The cheapest and fastest trains from San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, CA
Cheapest price
$69
Average price
$88
Fastest journey
8 h 30 m
Average duration
8 h 44 m
Trains per day
16
Distance
431 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA will cost around $88 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $69.
Of the 16 trains that leave San Luis Obispo, CA for San Diego, CA on Thu, Nov 27, 4 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Nov 27 the direct trains cover the 431 km distance in an average of 8 h 44 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 8 h 30 m .
On Thu, Nov 27 the slowest trains will take 8 h 53 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.
774 Pacific Surfliner
794 Pacific Surfliner
774 Pacific Surfliner
794 Pacific Surfliner
4794 AMTRAK · 794 Pacific Surfliner
794 Pacific Surfliner
774 Pacific Surfliner
794 Pacific Surfliner
774 Pacific Surfliner
4770 AMTRAK · 770 Pacific SurflinerTravel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €24. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 15m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €24, and a flight costs an average of €85.
Distance: 267 miles (431 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus |
|---|---|---|
€57 Average price | €242 Average price | €50 Average price Cheapest |
9h 20m Average total duration 8h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 15m Average total duration Fastest 1h 15m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 8h 25m Average total duration 7h 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Live departures
San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, CA train times
The table below shows live departures for San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, CA trains for today, Wednesday, November 26. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4794 AMTRAK · 794 Pacific Surfliner | 10:40 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 10h24 | 9:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
11 Coast Starlight · 794 Pacific Surfliner | 11:37 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h13 | 8:50 AM Old Town Station, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
11 Coast Starlight · 794 Pacific Surfliner | 11:37 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h27 | 9:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
| Thursday, November 27 | |||||
794 Pacific Surfliner | 12:20 AM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 8h30 | 8:50 AM Old Town Station, San Diego, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
794 Pacific Surfliner | 12:20 AM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 8h44 | 9:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
4770 AMTRAK · 770 Pacific Surfliner | 11:45 AM San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h22 | 9:07 PM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
4770 AMTRAK · 770 Pacific Surfliner | 12:00 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 8h53 | 8:53 PM Old Town Station, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
4770 AMTRAK · 770 Pacific Surfliner | 12:00 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h07 | 9:07 PM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
774 Pacific Surfliner | 2:11 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 8h53 | 11:04 PM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
774 Pacific Surfliner | 2:11 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 8h39 | 10:50 PM Old Town Station, San Diego, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
4784 AMTRAK · 784 Pacific Surfliner | 6:15 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h49 | 4:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
4784 AMTRAK · 784 Pacific Surfliner | 6:35 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h15 | 3:50 AM Old Town Station, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
4784 AMTRAK · 784 Pacific Surfliner | 6:35 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h29 | 4:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
4790 AMTRAK · 790 Pacific Surfliner | 9:20 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h44 | 7:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
4790 AMTRAK · 790 Pacific Surfliner | 9:35 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h13 | 6:48 AM Old Town Station, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
4790 AMTRAK · 790 Pacific Surfliner | 9:35 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 9h29 | 7:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA | 1 transfer | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, 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.
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Dec 01
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Dec 03
Why should you book San Luis Obispo to San Diego trains with Omio?
Amtrak operates all train services from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. 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 Luis Obispo to San Diego.
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 Luis Obispo to San Diego.
Journey information
Overview: Train from San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, CA
Trains from San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, CA run on average 15 times per day, taking around 8h 50m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $61 (€50) but you can travel from only $30 (€24) by bus.
There are 3 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 03:45, the last at 16:40. The fastest train covers the 267 miles (431 km) distance in 8h 40m.
Distance 267 miles (431 km) |
Average train duration 8h 50m |
Cheapest ticket price $61 (€50) |
Trains per day 15 |
Direct trains 3 |
Fastest train 8h 40m |
First train 03:45 |
Last train 16:40 |
Train companies: Amtrak from San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, CA trainsAmtrak trains will get you between San Luis Obispo, CA and San Diego, CA from $30 (€24). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
FAQs: Trains from San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, 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 Diego, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from San Luis Obispo, CA to San Diego, 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
- 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- Parking is available nearby with various public and private options.
- The Fish Market
- Karl Strauss Brewing Company
- Outside the main entrance.
- Ramps.
- $1.25
- The Westin San Diego
- The Guild Hotel, San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
- Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego Bay Downtown
- Located in the main hall
- Enterprise
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platforms for Amtrak and Coaster trains
- Hall 2: Trolley connections
- San Diego Trolley: Blue Line, Green Line
- Bus: Several lines available
- Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
- 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- Parking is available with several spaces for commuters and visitors.
- Casa Guadalajara
- Old Town Mexican Cafe
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps.
- $0.25
- Old Town Inn
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott San Diego Old Town
- Best Western Plus Hacienda Hotel Old Town
- Located in the main hall
- Enterprise
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platforms for Amtrak and Coaster trains
- Hall 2: Trolley connections
- Trolley: Green Line
- Bus: Several lines available including 8, 9, 10, 28, 30, 35, 44, 88, 105, 150, 923, 928
Most popular train connections from San Luis Obispo, CA
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