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Journey Information
There are 28 intercity buses per day from Santa Ana to San Diego. Traveling by bus from Santa Ana to San Diego usually takes around 3 hours and 6 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in just one hour and 20 minutes.
| Distance | 82 mi (132 km) |
| Shortest duration | 1h 20m |
| Cheapest price | US$18.48 |
| Trips per day | 20 |
| Most frequent service | Los Limousines |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Buses from Santa Ana to San Diego
- FlixBus US: 6 daily buses from US$20
- Greyhound: 9 daily buses from US$18
- Los Limousines: 21 daily buses from US$37
How much is a bus ticket from Santa Ana to San Diego?
US$22.90 is the average price of a bus ticket from Santa Ana to San Diego. Taking a bus is an affordable way to make this trip. 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
Bus tickets from Santa Ana to San Diego are expected to cost between US$22 and US$32 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to San Diego within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from US$24. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.
Monthly average prices
Prices as travel date approaches
To save money on bus tickets, buy them as early as possible. Bus carriers usually charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel. Book your ticket at least 26 days in advance to save up to US$11.16.
What bus companies travel from Santa Ana to San Diego?
There are 3 bus lines from Santa Ana to San Diego available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 21 daily trips, Los Limousines usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 6 | 1h 53m | US$25.80 |
| Greyhound | 9 | 2h 14m | US$27.35 |
| Los Limousines | 21 | 5h 40m | US$38.98 |
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 6 trips per day from Santa Ana 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 9 bus trips from Santa Ana to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from US$18.
Book Los Limousines from Santa Ana to San Diego from US$37. There are 21 trips per day offered by Los Limousines from Santa Ana to San Diego and you can expect on average to pay for a Los Limousines ticket to San Diego. In Santa Ana, Los Limousines departs to San Diego from Santa Ana E Santa Ana Blvd . In San Diego, Los Limousines arrives at Cross Border Xpress CBX and one other station.
An average trip on Los Limousines from Santa Ana to San Diego takes 5 hours and 40 minutes , while the fastest available Los Limousines trip will get you to San Diego in 1 hours and 20 minutes .
On weekends, Los Limousines offers 23 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to San Diego.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 3 hours and 6 minutes to cover the 132 kilometers from Santa Ana to San Diego. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 20 minutes. It's the perfect amount of time to take a nap, get some work done, or watch a movie. 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.
Friday is the busiest travel day for buses as people head from Santa Ana to San Diego for the weekend. If you are planning to travel on a Friday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Tuesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Tuesday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 02:00 and the last bus leaves at 22:00. To see the times for all buses from Santa Ana to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 28 scheduled buses that travel from Santa Ana to San Diego every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 20 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 Santa Ana to San Diego; ticket prices start at US$11.00.
City Information
Santa Ana
Image credit: Unsplash
Santa Ana is a sunny city in Orange County located between Anaheim and Irvine in the greater Los Angeles area. Downtown Santa Ana bustles with independent breweries, diverse restaurants, unique retail shops, weekly pop-up markets, and art centers. This lively downtown area, in addition to Santa Ana's live-work housing and creative working spaces, make it attractive to young professionals.
One of the most popular spots for visitors is the Santa Ana Zoo, where little ones can enjoy a carousel and mini-train ride along with the animal exhibits. Architecture enthusiasts will love seeing the Bowers Museum, built in a Mission Revival style, and the Heritage Museum, which has restored homes from the 1890s.
The Orange County Transportation Authority and several shuttle services provide transit within Santa Ana. Santa Ana is easily accessible from over 20 other cities by Amtrak Thruway bus or on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train. The primary airport for Orange County, John Wayne Airport, is located in Santa Ana and also makes it easy to travel to this vibrant SoCal spot.
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 Santa Ana?
Main departure station: Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd
Santa Ana has two bus stations with service to San Diego.
All bus stations in Santa Ana:
Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd
Santa Ana E Santa Ana Blvd
Where does the bus arrive in San Diego?
Main arrival station: Cross Border Xpress CBX
Buses arrive in San Diego at 7 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
Bus stations in San Diego:
Cross Border Xpress CBX
San Ysidro Bus Terminal
San Ysidro Transit Center
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
La Jolla - UC San Diego
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from San Diego to Santa Ana?
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