The cheapest and fastest trains from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Cheapest price
$60
Average price
$65
Fastest journey
4 h 58 m
Average duration
4 h 58 m
Trains per day
2
Distance
254 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from San Jose, 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 Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA will cost around $65 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $60.
Of the 2 trains that leave San Jose, CA for San Luis Obispo, CA on Wed, Jun 17, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, Jun 17 the direct trains cover the 254 km distance in an average of 4 h 58 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 58 m .
On Wed, Jun 17 the slowest trains will take 4 h 58 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.
6:26 PM4h58San Jose, CA11:24 PMSan Luis Obispo, CA$601One-way0 transfers
5:26 PM4h58San Jose, CA10:24 PMSan Luis Obispo, CA$691One-way0 transfers
6:26 PM4h58San Jose, CA11:24 PMSan Luis Obispo, CA$601One-way0 transfers
5:26 PM4h58San Jose, CA10:24 PMSan Luis Obispo, CA$691One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $35. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 3h 48m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $35, and a train costs an average of $39.
Distance: 157 miles (254 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$101 Average price | $64 Average price Cheapest | $38 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 28m Average total duration 4h 58m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 18m Average total duration Fastest 3h 48m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 44m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA:
A bus is $37 (€30) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA costing on average $101 (€82).
Other travel options to San Luis Obispo, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 58m.
Tickets start at around $101 (€82) compared to roughly $38 (€31) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $-63.06 (€-51.10). The journey takes 4h 58m versus 2h 44m 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 Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA train times
The table below shows live departures for San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA trains for today, Tuesday, June 16. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 5:26 PM San Jose, CA | 4h58 | 10:24 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 6:26 PM San Jose, CA | 4h58 | 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 Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA by train or bus
Compare train and bus 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 17
Jun 18
Jun 19
Jun 20
Jun 21
Jun 22
Jun 23
Journey information
Overview: Train from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Trains from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA run on average 6 times per day, taking around 4h 58m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $39 (€32) but you can travel from only $35 (€28) by bus.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:30, the last at 15:05. The fastest train covers the 157 miles (254 km) distance in 4h 58m.
Distance 157 miles (254 km) |
Average train duration 4h 58m |
Cheapest ticket price $39 (€32) |
Trains per day 6 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 4h 58m |
First train 12:30 AM |
Last train 3:05 PM |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 7 days |
Train companies: Amtrak from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA trainsAmtrak trains will get you between San Jose, CA and San Luis Obispo, CA from $35 (€28). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
FAQs: Trains from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Jose, 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 Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Parking is available 7 days a week, with multiple lots surrounding the station.
- The Farmers Union
- Poor House Bistro
- La Victoria Taqueria
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
- $0.50
- Hotel De Anza
- The Westin San Jose
- AC Hotel by Marriott San Jose Downtown
- Located in the main hall
- Enterprise
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- The station has a main hall with ticketing and waiting areas, platforms for Caltrain, Amtrak, and ACE services, and connections to VTA buses and light rail.
- Bus: VTA Bus Lines 22, 64A, 64B, 68, 168, 181
- Light Rail: VTA Green Line
- Caltrain
- Amtrak
- ACE
- 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
More options for your journey from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
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