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Journey Information
There is one daily bus from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara. Traveling by bus from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara usually takes around 5 hours and 10 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 5 hours,
| Distance | 160 mi (258 km) |
| Shortest duration | 5h 0m |
| Cheapest price | $45.21 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
| Bus lines | 1 |
What bus companies travel from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara. Amtrak Thruway is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 5h 10m | $51.21 |
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. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara start at $45. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 5 hours and 10 minutes to cover the 258 kilometers from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. 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.
Tuesday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Tuesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Friday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Friday ticket is the way to go.
There is usually only one bus per day from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara. It leaves the station in San Luis Obispo at 10:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.
There is usually only one bus per day from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara. However, it is not a direct bus, so you will have to get off your original vehicle to change buses during the trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara; ticket prices start at $89.72.
City Information
San Luis Obispo
San Luis is a remarkable city known for accommodating travelers with different intents - those looking for nightlife, a laid-back experience, or a healthy mix of both. It is also known for its outstanding farmers' market with some of the best fruits and veggies in all of California. The historic Spanish Mission, art galleries, museums, wine, craft beer tasting room, and great restaurants can provide any type of fun you're looking for in the Sunshine State.
Want a truly unique experience? Swing by Bubblegum Alley, with walls lined with chewed bubblegum. Leave some yourself to make your mark! Or, for more traditional art, visit the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, with galleries displaying work by contemporary California artists.
SLO has two major bus and train stations in San Luis - 1011 Railroad Ave and Grand Avenue, Building 113. FlixBus and Amtrak Thruway buses both service the town for bus transport, and Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight provide train options. There is also a county airport that lets you fly in from wherever you are in the world and is located just two miles from the main city.
Santa Clara
Image credit: Unsplash
Santa Clara is a city in the San Francisco Bay Area, home to Santa Clara University, the San Francisco 49ers, and many of Silicon Valley's prominent tech companies. The Intel Museum, at Intel's headquarters, is the perfect place to celebrate technological advances and see exhibits like a giant replica of an Intel computing chip. The Intel Museum is free to visit, as is the Triton Museum of Art, home to contemporary artworks from Bay Area artists.
If you'd rather escape the fast-paced world of tech, the Santa Clara Valley is also home to over 30 wineries that encourage visitors to take it slow and relax a while. Drink in the view as you sip the wines at Kirigin Cellars, one of the oldest wineries in California.
Santa Clara is a fabulous city for a family vacation, too, just maybe without the winery visits. Instead, treat the kids to thrills at California's Great Adventure amusement park and South Bay Shores water park.
Santa Clara is one of the stops on the Capitol Corridor train that runs from San Jose to Sacramento. Amtrak Thruway provides a few bus trips out of Santa Clara, but there are even more options departing from its neighbors, San Jose and San Francisco. The closest major airport to Santa Clara is the San Jose Airport, but it also convenient to fly into San Francisco or Oakland.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Luis Obispo?
Main departure station: 1011 Railroad Ave
San Luis Obispo has two bus stations with service to Santa Clara.
All bus stations in San Luis Obispo:
1011 Railroad Ave
1 Grand Avenue, Building 113
Where does the bus arrive in Santa Clara?
Main arrival station: 5099 Stars and Stripes Dr
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Santa Clara.
Bus stations in Santa Clara:
5099 Stars and Stripes Dr
Caltrain ACE station - 1001 Railroad Ave
Get around town with Moovit
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