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Travel Information
Compare bus and train for Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of $32 For those with little time, consider booking a bus, which has an average total journey time of 2h 20m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $32, while a bus costs an average of $46.
Distance: 77 miles (125 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$32 Average price Cheapest | $46 Average price | $25 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 27m Average total duration 1h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 20m Average total duration Fastest 1h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 25m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Compare ways to travel from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA
Compare the available ways to get from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA:
A train is $14 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average $46.
Other travel options to San Diego, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 2h 27m.
Tickets start at around $32 compared to roughly $25 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about -$6. The journey takes 1h 57m versus 1h 25m 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.
Travel optionsfrom Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA
How to get from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- 562 Pacific Surfliner
7:12 AM 1h52 Irvine Transportation Center, Irvine, CA 9:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA $31 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
- 562 Pacific Surfliner
7:12 AM 1h52 Irvine Transportation Center, Irvine, CA 9:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA $31 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
- 0
6:29 AM 1h05 Costa Mesa, CA 7:34 AM San Diego, CA $43 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
- 794 Pacific Surfliner
11:12 PM 1h52 Irvine Transportation Center, Irvine, CA 1:04 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA $31 1 One-way 0 transfers - 564 Pacific Surfliner
8:12 AM 1h55 Irvine Transportation Center, Irvine, CA 10:07 AM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA $31 1 One-way 0 transfers - 770 Pacific Surfliner
11:12 AM 1h55 Irvine Transportation Center, Irvine, CA 1:07 PM Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA $31 1 One-way 0 transfers
- 0
5:14 PM 1h35 Costa Mesa, CA 6:49 PM San Diego, CA $50 1 One-way 0 transfers - 0
8:44 AM 1h35 Costa Mesa, CA 10:19 AM San Diego, CA $50 1 One-way 0 transfers - 0
11:14 AM 1h35 Costa Mesa, CA 12:49 PM San Diego, CA $50 1 One-way 0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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FAQs: Travel from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA
Travel to San Diego, CA easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA.
This is compared to other travel options from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA:
A train is $14 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average $46.
Other travel options to San Diego, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 2h 27m.
- Around 34 trains per day.
- Around 16 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Costa Mesa, CA and San Diego, CA as scheduled services by bus and train can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Santa Ana Station, Santa Ana, CA and arrive in Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA.
- Buses mostly depart from Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) and arrive in San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to San Diego, CA by train.
- Travel with Futura Net, FlixBus, Greyhound, Infobus to go to San Diego, CA by bus.
- 34 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
- 16 direct buses per day with Futura Net, FlixBus, Greyhound, Infobus.
Travelling from Costa Mesa, CA to San Diego, CA: related information
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