Question 1

Is it possible to take a day-trip from San Diego to San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, it is not possible to enjoy a day trip from San Diego to San Francisco. The first train leaves San Diego at 4 a.m., yet the route takes anywhere from 12 to 14 hours to get to San Francisco. A trip from San Diego to San Fran should be at least two days long to truly enjoy your time in the Bay Area.

Question 2

Can you take a train directly from San Diego to San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

There is no direct train from San Diego to San Francisco, but it is still very easy to get into the city. Take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner north to Oakland, which is very close to San Francisco. From Oakland, simply take the Red or Yellow BARTA line, which only takes about 12 minutes and costs just $4. Overall, the trip takes roughly 12 hours.

Question 3

Can you take a train all the way from San Diego to San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

While the train is the main method of transportation from San Diego to San Francisco, it will only take you part of the way there. Please note that part of your trip will be on a different vehicle, most commonly a bus or express shuttle.

Question 4

Other ways to get from San Diego to San Francisco

Accepted Answer

There are usually 23 daily bus trips from San Diego to San Francisco.

Question 5

When are trains the most crowded?

Accepted Answer

Trains from San Diego to San Francisco are the most crowded on Tuesday. 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 Friday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

Question 6

Which train should you take from San Diego to San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects San Diego to San Francisco.  However, there are 7 trains per day to choose from.

Question 7

What is the price of a train ticket from San Diego to San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from San Diego to San Francisco was $88.23.  Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 2 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $12.61 more if you wait to book until the last minute.

Question 8

Is there a direct train from San Diego to San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

There are 7 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from San Francisco to San Diego.

Question 9

How long is the train journey from San Diego to San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

The distance between San Diego and San Francisco is approximately 458 miles, or 738 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 14 hours and 13 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 13 hours and 20 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.

Question 10

When are the first and last trains of the day?

Accepted Answer

The earliest train departs San Diego at 3:00am 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.

Question 11

Get around town with Moovit

Accepted Answer

Find the best way to get to and from any station in San Francisco by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

Question 12

Where is the train station in San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

San Francisco has one train station.

Question 13

Where is the train station in San Diego?

Accepted Answer

There are two stations in San Diego where you can board the train to San Francisco.

Question 14

Prices as travel date approaches

Accepted Answer

By booking your train trip from San Diego to San Francisco on Wanderu at least 2 days ahead of time, you can save about $12.61 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!

Question 15

Average prices by travel date

Accepted Answer

Over the next 30 days, a one-way train trip from San Diego to San Francisco will cost between  and . Book in advance to secure the best price in the next few weeks.

Question 16

Monthly average prices

Accepted Answer

Ticket prices for the train from San Diego to San Francisco often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in  when the average ticket price is only . If you're thinking of traveling from San Diego to San Francisco during , keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of  during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in , is to book your trip well in advance.

Question 17

Need a return trip from San Francisco to San Diego?

Accepted Answer

Search Train Tickets

Question 18

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

Accepted Answer

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.