Lowest Prices
We partner with the top bus & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
Trip Summary
There are 11 daily trains from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Traveling by train from Vancouver to Los Angeles usually takes around 30 hours and 23 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 27 hours and 20 minutes.
| Distance | 834 mi (1342 km) |
| Fastest train | 27h 20m |
| Lowest price | $133.65 |
| Trains per day | 2 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 2 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Vancouver to Los Angeles?
In the last month, $164.50 was the average price of a train ticket from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Tickets are generally somewhat expensive for this particular train route, which is to be expected given the long distance. You can expect to find tickets at that price or lower if you book your trip at least 29 days in advance. Otherwise, expect to pay around $130.99 more than that for a same-day booking.
Monthly average prices
Ticket prices for the train from Vancouver to Los Angeles often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in February when the average ticket price is only $196,
If you're thinking of traveling from Vancouver to Los Angeles during August, keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $346 during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in August, is to book your trip well in advance.
Prices as travel date approaches
If you want to score the best deal, you should plan to book your train trip online on Wanderu at least 29 days ahead of time. If you do that, your train ticket to Los Angeles from Vancouver will be about C$130.99 cheaper compared to what you would pay if you book at the last minute.
Which train should you take from Vancouver to Los Angeles?
2 train services operate from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Amtrak usually has more trains scheduled, with 10 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 10 | 1d 6h 14m | $219.11 |
| Amtrak Coast Starlight | 1 | 1d 7h 45m | $206.09 |
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 10 Amtrak trains from Vancouver to Los Angeles every day, as well as 14 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $147.
The Coast Starlight is an Amtrak train that travels the entire length of the West Coast, connecting Los Angeles to Seattle. The route starts hugging the California coastline, treating passengers to swoon-worthy views of the Pacific, before continuing into the verdant forests of the Cascade Mountains. The Coast Starlight indisputably earns its spot among the most scenic Amtrak train routes. Seating options include Coach or Business Class and roomettes or bedrooms for extra space. A trip from Vancouver to Los Angeles takes 31 hours and 45 minutes on average, and Coach tickets start at $134.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Vancouver and Los Angeles is approximately 834 miles, or 1342 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 30 hours and 23 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 27 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.
Friday tends to be the busiest day of the week with travelers taking trains from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Ticket price also tend to be more expensive on Friday 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 Vancouver at 10:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 1:00pm. 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 11 scheduled trains on most days. 2 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 Vancouver.
City Information
Vancouver
Image credit: Unsplash
Vancouver sits on the northern banks of the Columbia River in Washington and is the state's fourth most populated city. The surrounding Cascade Mountains offer incredible Pacific Northwest adventures. Mount Saint Helens and Mount Hood, two snow-topped volcanoes, are within short drives of Vancouver for easy access to hikes and ski runs. Beacon Rock State Park includes a trail to the summit of a monolithic rock formation. Plus, the Columbia River Gorge is easily one of the best destinations in Washington for breathtaking scenery.
Vancouver is located just across the Columbia from Portland, and Interstates 5 and 205 have north to south bridges connecting Portland to Vancouver. Within the city, you will find Vancouver's mass transit system, C-Tran, to get around with ease.
Several Amtrak services operate from Vancouver, including the Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, and Cascades routes. If you're arriving by air, the nearest airport is Portland International Airport, just a few minutes' drive from downtown Vancouver.
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 Vancouver?
Main departure station: 1301 W 11th St
There is one train station in Vancouver.
All train stations in Vancouver:
1301 W 11th St
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
592 Gayley Ave
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Los Angeles to Vancouver?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Vancouver
Continue by train from Los Angeles
Check out these popular routes
Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
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 and with no additional fees. 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.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more