Wanderu Logo
United Kingdom flag
  • Canada
£
Log in
chiku-desktop

Cheap train tickets from Oakland to Los Angeles

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

chiku-mobile

Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:

Lowest Prices

We partner with the top coach & 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.

See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Chiku

Oakland to Los Angeles Train Timetable

Is it better to travel by bus or train from Oakland to Los Angeles?

There are usually 8 daily bus trips from Oakland to Los Angeles.

Coach
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
£48.39
Avg. Price
£52.12
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
8
Daily Trips
27
Duration
Duration
13h 13m
Duration
10h 57m

Trip Summary

There are usually 16 daily train trips available from Oakland to Los Angeles. Traveling by train from Oakland to Los Angeles usually takes 10 hours and 49 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 8 hours and 37 minutes.

Distance343 mi (553 km)
Fastest train8h 37m
Lowest price£35.96
Trains per day2
Most frequent serviceAmtrak
Train lines2

Wander into savings:
Get deals in your inbox!

Sign up to get the latest deals on bus & train tickets sent directly to you.

Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for trains from Oakland to Los Angeles

(Based on 5 ratings and reviews)

5.0

5.0

Cynthia

29 December 2025- Visiting family

Amtrak

Pros: We had issues and the driver worked with Greyhound to get us back on track. The driver kept us informed at all times. Cons: Maybe text people instead of email when the trip halts. Tips: Definitely learned your route in case You break down, connecting bus or train or airport (rentals) you can go with if something happens.

5.0

Rashaun

21 March 2024- Solo travel

Amtrak Coast Starlight

Pros: it was good. Cons: a little cleaner.

5.0

Shirley

4 March 2024- Visiting friends

Amtrak

Pros: Very conducive environment! Tips: Consider others while talking or chatting.

5.0

Cathy Heller

1 October 2021- Visiting family

Amtrak

Pros: Pleasant, safe and on time. Cons: Wifi not very strong. Had to rely mostly on 4G - which used up expensive data for international travellers.

What is the price of a train ticket from Oakland to Los Angeles?

In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from Oakland to Los Angeles was £49.14. Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 20 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around £13.09 more if you wait to book until the last minute.

Average train ticket prices from Oakland to Los Angeles by travel date

£66£44£22FebFeb

For the next 30 days, the cost of a one-way train trip from Oakland to Los Angeles will range from £42 to £63. If you're planning to travel by train to Los Angeles in the upcoming week, the cheapest train ticket from Oakland you can find in the next 7 days is £49. Be sure to book your trip in advance as train ticket prices typically increase as your travel date approaches.

Monthly average prices

£73£59£44£29£15MAMJJASONDJF
You can find the lowest prices on this route during January. This time of year offers the best deals on train tickets from Oakland to Los Angeles, with the average price at just £53. Train tickets on this route are most expensive in May, when the average price goes up to £57. You can still score cheap deals below this average price, though, especially if you plan ahead and book your ticket in advance.

Prices as travel date approaches

£73£59£44£29£153020100

Planning ahead pays off when it comes to booking your train trip from Oakland to Los Angeles. By reserving your ticket on Wanderu at least 20 days before departure, you can save around £13.09. Don't miss out on these savings — book in advance!

Which train should you take from Oakland to Los Angeles?

2 train services operate from Oakland to Los Angeles. Amtrak usually has more trains scheduled, with 15 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:

TrainDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak1510h 45m£53.19
Amtrak Coast Starlight111h 45m£79.45

  • 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 15 Amtrak trains from Oakland to Los Angeles every day, as well as 35 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from £36.

  • 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 Oakland to Los Angeles takes 11 hours and 45 minutes on average, and Coach tickets start at £48.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Oakland to Los Angeles

Yes, there are trains that can take you the entire way from Oakland 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 Oakland and Los Angeles is approximately 343 miles, or 553 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 10 hours and 49 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 8 hours and 37 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.

Trains departing from Oakland to Los Angeles tend to have the most passengers on Saturday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Saturday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Sunday as the least number of people tend to travel then.

The earliest train departs Oakland at 04:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 22:00. 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 16 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 Oakland.

City Information

Oakland

Oakland, CA - OAK-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Oakland, CA - OAK-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Oakland, CA - OAK-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Oakland, CA is a port city that is beginning to step out of the shadow of San Francisco, its neighbor to the west. Every visitor should start their Oakland trip in the downtown area and Old Oakland, the city's historic quarter full of quaint old buildings. While here, don't forget to take a short detour to Oakland's famous Chinatown as well. The African American Museum and Library at Oakland tells the history of Black communities in the area and is definitely worth a stop. For those who would prefer to stay close to nature, Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park's abundance of redwood groves will offer amazing views.

Oakland's food scene is vibrant and diverse, with a wide range of offerings for all budgets. Enssaro is a popular local name with mid-range dishes that will whet your appetite. For an excellent haute-cuisine dinner, head towards The Wolf.

It's easy to get around the Bay Area on local public transit (called the BART, for Bay Area Rapid Transit). Getting to Oakland from further afield is also a breeze thanks to many intercity bus routes in the area and Amtrak's Capitol Corridor train, which stops in Oakland. Flights arrive at the Oakland International Airport, but several additional airport options in the larger Bay Area are also available.

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 Oakland?

245 Second St - OAKAMT-0

Image credit: David Wilson

Link to image attribution
246 Second St - OAKAMT-1

Image credit: David Wilson

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: 245 Second St

The Jack London Station in Oakland opened in 1995, replacing 16th Street Station, which was extensively damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. The station was named after the famous writer Jack London, as he spent much of his life in the area. It is a contemporary glass and stone structure located on the easternmost corner of Jack London Square. The square, which fronts a natural estuary leading to San Francisco Bay, was formerly the hub of Oakland's port activities, connecting the maritime and agricultural sectors. It is still an active and bustling waterfront today. Amtrak's Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight, and Gold Runner trains serve the station. It is the 10th busiest of Amtrak's 74 California stops, boarding or de-boarding an average of 1,142 people per day.

All train stations in Oakland:

  • 245 Second St

  • Across San Leandro Blvd from BART station - 700 73rd Ave

Where is the train station in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles, CA - Union Station - LAXUST-0

Image credit: David Wilson

Link to image attribution

Main 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

Get around town with Moovit

Download Moovit to see all of your local transit options in Los Angeles. Download here

Related reading

Need a return trip from Los Angeles to Oakland?

Search Train Tickets

Wanderu is the simplest way to book coach 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. 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.