The cheapest and fastest trains from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Cheapest price
$262
Average price
$262
Fastest journey
4 h 58 m
Average duration
4 h 58 m
Trains per day
1
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 $262 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $262.
Of the 1 trains that leave San Jose, CA for San Luis Obispo, CA on Wed, Nov 26, 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, Nov 26 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, Nov 26 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.
11 Coast Starlight
11 Coast StarlightTravel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight 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 €26. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 3h 41m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €26, and a flight costs an average of €94.
Distance: 157 miles (254 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight |
|---|---|---|
€58 Average price | €45 Average price Cheapest | €321 Average price |
5h 25m Average total duration 4h 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 11m Average total duration Fastest 3h 41m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 10h 41m Average total duration 7h 41m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
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, November 25. 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 | |
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, 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.
Nov 26
Nov 27
Nov 28
Nov 29
Nov 30
Dec 01
Dec 02
Why should you book San Jose to San Luis Obispo trains with Omio?
Amtrak operates all train services from San Jose to San Luis Obispo. Omio is the only official third party seller for Amtrak tickets.
Why book with Omio vs Amtrak?
- 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 Amtrak with all available travel options, which are train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from San Jose to San Luis Obispo.
Why book with Omio over Trainline and Rail Europe?
- Official reseller: Amtrak tickets can only be bought on Omio or Amtrak's website as Omio is the only official third party seller for Amtrak tickets. Trainline, RailEurope, and Rail.Ninja do not sell Amtrak tickets as they are not official sellers.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from San Jose to San Luis Obispo.
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 55m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $40 (€33) but you can travel from only $33 (€26) 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 55m |
Cheapest ticket price $40 (€33) |
Trains per day 6 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 4h 58m |
First train 00:30 |
Last train 15:05 |
Key Takeaways
Train Ticket Prices
- Budget Options: Train tickets from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA start from as low as $40 (€33) if booked well in advance.
- Standard Fares: Typically, trains cost $71 (€58) depending on the train type and class.
Journey Duration & Frequency
- On average there are 6 daily trains from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA with 1 direct service.
- The fastest trains can take as little as 4h 58m but the average duration is 4h 55m
Train Operators
- Travel from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA with Amtrak
- The most booked train company for this route on Omio is Amtrak.
Stations & Schedule
- Most trains depart from San José Diridon Station, San Jose, CA and arrive in San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA
- First train typically departs at 12:30 AM and the last at 03:05 PM
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 $33 (€26). 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
Most popular train connections from San Jose, CA
More options for your journey from San Jose, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
