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Journey Information
There are 26 intercity buses per day from Oakland to San Diego. Traveling by bus from Oakland to San Diego usually takes around 14 hours and 18 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 11 hours,
| Distance | 455 mi (731 km) |
| Shortest duration | 11h 0m |
| Cheapest price | €39.08 |
| Trips per day | 4 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from Oakland to San Diego?
€50.48 is the average price of a bus ticket from Oakland to San Diego. Any tickets cheaper than €50.48 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
Over the next four weeks, the average ticket price of a bus from Oakland to San Diego is expected to range from €48 to €70. If you are looking to travel to San Diego within the next week, you can find bus tickets starting from €51. The cheapest bus tickets in the next month are €48 and can be found on 15 May 2024.
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 €64 – the lowest of the year.
Alternatively, if you plan to travel from Oakland to San Diego in November, expect to spend more on your bus trip, as the average ticket price may surge to €95 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
The easiest way to save money on bus tickets is by booking in advance! Many carriers increase prices as the travel date approaches, so it's always a good idea to buy your tickets as early as possible. Book at least 29 days in advance to save €72.81 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.
What bus companies travel from Oakland to San Diego?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Oakland to San Diego that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Greyhound usually offers more choice, with 14 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 12 | 14h 51m | €81.81 |
| Greyhound | 14 | 13h 54m | €72.57 |
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 12 trips per day from Oakland 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 14 bus trips from Oakland to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 13 hours and 54 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from €36.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 14 hours and 18 minutes to cover the 731 kilometers from Oakland to San Diego. However, the fastest bus only takes 11 hours. 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 Oakland to San Diego 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 06:00 and the last bus leaves at 23:00. To see the times for all buses from Oakland to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 26 scheduled buses that travel from Oakland to San Diego every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 4 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 Oakland to San Diego; ticket prices start at €62.20.
City Information
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.
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 bus leave from in Oakland?
Image credit: Pi.1415926535
Link to image attributionMain departure station: West Oakland Bart Station
The Greyhound bus station, located at 2103 San Pablo Ave, was built in 1926 and is still open and operating today. The station has dramatic doorways and a magnificently ornate domed ceiling design. A security guard is on duty at all times to guarantee passenger safety. When passengers arrive, baggage goes through a security check, and you are only allowed in the station if you have a ticket, so say your goodbyes before you come. It serves as a primary stop for Alameda County's National bus system. The station is open from 5 am until 1:30 am every day and offers regular bus trips operated by Greyhound to locations around the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
All bus stations in Oakland:
West Oakland Bart Station
Where does the bus arrive in San Diego?
Main arrival station: San Ysidro Transit Center
Buses arrive in San Diego at 7 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
Bus stations in San Diego:
San Ysidro Transit Center
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
San Ysidro Bus Terminal
La Jolla - UC San Diego
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
SDSU - 5716 Hardy Ave
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from San Diego to Oakland?
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