bus is $2 (€1) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA costing on average $73 (€59).
A bus is $358 (€289) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA costing on average $430 (€347).
Other travel options to San Luis Obispo, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 5h 12m.
Train takes on average 6h 44m.
Tickets start at around $73 (€59) compared to roughly $48 (€39) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $-25.00 (€-20.16). The journey takes 6h 44m versus 3h 29m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
Live departures
San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA train times
The table below shows live departures for San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA trains for today, Tuesday, May 26. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 3:39 PM San Francisco, CA | 6h45 | 10:24 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 4:18 PM San Francisco, CA | 8h12 | 12:30 AM San Luis Obispo, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 4:39 PM San Francisco, CA | 6h45 | 11:24 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, 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.
May 27
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Journey information
Overview: Train from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Trains from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA run on average 5 times per day, taking around 6h 44m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $48 (€39) but you can travel from only $38 (€30) by bus.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 06:10, the last at 15:05. The fastest train covers the 198 miles (319 km) distance in 6h 45m.
Distance 198 miles (319 km) |
Average train duration 6h 44m |
Cheapest ticket price $48 (€39) |
Trains per day 5 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 6h 45m |
First train 6:10 AM |
Last train 3:05 PM |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Best time to book 1 day |
Train companies: Amtrak, Caltrain from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA trainsAmtrak, Caltrain trains will get you between San Francisco, CA and San Luis Obispo, CA from $38 (€30). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
Caltrain
FAQs: Trains from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at San Luis Obispo, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- Parking is available on-site with both short-term and long-term options.
- Novo Restaurant & Lounge
- Firestone Grill
- Outside the main entrance.
- $1
- Apple Farm Inn
- Hotel San Luis Obispo
- Granada Hotel & Bistro
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- The station has a single platform with a waiting area and ticketing services.
- Bus: SLO Transit Route 1A, 1B, 3, 4, 5
- RTA Route 9
Most popular train connections from San Francisco, CA
More options for your journey from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
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