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Journey Information
There are 46 intercity coaches per day from San Francisco to San Diego. Traveling by coach from San Francisco to San Diego usually takes around 15 hours and 15 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US coach can make the trip in 10 hours and 35 minutes.
| Distance | 458 mi (738 km) |
| Shortest duration | 10h 35m |
| Cheapest price | £33.78 |
| Trips per day | 4 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Coach lines | 2 |
How much is a coach ticket from San Francisco to San Diego?
£42.80 is the average price of a bus ticket from San Francisco to San Diego. Any tickets cheaper than £42.80 can be considered a great deal. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.
Average prices by travel date
Bus tickets from San Francisco to San Diego are expected to cost between £41 and £60 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to San Diego within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from £45. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.
Monthly average prices
The lowest bus ticket prices on this route can usually be found in June. That’s when the average price of a bus ticket is expected to be just £54 – the lowest of the year.
Alternatively, if you plan to travel from San Francisco to San Diego in November, expect to spend more on your bus trip, as the average ticket price may surge to £84 at that time of year. However, if you book your trip ahead of time, you can still score a ticket at a lower price.
Prices as travel date approaches
Most coach companies charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your coach tickets as early as possible. The best way to find cheap coach tickets is to book at least 27 days in advance. By doing so, you can expect to save £72.34 on your coach ticket compared to booking at the last minute.
What coach companies travel from San Francisco to San Diego?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from San Francisco to San Diego that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Greyhound usually offers more choice, with 23 scheduled trips per day.
| Coach | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 23 | 14h 33m | £72.50 |
| Greyhound | 23 | 15h 49m | £66.90 |
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 23 trips per day from San Francisco to San Diego, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide coach carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 23 bus trips from San Francisco to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 15 hours and 49 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from £33.
Frequently Asked Questions
The coach takes an average of 15 hours and 15 minutes to cover the 458 miles from San Francisco to San Diego. However, the fastest coach only takes 10 hours and 35 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual coach may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Because many passengers travel from San Francisco to San Diego at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for coaches. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for coach travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the coach, traveling mid-week is your best bet.
The first coach leaves at 06:00 and the last coach leaves at 23:00. To see the times for all coaches from San Francisco to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 46 scheduled coaches that travel from San Francisco to San Diego every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 4 direct coaches, where you can stay on the same coach without having to transfer to a connecting coach at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Francisco to San Diego; ticket prices start at £51.50.
City Information
San Francisco
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Located in the heart of Northern California's Bay Area, San Francisco is a geographically small but culturally huge city known for its historic cable cars, active waterfront, and the eclectic mix of hippies and techies who call it home. While it might be one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, San Fran can actually be very cheap to visit, and there is no shortage of unique sights to see.
If the city's omnipresent fog (nicknamed "Karl the Fog" by locals) takes a break, the best views and Instagram photo ops of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge are found in Golden Gate Park. Stroll through the oldest Chinatown in North America to find the perfect dim sum, or if you and your boo prefer a little Full House moment, try a romantic picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Victorian "Painted Ladies." After all, San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations for couples.
Since the city is condensed onto a small peninsula, exploring by bike is an efficient and scenic way to get around. When you’re ready to travel beyond city limits, San Francisco is a convenient hub for trips throughout Northern California. It's actually the first stop on Wanderu's West Coast Wine Tour, with the next stop, obviously, in Napa Valley. Whether traveling by bus, train, or through either of the two nearby airports, San Francisco is a can't-miss destination.
San Diego
San Diego is known as "America's Finest City" for its sunny weather, white-sand beaches, and dazzling attractions from Belmont Park to SeaWorld. San Diego's 70 miles of pristine beaches include such gems as Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach. The city's strong surfing culture may even inspire you to rent a surfboard and catch the epic waves, bro.
Visitors can spend days getting lost in Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre cultural hub which features 16 museums, immaculate gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The historic heart of the city, Old Town, showcases San Diego's heritage and ties to Mexican culture, while other sights like the USS Midway pay tribute to the city's military and maritime history. Leave time for some evening exploring, too! San Diego is rated the #1 best city for craft beer in America, so don't miss out on the bars in the Gaslamp Quarter: 16 walkable blocks packed with nightlife and young crowds.
Two airports, as well as many bus and train options, mean it is easy to get to San Diego from afar or from nearby cities like Tijuana, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Station Information
Where does the coach leave from in San Francisco?
Main departure station: Salesforce Transit Center
Coaches to San Diego leave from 3 stations in San Francisco.
All coach stations in San Francisco:
Salesforce Transit Center
Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St
700 Beach Street
Where does the coach arrive in San Diego?
Main arrival station: San Ysidro Transit Center
Coaches arrive in San Diego at 7 stations, depending on which coach line you are traveling with.
Coach stations in San Diego:
San Ysidro Transit Center
San Ysidro Bus Terminal
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
La Jolla - UC San Diego
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
SDSU - 5716 Hardy Ave
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