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How to get to San Francisco by train
| Routes | 143 |
| Trips per day | 521 |
| train lines | 1 |
| Stations | 1 |
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About San Francisco
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.
Station Information
Image credit: 146109843@N05
Link to image attributionBehind a modern curved façade lies San Francisco’s commuter hub, the Salesforce Transit Center. This gateway to downtown San Francisco and the entire Bay Area welcomes tens of thousands of passengers every day. Finding your way around is easy thanks to more than 270 digital displays with transit information. The Salesforce Transit Center serves as a bus station for Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway buses, as well as several public transit options for convenient connections. A standout feature of the Salesforce Transit Center is a public five-acre rooftop park which gives travelers an open space to relax. Rotating food trucks, cafés, carts, and pop-up retail make this a dynamic and vibrant destination in itself.
Popular train stations in San Francisco:
San Francisco, California
What train companies travel to San Francisco, California?
Located in California, San Francisco is accessible by train from 143 other cities. You can choose from 521 daily scheduled trips when you search for trains to San Francisco on Wanderu. Amtrak usually has the most trains on any given day.
Looking for other ways to get there? Bus tickets to San Francisco are also available..
Train companies serving San Francisco
| Train | Routes | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 326 | 14h 51m | US$76.41 |
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.
Which train service has the best service to San Francisco?
Based on customers travel reviews, travelers who booked on Wanderu rave about traveling to San Francisco by train with Amtrak giving them a 4.3 rating out of 5.
Travelers also mentioned that Amtrak had the most comfortable train service to San Francisco taking into account the seats and amenities that Amtrak offers. They rate Amtrak a 4.3 out of 5 when it comes to just how relaxing and enjoyable their experience was onboard.
If you are looking to arrive to San Francisco punctually, travelers suggest that Amtrak has the best on time performance on their train schedules to San Francisco, rating them a 4.1 based on their on time arrivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main train station in San Francisco is San Francisco, California. As the busiest station, it has the most train arrivals, although some trains may make other stops in and around San Francisco.
| Departure | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Martinez | 1h 48m | US$16.79 |
| Richmond | 1h 31m | US$14.38 |
| Los Angeles | 10h 19m | US$61.14 |
| Davis | 2h 44m | US$32.29 |
| Sacramento | 2h 57m | US$34.29 |
Top train routes to and from San Francisco
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