The return trip from San Diego was very crowded with quite a few people standing in the aisles. Apparently another train had broken down so our train had to take these extra passengers but there are not enough seats for them. Also, the train from San Diego to Los Angele...More

Tips

Be sure that you book a seat because around Thanksgiving, all the seats get sold out before people actually get on the train.

Abdul

4.0

October 22, 2019Visiting friends

Pros

anything

Tips

Yes

Christine

4.0

October 14, 2019Visiting family

Pros

The top deck made a super viewing platform. Trash and recycling at the end of the carriage . This is missing on U.K. Trains.

Cons

I think you’ve got all bases covered.

Rama

5.0

October 3, 2019Vacation

Pros

the views were breathtaking!

Cons

easier for folks with knee issues to catch a trolley to the front of train station in LA

Tips

have camera ready for photos!

Anita

5.0

September 27, 2019Solo travel

Pros

Vacation

Cons

Loved the trip

Tips

Use this service it’s great

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get around L.A. from Union Station?

There are a number of different transportation options to get from Union Station to other parts of Los Angeles.

To get to LAX, passengers can take the LAX Flyaway bus from Bus Stop 9 at Union Station’s Patsaouras Transit Plaza. The cost is $9.75 per person.

The Los Angeles Metro Rail has a number of lines that you can take from Union Station, such as the Red Line, Gold Line and Purple Line. The Silver Line on the Metro Busway departs from Union Station as well.

The Metrolink commuter rail offers transport to five Southern California counties. Lines that pass through Union Station include the 91/Perris Valley, San Bernardino, Antelope Valley, Ventura County, Orange County, and Riverside lines.

In addition, you can summon an Uber or Lyft, or take a taxi from the taxi stand located in front of Union Station West.

How do you find cheap train tickets from San Diego to Los Angeles?

The most surefire way to find the lowest-priced train tickets is to plan ahead and book your train travel early. In the past 30 days, $51.44 was the cheapest average price users have found for trains from San Diego to Los Angeles. By booking your trip 1 days before you plan to travel, you could save an average of $0.23 compared to a same-day fare.

How long is the train journey from San Diego to Los Angeles?

The distance between San Diego and Los Angeles is approximately 179 kilometers, or 111 miles. The average train journey between these two cities takes 3 hours and 51 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 2 hours and 39 minutes. Although it takes a couple of hours each way, it's still possible to make a round trip in a single day. Since most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, you should be able to browse the Internet or get some work done during your journey.

When are trains the most crowded?

Trains from San Diego to Los Angeles are the most crowded on Friday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Monday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

When are the first and last trains of the day?

The earliest train departs San Diego at 4:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 9:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.

How many trains per day run from San Diego to Los Angeles?

There are 39 scheduled trains on most days. 26 of these are direct connections to Los Angeles. While direct trains may still make stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains at any point. If you're looking to get to your destination faster, a direct train is the convenient and time-efficient choice.

You can also take a train for your return trip from Los Angeles to San Diego. If you're not not set on traveling by train, you could always take the bus from San Diego to Los Angeles for $15.16.

What train services are there from San Diego to Los Angeles?

2 train services operate from San Diego to Los Angeles. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner usually has more trains scheduled, with 20 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:

Train	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Amtrak	19	4h 32m	$55.00
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner	20	3h 21m	$51.57

Where is the train station in San Diego?

There are two stations in San Diego where you can board the train to Los Angeles:

1050 Kettner Blvd
4005 Taylor St

Where is the train station in Los Angeles?

There are more train stations and stops in Los Angeles than most cities. Most trains from San Diego will stop at one (or more) of the 6 following stations in Los Angeles: