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.
Trip Summary
12 trains operate daily from San Diego to Oakland. The train trip from San Diego to Oakland is usually about 14 hours and 39 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 13 hours and 3 minutes.
Distance | 455 mi (731 km) |
Fastest train | 13h 3m |
Lowest price | TRY 2,038.70 |
Most frequent service | Amtrak |
Train lines | 1 |
What is the price of a train ticket from San Diego to Oakland?
In the last month, TRY 2,925.70 was the average price of a train ticket from San Diego to Oakland. You can expect to find tickets at that price or lower if you book your trip at least 23 days in advance. Otherwise, expect to pay around TRY 296.42 more than that for a same-day booking.
Average prices by travel date
Over the next 30 days, the average cost of a one-way train trip from San Diego to Oakland will vary between TRY 2,330 and TRY 3,430. Planning a train trip to Oakland within the upcoming week? The cheapest train ticket you can find from San Diego over the next 7 days is TRY 2,621. Make sure to book your trip as soon as possible as train fares tend to go up as you get closer to your travel date.
Monthly average prices
Ticket prices for the train from San Diego to Oakland often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in May when the average ticket price is only TRY 2,621,
If you're thinking of traveling from San Diego to Oakland during September, keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of TRY 4,077 during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in September, is to book your trip well in advance.
Prices as travel date approaches
Planning ahead pays off when it comes to booking your train trip from San Diego to Oakland. By reserving your ticket on Wanderu at least 23 days before departure, you can save around TRY 296.42. Don't miss out on these savings — book in advance!
Which train should you take from San Diego to Oakland?
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects San Diego to Oakland. However, there are 12 trains per day to choose from.
Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Amtrak | 12 | 14h 40m | TRY 3,099.15 |
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 12 Amtrak trains from San Diego to Oakland every day, as well as 21 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from TRY 1,942.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between San Diego and Oakland is approximately 455 miles, or 731 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 14 hours and 39 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 13 hours and 3 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 San Diego to Oakland tend to have the most passengers on Wednesday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Wednesday. 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 Monday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs San Diego at 04:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 21:00. 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 12 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 Oakland to San Diego.
City Information
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.
Oakland
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
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.
Station Information
Where is the train station in San Diego?
Image credit: Doug Letterman
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
The Santa Fe Depot is the main train station in San Diego and one of the end points of the Pacific Surfliner, the only Amtrak train line that serves the city. The station is also used by the Green Line of the San Diego Trolley light rail transit service and the COASTER commuter rail service that connects the city with the central and northern coastal regions of San Diego County. Opened in 1915, the Santa Fe Depot is famous for its Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture and grand interior space that features natural redwood beam ceilings and ceramic details. The train station is located in the heart of Downtown San Diego, making it easy to reach from all parts of the city.
All train stations in San Diego:
Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
4005 Taylor St
Where is the train station in Oakland?
Image credit: David Wilson
Link to image attributionImage credit: David Wilson
Link to image attributionMain arrival 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 San Joaquins 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.
Train stations in Oakland:
245 Second St
Across San Leandro Blvd from BART station - 700 73rd Ave
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Oakland to San Diego?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from San Diego
- San Diego to San Francisco Train
TRY 2,621+
- San Diego to Seattle Train
TRY 7,435+
Continue by train from Oakland
- Oakland to Los Angeles Train
TRY 2,161+
Check out these popular routes
- Los Angeles to Seattle Train
TRY 4,734+
- New Haven to New York Train
TRY 1,037+
- Washington D.C. to Boston
TRY 5,665+
- Chicago to Milwaukee Train
TRY 714+
- Train from Baltimore to Washington D.C.
TRY 277+
- Train from New York to Boston
TRY 3,399+
- New York to Rensselaer Train
TRY 1,465+
- Philadelphia to New York Train
TRY 2,188+
- Train from Providence to Boston
TRY 513+
- Train from Milwaukee to Chicago
TRY 718+
Wanderu is the simplest way to book coach and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare coach 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 coach and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading coach and train companies, we always have the best coach and train deals out there.
Book coaches and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more
- Train Tickets
- United States
- California
- Oakland
- San Diego to Oakland