How to travel from Sacramento, CA to Modesto, CA

How to travel from Sacramento to Modesto?

The north-to-south journey that goes from California’s capital city of Sacramento to the city of Modesto can be completed by bus or by train. Travelers who are looking to make the trip of 75.2 miles (121 km) will find that there are about a dozen or more transportation options every day of the week, with enhanced train schedules adding to the number of options available on both Saturdays and Sundays.

A majority of the bus and train routes will include a single transfer, but with many routes operating as quickly as between roughly 1h 30min and 2h, the journey can easily be made for a weekend trip, or even a day-trip. Once in Modesto, travelers will want to be sure to visit as many of the city’s cultural sites as possible, such as the McHenry Mansion.

What is the cheapest way to get from Sacramento to Modesto?

The most cost-effective mode of transportation available to travelers looking to go from Sacramento to Modesto is typically by bus. However, there are some days each week when train options are as competitively priced as bus options, so, whenever possible, passengers will want to be flexible regarding travel dates and ensure they’re booking in advance to avoid surge prices.

That said, with both modes of transportation, the cheapest tickets from Sacramento to Modesto generally include a single transfer. Amtrak’s train service offers these single-transfer options where the Sacramento to Modesto cost is less, but this is generally only on weekends. Amtrak’s bus services, which also include transfers, are also less pricy than the direct routes offered by Greyhound. Regardless of which provider a traveler chooses, it’s always recommended that they review their eligibility for discounts to make sure they’re getting from Sacramento to Modesto the cheapest way.

What is the fastest way to travel from Sacramento to Modesto?

The shortest travel time from Sacramento to Modesto will typically depend on the day of the week during which the passenger travels. During the weekdays—Mondays through Fridays—buses are the quickest option, as they run, on average, about 1h 49min. During the weekends, the trains become quicker; on Saturdays there is a direct train route that usually runs around 1h 28min.

Amtrak is the only company to provide train options and all trains originate at Sacramento Valley Station, then arrive at Modesto Station. Both Amtrak and Greyhound offer buses that run the route equally as quick; however, unlike Amtrak, which uses the same departure and arrival stations as their train service, Greyhound services depart from Sacramento Bus Terminal and arrive at Modesto’s Downtown Transit Center.

Find the best tickets from Sacramento to Modesto and book with Omio

When looking for one-way tickets or round-trip tickets for a Sacramento-Modesto trip, passengers will benefit from the ability to review travel options aggregated from transportation companies and presented for various dates and times. The Omio booking platform does this. The platform allows users to look at transportation options from Sacramento to Modesto side-by-side, then choose the best one.

It also caters to users by allowing them to search in their preferred language. Search parameters dictate the results, which are delivered as a list that’s clear and can be filtered. Filters narrow routes based on transportation vehicle, departure time and more. After a ticket is purchased, it can be accessed on a mobile device. Travelers should visit the Omio magazine Anchor Text for good travel tips and tricks.

Sacramento Beach. Source: Shutterstock

Trains from Sacramento to Modesto

The quickest service option from Sacramento to Modesto each week is operated by Amtrak trains. However, most other service options will include a transfer and, therefore, operate much longer than most bus options. That said, trains have more elbow room for passengers and a bit more capacity for luggage, which is useful for passengers who are traveling with multiple items. There is only one train company that does service the route: Amtrak. Amtrak presents travelers with a single option each day on weekdays—Mondays through Fridays.

Then, on the weekends, the schedule of services is enhanced to include between four and five routes each day. Almost every option each week, with the exception of a single route on Saturdays, has a transfer. All Amtrak trains leave from Sacramento Valley Station and arrive at Modesto Station, which is 5.6 miles (9.1 km) from the city center. To travel that short distance, there are taxis and rideshares available, as well as buses operated by Modesto Area Express.

Train travel from Sacramento to Modesto with Amtrak

The only train company that provides train service for the route is Amtrak. The Amtrak Sacramento to Modesto journey always leaves from Sacramento Valley Station and arrives at Modesto Station. Usually, these services include both direct and single-transfer options. Direct options only operate once a week on Saturdays and generally run around 1h 28min. They are also the cheapest Amtrak train options. Alternatively, the one-transfer options, which run all seven days of the week and stop in Martinez, will take anywhere from roughly 3h to 5h. The train station sits closer to the center of the city than the bus station.

Buses from Sacramento to Modesto

There are two bus companies that provide service from Sacramento to Modesto: Amtrak and Greyhound. Both companies provide a consistent service that operates all seven days of the week; there are ten services each day, of which about three are direct routes. All options run between 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Between the two service provides, Amtrak offers the most number of options, but all of Greyhounds bus services run the trip directly and, therefore, more quickly.

Additionally, the two providers use different departure and arrival stations. Amtrak departs from Sacramento Valley Station and arrives at Modesto Station, while Greyhound leaves from Sacramento Bus Terminal and arrives at Modesto’s Downtown Transit Center. To get to the city center from the arrival stations there are taxis, rideshares and Modesto Area Express buses.

Travelling by bus from Sacramento to Modesto with Amtrak or Greyhound

Both the Amtrak Sacramento to Modesto routes and the Greyhound Sacramento to Modesto routes operate every day of the week. However, Amtrak departs from Sacramento Valley Station and arrives at Modesto Station, while Greyhound leaves from Sacramento Bus Terminal and arrives at Modesto’s Downtown Transit Center. The Sacramento to Modesto price per ticket for the route varies slightly—Greyhound services run directly and tend to be more costly. Also, there are only three options a day. The less expensive Amtrak tickets will include a transfer in Stockton, but there are at least seven routes each day.

Modesto California People. Source: Shutterstock

To Modesto by train/bus—travel tips

Travelers will want to identify the cheapest way to get from Sacramento to Modesto, then spend their travel budget on the cultural activities once they arrive in the city. Modesto is home to a number of interesting attractions. For instance, the city boasts the McHenry Mansion and McHenry Museum.

The mansion pays homage to a former resident of Modesto, Robert McHenry, who constructed the home in the late nineteenth century; touring the Victorian home is free of charge.

The McHenry Museum, which is situated in downtown Modesto, was originally built as a library—the construction of the building and the plots of land upon which is sits were donated by Oramil McHenry in his will in the first decade of the twentieth century. The exhibits here highlight the rich history of the area—with historical pieces used in gold mining, firefighting and a range of other local efforts that have been essential to the evolution of the region over the decades.