Search bus tickets to San Francisco
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Quickview
How to get to San Francisco by bus
| Routes | 37 |
| Trips per day | 143 |
| bus lines | 3 |
| Stations | 3 |
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
Lowest Prices
We partner with the top bus & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:
About San Francisco
Located in the heart of Northern California's Bay Area, San Francisco is a geographically small but culturally huge city known for its historic cable cars, active waterfront, and the eclectic mix of hippies and techies who call it home. While it might be one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, San Fran can actually be very cheap to visit, and there is no shortage of unique sights to see.
If the city's omnipresent fog (nicknamed "Karl the Fog" by locals) takes a break, the best views and Instagram photo ops of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge are found in Golden Gate Park. Stroll through the oldest Chinatown in North America to find the perfect dim sum, or if you and your boo prefer a little Full House moment, try a romantic picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Victorian "Painted Ladies." After all, San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations for couples.
Since the city is condensed onto a small peninsula, exploring by bike is an efficient and scenic way to get around. When you’re ready to travel beyond city limits, San Francisco is a convenient hub for trips throughout Northern California. It's actually the first stop on Wanderu's West Coast Wine Tour, with the next stop, obviously, in Napa Valley. Whether traveling by bus, train, or through either of the two nearby airports, San Francisco is a can't-miss destination.
Station Information
Image credit: 146109843@N05
Link to image attributionBehind a modern curved façade lies San Francisco’s commuter hub, the Salesforce Transit Center. This gateway to downtown San Francisco and the entire Bay Area welcomes tens of thousands of passengers every day. Finding your way around is easy thanks to more than 270 digital displays with transit information. The Salesforce Transit Center serves as a bus station for Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway buses, as well as several public transit options for convenient connections. A standout feature of the Salesforce Transit Center is a public five-acre rooftop park which gives travelers an open space to relax. Rotating food trucks, cafés, carts, and pop-up retail make this a dynamic and vibrant destination in itself.
Popular bus stations in San Francisco:
Salesforce Transit Center
Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St
San Francisco, California
What bus companies travel to San Francisco, California?
Located in California, San Francisco is accessible by bus from 37 other cities. You can choose from 143 daily scheduled trips when you search for buses to San Francisco on Wanderu. Greyhound usually has the most buses on any given day.
Looking for other ways to get there? Train tickets to San Francisco are also available..
Bus companies serving San Francisco
| Bus | Routes | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 212 | 21h 29m | $171.66 |
| Greyhound | 42 | 9h 50m | $84.19 |
| Amtrak Thruway | 11 | 17h 47m | $128.39 |
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment.
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound buses are outfitted with power outlets, free WiFi, restrooms, and air conditioning for your comfort.
Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities.
Which bus carrier has the best service to San Francisco?
Based on customers travel reviews, travelers who booked on Wanderu rave about traveling to San Francisco by bus with Megabus giving them a 3.8 rating out of 5.
Travelers also mentioned that OurBus had the most comfortable bus service to San Francisco taking into account the seats and amenities that OurBus offers. They rate OurBus a 4 out of 5 when it comes to just how relaxing and enjoyable their experience was onboard.
If you are looking to arrive to San Francisco punctually, travelers suggest that Megabus has the best on time performance on their bus schedules to San Francisco, rating them a 4.2 based on their on time arrivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The busiest bus station in San Francisco is Salesforce Transit Center. There are several other active stations in addition to this main station. The most popular bus stations in San Francisco are:
- Salesforce Transit Center
- Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St
- San Francisco, California
| Departure | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 9h 45m | $91.29 |
| San Diego | 14h 14m | $119.59 |
| New York | 3d 11h 46m | $568.34 |
| Las Vegas | 17h 6m | $139.85 |
| Houston | 2d 2h 5m | $424.37 |
Top bus routes to and from San Francisco
Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.