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Journey Information
There are 23 intercity buses per day from San Diego to Santa Ana. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Santa Ana usually takes around 3 hours and 9 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in just one hour and 45 minutes.
| Distance | 82 mi (132 km) |
| Shortest duration | 1h 45m |
| Cheapest price | $27.30 |
| Trips per day | 18 |
| Most frequent service | Los Limousines |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Buses from San Diego to Santa Ana
- FlixBus US: 1 daily buses from C$30
- Greyhound: 9 daily buses from C$27
- Los Limousines: 18 daily buses from C$51
How much is a bus ticket from San Diego to Santa Ana?
$28.66 is the average price of a bus ticket from San Diego to Santa Ana. Taking a bus is an affordable way to make this trip. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.
Average prices by travel date
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from San Diego to Santa Ana is expected to be between $29 and $40. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is May 3, 2024, when tickets are available for May 3, 2024. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just $29.
Monthly average prices
The lowest bus ticket prices on this route can usually be found in January. That’s when the average price of a bus ticket is expected to be just $27 – the lowest of the year.
Alternatively, if you plan to travel from San Diego to Santa Ana in August, expect to spend more on your bus trip, as the average ticket price may surge to $37 at that time of year. However, if you book your trip ahead of time, you can still score a ticket at a lower price.
Prices as travel date approaches
To save money on bus tickets, buy them as early as possible. Bus carriers usually charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel. Book your ticket at least 28 days in advance to save up to $9.25.
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Santa Ana?
There are 3 bus lines from San Diego to Santa Ana available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 18 daily trips, Los Limousines usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 1 | 2h 25m | $31.55 |
| Greyhound | 9 | 2h 14m | $30.37 |
| Los Limousines | 18 | 5h 14m | $52.06 |
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. On average, FlixBus US operates 1 trips per day from San Diego to Santa Ana, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
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 performs about 9 bus trips from San Diego to Santa Ana every day, with the average journey taking around 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Santa Ana usually start from $27.
Book Los Limousines from San Diego to Santa Ana from $50. There are 18 Los Limousines schedules from San Diego to Santa Ana and you can expect on average to pay for a Los Limousines ticket to Santa Ana. In San Diego, Los Limousines departs to Santa Ana from Cross Border Xpress CBX and 1 other station. In Santa Ana, Los Limousines arrives at Santa Ana E Santa Ana Blvd and no other station.
An average trip on Los Limousines from San Diego to Santa Ana takes 5 hours and 14 minutes , while the fastest available Los Limousines trip will get you to Santa Ana in 1 hours and 45 minutes .
On weekends, Los Limousines offers 18 trips per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to Santa Ana.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 3 hours and 9 minutes to cover the 132 kilometers from San Diego to Santa Ana. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 45 minutes. It's the perfect amount of time to take a nap, get some work done, or watch a movie. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
"Thursday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Thursday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Tuesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Tuesday ticket is the way to go."
The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 9:00pm. To see the times for all buses from San Diego to Santa Ana, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 23 scheduled buses that travel from San Diego to Santa Ana every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 18 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Diego to Santa Ana; ticket prices start at $35.51.
City Information
San Diego
San Diego is known as "America's Finest City" for its sunny weather, white-sand beaches, and dazzling attractions from Belmont Park to SeaWorld. San Diego's 70 miles of pristine beaches include such gems as Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach. The city's strong surfing culture may even inspire you to rent a surfboard and catch the epic waves, bro.
Visitors can spend days getting lost in Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre cultural hub which features 16 museums, immaculate gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The historic heart of the city, Old Town, showcases San Diego's heritage and ties to Mexican culture, while other sights like the USS Midway pay tribute to the city's military and maritime history. Leave time for some evening exploring, too! San Diego is rated the #1 best city for craft beer in America, so don't miss out on the bars in the Gaslamp Quarter: 16 walkable blocks packed with nightlife and young crowds.
Two airports, as well as many bus and train options, mean it is easy to get to San Diego from afar or from nearby cities like Tijuana, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Santa Ana
Image credit: Unsplash
Santa Ana is a sunny city in Orange County located between Anaheim and Irvine in the greater Los Angeles area. Downtown Santa Ana bustles with independent breweries, diverse restaurants, unique retail shops, weekly pop-up markets, and art centers. This lively downtown area, in addition to Santa Ana's live-work housing and creative working spaces, make it attractive to young professionals.
One of the most popular spots for visitors is the Santa Ana Zoo, where little ones can enjoy a carousel and mini-train ride along with the animal exhibits. Architecture enthusiasts will love seeing the Bowers Museum, built in a Mission Revival style, and the Heritage Museum, which has restored homes from the 1890s.
The Orange County Transportation Authority and several shuttle services provide transit within Santa Ana. Santa Ana is easily accessible from over 20 other cities by Amtrak Thruway bus or on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train. The primary airport for Orange County, John Wayne Airport, is located in Santa Ana and also makes it easy to travel to this vibrant SoCal spot.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Diego?
Main departure station: Cross Border Xpress CBX
Buses to Santa Ana leave from 4 stations in San Diego.
All bus stations in San Diego:
Cross Border Xpress CBX
San Ysidro Bus Terminal
San Ysidro Transit Center
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
Where does the bus arrive in Santa Ana?
Main arrival station: Santa Ana E Santa Ana Blvd
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Santa Ana.
Bus stations in Santa Ana:
Santa Ana E Santa Ana Blvd
Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd
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