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Cheap bus tickets from Los Angeles to San Jose

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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Los Angeles to San Jose Bus Timetable

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

There are usually 25 daily train trips from Los Angeles to San Jose.

Bus
Train

Avg. Price

Avg. Price

€60.12

Avg. Price

€85.25

Daily Trips

Daily Trips

27

Daily Trips

25

Duration

Duration

7h 36m

Duration

9h 46m

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Bus from Los Angeles to San Jose: Journey Information

There are 27 intercity buses per day from Los Angeles to San Jose. Traveling by bus from Los Angeles to San Jose usually takes around 7 hours and 28 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 5 hours and 50 minutes.

Distance305 mi (492 km)
Shortest duration5h 50m
Cheapest price€30.51
Trips per day24
Most frequent serviceFlixBus US
Bus lines5

Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from Los Angeles to San Jose

(Based on 13 ratings and reviews)

4.5

5.0

Samvel

5 July 2024- Visiting family

Greyhound

Pros: Everything. Cons: Just be on time. Tips: Nah.

5.0

Nataly

30 December 2019- Visiting family

Megabus

on the second floor behind the driver were very dirty windows

4.0

Neha

16 December 2019- Visiting family

Megabus

Pros: It was well-paced and the driver was really nice! Cons: The bus should have USB ports for chargers. In addition, it would be nice to have more spacious seats.

4.0

Ellen

2 December 2019- Solo travel

Greyhound

Restroom should have hand sanitizer

4.0

Gabriel

1 December 2019- Visiting family

Greyhound

Pros: I like that there were movies to watch on the trip, the bus was clean, that it had charging plug ins & that the bus driver was very communicative. I also liked that there's cup holders (although on this trip they were ripped on my seat). Cons: It would be nice if the seats had food trays so when we bring food onboard we can put it on there instead of balancing it on our laps. The wifi was working for a little, but then it stopped so it would be nice to have more reliable wifi.

How much is a bus ticket from Los Angeles to San Jose?

Bus tickets for a trip from Los Angeles to San Jose cost €49.50 on average. Tickets cheaper than €49.50 are an excellent bargain. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.

Average bus ticket prices from Los Angeles to San Jose by travel date

€113€75€38NovNov

If you're planning to travel by bus from Los Angeles to San Jose in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from €46 to €105. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on 8 December 2024.

If you’re looking to travel to San Jose this week, bus tickets are available starting at €50.

Average bus ticket prices from Los Angeles to San Jose by month

€70€56€42€28€14DJFMAMJJASON
Taking the bus from Los Angeles to San Jose is usually cheapest in September, when the average ticket price is only €57. If you're planning to take the bus from Los Angeles to San Jose during November, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of €65. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

€94€75€56€38€193020100

Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 8 days in advance. This way, you can save up to €13.21 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from Los Angeles to San Jose?

There are 5 bus lines from Los Angeles to San Jose available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 10 daily trips, FlixBus US usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Thruway19h 3m€79.85
FlixBus US106h 40m€53.95
Greyhound77h 48m€55.18
Tufesa Internacional58h 32m€63.83
Tufesa Plus47h 41m€63.75
  • Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from Los Angeles to San Jose start at €80. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.

  • 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 10 trips per day from Los Angeles to San Jose, 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 7 bus trips from Los Angeles to San Jose every day, with the average journey taking around 7 hours and 48 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Jose usually start from €31.

  • Tufesa Internacional is the international brand of one of the largest ground transportation providers in Mexico, Tufesa. The carrier offers daily bus trips to and from several cities in the Southwestern United States, including cross-border trips between the U.S. and Mexico. On average, Tufesa Internacional runs 5 from Los Angeles to San Jose, with prices starting from €61. The carrier’s fleet features modern coaches equipped with state-of-the-art technology and amenities, such as onboard restrooms, reclining seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and a digital entertainment system.

