4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $68. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 42m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.2 - 0.7kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $68, and a flight costs an average of $53.
Distance: 458 miles (738 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$89 Average price | $89 Average price Cheapest | $267 Average price | $116 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
13h 56m Average total duration 13h 26m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 12h 45m Average total duration 12h 15m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 42m Average total duration Fastest 2h 42m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 7h 49m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.2 - 0.7kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.7 - 1.8kg CO2 emissions | 2.2 - 4.4kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA:
A bus is $0.71 (€0.58) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA costing on average $89 (€73).
A bus is $178 (€146) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA costing on average $267 (€219).
Other travel options to San Francisco, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 12h 15m.
Train takes on average 13h 26m.
Travel optionsfrom San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA
How to get from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- 769 Pacific Surfliner · 4769 AMTRAK8:01 AM13h39Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA9:40 PMSan Francisco, CA$741One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- 769 Pacific Surfliner · 4769 AMTRAK8:01 AM13h39Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA9:40 PMSan Francisco, CA$741One-way1 transfer
Fastest
UA55991:54 PM1h29McClellan–Palomar Airport3:23 PMSan Francisco International Airport$5241One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 765 Pacific Surfliner · 4765 AMTRAK6:01 AM13h59Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA8:00 PMSan Francisco, CA$851One-way1 transfer
- 769 Pacific Surfliner · 5719 AMTRAK · 719 Gold Runner · 6619 AMTRAK8:01 AM14h29Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA10:30 PMSan Francisco, CA$1341One-way3 transfers
- 765 Pacific Surfliner · 14 Coast Starlight · 6619 AMTRAK6:01 AM16h29Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA10:30 PMSan Francisco, CA$2061One-way2 transfers
- 785 Pacific Surfliner · 4785 AMTRAK4:01 PM13h44Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA5:45 AMSan Francisco, CA$741One-way1 transfer
- 761 Pacific Surfliner · 4761 AMTRAK · 6647 AMTRAK4:01 AM15h14Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA7:15 PMSan Francisco, CA$941One-way2 transfers
- 5811 AMTRAK · 711 Gold Runner · 6611 AMTRAK10:10 PM13h20Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA11:30 AMSan Francisco, CA$1131One-way2 transfers
AA2470 · AA6864:23 PM6h00San Diego International Airport10:23 PMSan Francisco International Airport$2661One-way1 transfer- AA2461 · AA28609:51 AM6h15San Diego International Airport4:06 PMSan Francisco International Airport$2661One-way1 transfer
- AA2477 · AA161312:46 PM6h20San Diego International Airport7:06 PMSan Francisco International Airport$2661One-way1 transfer
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 San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA
Travel to San Francisco, 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 San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA.
This is compared to other travel options from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA:
A bus is $0.71 (€0.58) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA costing on average $89 (€73).
A bus is $178 (€146) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA costing on average $267 (€219).
Other travel options to San Francisco, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 12h 15m.
Train takes on average 13h 26m.
- Around 54 flights per day.
- Around 21 buses per day.
- Around 18 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from San Diego International Airport and arrive in San Francisco International Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA and arrive in Emeryville station, Emeryville, CA.
- Buses mostly depart from San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA and arrive in San Francisco, Transit Center Bay 29.
- Travel with Alaska Airlines, United, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines to go to San Francisco, CA by flight.
- Travel with Greyhound, FlixBus to go to San Francisco, CA by bus.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to San Francisco, CA by train.
- 13 direct flights per day with Alaska Airlines, United.
- 2 direct buses per day with Greyhound, FlixBus.
Travelling from San Diego, CA to San Francisco, CA: related information
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