San Francisco to Los Angeles - Compare Buses, Trains and Flights

Traveling by Amtrak train is the most comfortable way to get from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Fares start at about $52, with 31 trains departing each day. Unfortunately, Amtrak doesn’t depart directly from San Francisco. Passengers will first take a bus to Emeryville, outside of Oakland, where they’ll transfer to a train.

This route is serviced by Amtrak Coast Starlight, one of the most scenic Amtrak routes in the country, with ocean views available for a significant portion of the ride.

With ticket prices as low as $4, and 16 trips departing throughout the day, traveling by bus between SF and LA is an easy, budget-friendly option.

The bus carriers servicing this route — Greyhound and Megabus — offer amenities like free Wi-Fi, power outlets and on-board bathrooms. Both Greyhound and Megabus also have direct overnight bus options, meaning you can fall asleep en route and wake up the next morning in Los Angeles.

With a typical travel time of about 1 hour for nonstop flights, taking a plane is definitely the quickest way to get from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

San Francisco International Airport suggests arriving 2 hours prior to your scheduled flight, so make sure you plan accordingly. SFO is located south of downtown San Francisco, about a 30-minute ride on the BARTA’s Yellow Line.