  • Tufesa Plus is an economy bus service run by Tufesa. Its service area covers the southwestern states in the United States and parts of northwest Mexico. Onboard, travelers can enjoy AC, power outlets, reclining chairs, separate male and female restrooms, and WiFi while in Mexico.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Los Angeles to San Jose

The best way to travel from LA to San Jose is by bus because it’s the cheapest option. Bus tickets for this route average about $38, whereas train tickets are around $60, and plane tickets average more than $100.

While flying is the fastest option, with nonstop trips taking about 1 hour and 20 minutes, you have to factor in the additional time getting to the airport and passing through security. Between bus and train, the average bus trip is actually quicker than the average train trip by about 2 hours.

Balancing price and travel time, traveling by bus is the best overall option.

Out of the 36 daily buses that depart Los Angeles for San Jose, 29 of those are direct options that do not require a transfer. Greyhound offers the most direct trips of any bus company on this route.

Depending on what you have planned, San Jose can be a great destination for a family vacation. The travel time would be the hardest part, since the bus trip averages about 7 hours. But if you’re prepared with snacks and travel games, then the trip is well worth it.

The Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose is an excellent spot to take the kids. The museum includes art activities, cooking classes, a theater and even a mini mammoth cave you can explore. If you’re looking for free activities, there are many parks you can visit as well, such as Alum Rock Park and the Hellyer County Park.

One thing worth noting is that San Jose is a pretty pricey town, so you may need to do more advanced planning if you want to travel on a budget.

The bus takes an average of 7 hours and 28 minutes to cover the 492 kilometers from Los Angeles to San Jose. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours and 50 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

Because many passengers travel from Los Angeles to San Jose at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for buses. 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 bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet.

The first bus leaves at 05:00 and the last bus leaves at 23:00. To see the times for all buses from Los Angeles to San Jose, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 27 scheduled buses that travel from Los Angeles to San Jose every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 24 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Los Angeles to San Jose; ticket prices start at €49.79.

City Information

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.

San Jose

San Jose, CA - SJC-0

Image credit: Unsplash

San Jose, CA - SJC-1

Image credit: Unsplash

San Jose, CA - SJC-2

Image credit: Unsplash

San Jose is located in the heart of the world-famous Silicon Valley in California’s Bay Area. It is the largest city in Northern California and, as such, it is the area’s cultural, political and financial center.

While you’re in San Jose, make sure to check out the city’s various museums. Since you’re in the world’s foremost technology hub, the Tech Museum of Innovation is a must-visit. And since you’re on the West Coast, you should stop by the San Jose Museum of Art that features the largest permanent collection of works from West Coast artists.

Thanks to its mild California climate, San Jose is one of the best cities in the U.S. for outdoor activities, and due to its largely younger-leaning population, it offers quite the vibrant nightlife. In fact, San Jose is among the biggest party hubs in America.

San Jose is served by various bus carriers and has several Amtrak stops within its vicinity. In addition, the city’s airport is located right near the downtown area, which makes travel to and from San Jose a breeze.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Los Angeles?

Main departure station: 611 Maple Ave

Buses to San Jose leave from 9 stations in Los Angeles.

All bus stations in Los Angeles:

  • 611 Maple Ave

  • 800 N Alameda St

  • North Hollywood Bus Station

  • 10413 Laurel Canyon Blvd Pacoima

  • 592 Gayley Ave

  • San Fernando Bus Station

  • Downtown - Vignes Lot

  • Union Station

  • 1658 N Orange Drive

Where does the bus arrive in San Jose?

Main arrival station: Diridon Station

Buses arrive in San Jose at 4 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.

Bus stations in San Jose:

  • Diridon Station

  • San Jose, Ca. Fronteras

  • 440 S King Rd

  • Diridon Caltrain Station - 65 Cahill St

Get around town with Moovit

Download Moovit to see all of your local transit options in San Jose. Download here

Need a return trip from San Jose to Los Angeles?

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