5.0
Pros: On time. No traffic. Cons: My chair wouldn’t stay in selected position. Union station smells like urine.
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Trip Summary
There are 12 daily trains from Santa Ana to Los Angeles. Traveling by train from Santa Ana to Los Angeles usually takes around one hour and 35 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train can make the trip in 51 minutes.
| Distance | 30 mi (49 km) |
| Fastest train | 0h 51m |
| Lowest price | MX$184.53 |
| Trains per day | 21 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Pacific Surfliner |
| Train lines | 2 |
Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Overall score for trains from Santa Ana to Los Angeles
(Based on 3 ratings and reviews)
5.0
What is the price of a train ticket from Santa Ana to Los Angeles?
Over the past month, a train ticket between Santa Ana and Los Angeles cost MX$310.85, on average. This is about as cheap as train fares get on this route. Booking your trip at least 21 days in advance can help you secure tickets at the best price. For same-day bookings, you’ll likely have to pay around MX$18.12 more.
Monthly average prices
Ticket prices for the train from Santa Ana to Los Angeles stay pretty consistent throughout the year. You can expect to pay around MX$336 regardless of when you plan to travel.
Prices as travel date approaches
Since ticket prices on this route stay pretty consistent, you don’t need to book way in advance. However, we recommend buying your train ticket to Los Angeles at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure to prevent any unpleasant surprises, like last-minute surges in price or sold-out tickets.
Which train should you take from Santa Ana to Los Angeles?
2 train services operate from Santa Ana to Los Angeles. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner usually has more trains scheduled, with 7 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 5 | 1h 56m | MX$340.37 |
| Amtrak Pacific Surfliner | 7 | 1h 27m | MX$323.26 |
Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 5 Amtrak trains from Santa Ana to Los Angeles every day, as well as 7 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from MX$185.
The Pacific Surfliner is Amtrak’s passenger train service that runs along the Pacific coast of Southern California, connecting San Luis Obispo to the north with San Diego to the south. The line is among the most famous Amtrak routes due to the unique scenic views it presents, as the train parallels the coastline for large portions of the 268-mile railroad stretch. The Pacific Surfliner offers first-class amenities like onboard restrooms, free WiFi, seats with extra legroom and power outlets, as well as storage racks for surfboards. On average, the service offers 7 train trips from Santa Ana to Los Angeles every day, and prices for a one-way train ticket start from MX$285.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there are trains that can take you the entire way from Santa Ana to Los Angeles. However, there are also some trips on this route that require you to board another vehicle, such as a bus or a shuttle, during your journey. This is worth paying attention to as you book your trip, since a direct train may be preferable for its speed and convenience.
The distance between Santa Ana and Los Angeles is approximately 30 miles, or 49 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 1 hour 35 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 51 minutes. It's a short and pleasant ride; the train is a perfect way to get to Los Angeles.
Saturday tends to be the busiest day of the week with travelers taking trains from Santa Ana to Los Angeles. Ticket price also tend to be more expensive on Saturday than other days. If you are hoping to have more room on the train and even save some change check out travel options on Sunday instead, as less people travel then and deals are more likely to be found.
The earliest train departs Santa Ana at 6:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 11:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 12 scheduled trains on most days. 21 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 Santa Ana.
City Information
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.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the undisputed world capital of the entertainment business. Because of that, the City of Angels is where you will find some of the most iconic landmarks of the film and music industries, including the world-famous Walk of Fame and Dolby Theatre (home of the Academy Awards) on Hollywood Boulevard, the easily recognizable Capitol Records building at Hollywood & Vine, and the LA Live complex in Downtown Los Angeles.
The best part of LA is that it has something to offer for people of all interests: outdoor enthusiasts can hike up to the Hollywood sign, fashion aficionados can go shopping in Beverly Hills, art lovers can check out the prominent Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in the Miracle Mile district, and those looking for a fun night out can go bar-hopping in West Hollywood. Are you a Pokémon GO addict? Well then this is the place for you because LA is the best city to catch the rarest Pokémon in the U.S.. And if you want to want to experience the famed golden coast of Southern California for yourself, head west to Santa Monica and Venice for a refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean.
With one of the biggest airports on the West Coast and several bus and train stops across the county, Los Angeles makes it easy to travel elsewhere in California, visit the neighboring Nevada, Arizona and Mexico, or take a flight to pretty much any other part of the world.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Santa Ana?
Main departure station: Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd
There is one train station in Santa Ana.
All train stations in Santa Ana:
Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd
Where is the train station in Los Angeles?
Image credit: David Wilson
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Union Station
Union Station is the main train station in Los Angeles and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. The station was opened in 1939 and has become one of California’s busiest transportation hubs, serving more than 100 thousand passengers per day. Every Amtrak route that goes through Los Angeles stops at Union Station. In addition, the area around the station serves as the main bus stop for several bus carriers that conduct trips in and out of the city. Located in Downtown LA, Union Station offers easy transit connections to other parts of the city via three Metro Rail lines and one Metro Busway line, as well as a shuttle service to LAX airport. Union Station also serves as the main LA hub for six lines of Metrolink, Southern California’s primary commuter rail service.
Train stations in Los Angeles:
Union Station
Amtrak Metrolink Station - 7724 Van Nuys Blvd
10040 Old Depot Plaza Rd, Chatsworth
592 Gayley Ave
Metrolink Station
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Need a return trip from Los Angeles to Santa Ana?
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