4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $60. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 4m. 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 $60, and a flight costs an average of $54.
Distance: 458 miles (738 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$97 Average price | $271 Average price | $91 Average price Cheapest | $103 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
13h 18m Average total duration 12h 48m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 4m Average total duration Fastest 2h 4m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 13h 20m Average total duration 12h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 33m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.2 - 0.7kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 2.2 - 4.4kg CO2 emissions | 0.7 - 1.8kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular airline |  Most popular bus company | 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 Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA:
A bus is $5 (€4) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average $97 (€78).
A bus is $179 (€145) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average $271 (€219).
Other travel options to San Diego, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 12h 48m.
Bus takes on average 12h 50m.
Travel optionsfrom San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA
How to get from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- 4770 AMTRAK · 770 Pacific Surfliner10:35 PM14h32San Francisco, CA1:07 PMSanta Fe Depot, San Diego, CA$741One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- 4770 AMTRAK · 770 Pacific Surfliner10:35 PM14h32San Francisco, CA1:07 PMSanta Fe Depot, San Diego, CA$741One-way1 transfer
Fastest
AA93417:20 AM1h39San Francisco International Airport8:59 AMSan Diego International Airport$2971One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 6668 AMTRAK · 718 Gold Runner · 5818 AMTRAK5:00 PM12h35San Francisco, CA5:35 AMSanta Fe Depot, San Diego, CA$1341One-way2 transfers
- 6612 AMTRAK · 712 Gold Runner · 5812 AMTRAK · 790 Pacific Surfliner9:40 AM13h27San Francisco, CA11:07 PMSanta Fe Depot, San Diego, CA$1421One-way3 transfers
- 4790 AMTRAK · 790 Pacific Surfliner7:45 AM15h22San Francisco, CA11:07 PMSanta Fe Depot, San Diego, CA$741One-way1 transfer
10:40 PM13h40San Francisco, Transit Center Bay 2912:20 PMSan Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center$1271One-way0 transfers- 10:40 PM13h05San Francisco, Transit Center Bay 2911:45 AMSan Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA$1311One-way0 transfers
- AA93406:16 AM1h42San Francisco International Airport7:58 AMSan Diego International Airport$2971One-way0 transfers
- AA93195:41 PM1h42San Francisco International Airport7:23 PMSan Diego International Airport$2971One-way0 transfers
- AA74414:44 PM1h43San Francisco International Airport6:27 PMSan Diego International Airport$2971One-way0 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
Compare bus, train, 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.
May 24
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
May 31
Jun 01
Jun 02
Jun 03
Jun 04
Jun 05
Jun 06
Jun 07
Jun 08
Jun 09
Jun 10
Jun 11
Jun 12
Jun 13
More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.
FAQs: Travel from San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA.
This is compared to other travel options from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA:
A bus is $5 (€4) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average $97 (€78).
A bus is $179 (€145) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average $271 (€219).
Other travel options to San Diego, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 12h 48m.
Bus takes on average 12h 50m.
- Around 53 flights per day.
- Around 21 buses per day.
- Around 13 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between San Francisco, CA and San Diego, CA as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from San Francisco International Airport and arrive in San Diego International Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Emeryville station, Emeryville, CA and arrive in Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA.
- Buses mostly depart from San Francisco, Transit Center Bay 29 and arrive in San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA.
- Travel with FlixBus, Greyhound to go to San Diego, CA by bus.
- Travel with United, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines to go to San Diego, CA by flight.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to San Diego, CA by train.
- 2 direct buses per day with FlixBus, Greyhound.
- 12 direct flights per day with United, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines.
Travelling from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA: related information
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Travel to popular destinations by train, bus or flight
The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy
We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.
