background-img-buses-trains
chiku-desktop

Cheap bus tickets from San Francisco 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

San Francisco to Los Angeles Bus Timetable

Find cheap rental carsFind great deals on cheap cars in the area.
RentalCars logotypeRentalCars logotype
from€27.58

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

There are usually 30 daily train trips from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Bus
Train

Avg. Price

Avg. Price

€54.42

Avg. Price

€59.71

Daily Trips

Daily Trips

36

Daily Trips

30

Duration

Duration

10h 52m

Duration

10h 56m

Search BusesSearch Trains

Bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles: Journey Information

There are 39 intercity buses per day from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Traveling by bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles usually takes around 10 hours and 40 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 6 hours and 55 minutes.

Distance347 mi (559 km)
Shortest duration6h 55m
Cheapest price€23.89
Trips per day18
Most frequent serviceFlixBus US
Bus lines2

Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from San Francisco to Los Angeles

(Based on 13 ratings and reviews)

4.5

4.0

Ahron

21 August 2024- Solo travel

FlixBus US

Pros: N/a. Cons: Wifi and working outlets. Tips: Book in advance for better prices.

5.0

Hart

17 June 2022- Visiting family

Greyhound

Pros: The waiting roms were comfortable with restrooms nearby and wifi. The announcement were clear and comprehensible. Instructions for finding the bus departure point were precise. The bus driver was adorable, very diplomatic when he had to calm down argumentative passengers. Cons: The wifi on the bus itself wasn't strong enough.

4.0

Helen

10 April 2022- Vacation

Greyhound

Pros: The Greyhound bus saved us a fortune and we traveled from San Francisco to LA for less that $100 for two people. Cons: We booked our tickets in advance a year ago. Showed up at the bus station and initially didn’t try to get on the first LA bus to arrive, saying we were taking the 12.45am bus. Luckily the staff said this bus doesn’t exist any more and when they scanned our tickets they were invalid. We had to go to Oakland on the bus to get our tickets reissued and lucky there was still room for us. For those booking tickets in advance, we could have done with better communication from Greyhound who hadn’t told us about this change in schedule. Thankfully, the kind driver sorted us out, otherwise this would have seriously messed up our travel plans. If I’d been organised enough to book tickets in advance, I expect to be contacted about schedule changes. The only email I received from Greyhound was one about how to wear a face covering! Tips: Snacks- you stop at standard bus stations rather than service stations, with no food/ drink stalls or vending machines. Pack plenty of food, snacks and drinks with you. It is a slow ride to LA due to the number of stops- so make the most of it by bringing plenty of books and something to watch. If this bus ride is in the middle of a busy trip, appreciate the time where you can rest and don’t have to do anything!

5.0

Alia

5 February 2021

Greyhound

Bus was on time

5.0

Ma

28 October 2019- Visiting friends

Megabus

Gg

San Francisco to Los Angeles Route Map

San Francisco Los Angeles

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

Bus tickets for a trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles cost €41.17 on average. Tickets cheaper than €41.17 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 San Francisco to Los Angeles by travel date

€83€55€28NovNov

If you're planning to travel by bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from €38 to €81. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on 6 November 2024.

If you’re looking to travel to Los Angeles this week, bus tickets are available starting at €38.

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

€69€55€41€28€14DJFMAMJJASON
Taking the bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles is usually cheapest in January, when the average ticket price is only €49. If you're planning to take the bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles during December, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of €63. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

€92€74€55€37€183020100

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 17 days in advance. This way, you can save up to €23.65 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from San Francisco to Los Angeles that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus US usually offers more choice, with 21 scheduled trips per day.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus US219h 59m€52.39
Greyhound1811h 24m€50.09
  • 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 21 trips per day from San Francisco to Los Angeles, 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 18 bus trips from San Francisco to Los Angeles every day, with the average journey taking around 11 hours and 24 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Los Angeles usually start from €24.

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

Unfortunately, a bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles is too far for a day trip. The bus trip itself takes between 8 and 9 hours. This route is worth it for a trip of at least two days, which will give you more time to experience L.A.

The bus takes an average of 10 hours and 40 minutes to cover the 559 kilometers from San Francisco to Los Angeles. However, the fastest bus only takes 6 hours and 55 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.

Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Los Angeles at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.

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

There are 39 scheduled buses that travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 18 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 San Francisco to Los Angeles; ticket prices start at €42.29.

City Information

San Francisco

San Francisco, CA - SFO-0

Image credit: Unsplash

San Francisco, CA - SFO-1

Image credit: Unsplash

San Francisco, CA - SFO-2

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.

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 does the bus leave from in San Francisco?

Main departure station: Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St

Buses to Los Angeles leave from 3 stations in San Francisco.

All bus stations in San Francisco:

  • Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St

  • Salesforce Transit Center

  • 700 Beach Street

Where does the bus arrive in Los Angeles?

Main arrival station: North Hollywood Bus Station

Buses arrive in Los Angeles at 7 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.

Bus stations in Los Angeles:

  • North Hollywood Bus Station

  • San Fernando Bus Station

  • 800 N Alameda St

  • 592 Gayley Ave

  • Los Angeles Un Station Arrival

  • Downtown - Vignes Lot

  • 1658 N Orange Drive

Get around town with Moovit

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

Need a return trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

Search Bus Tickets

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus 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.