Question 1

What are the amenities like at Union Station in Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

The amenities at Union Station in L.A. include dining, gift kiosks, bike hubs and more. They have a wide array of dining options, from elegant New American fare to fast food and coffee for taking on the train.
Located at the North Arcade, the Bike Center offers secure luggage storage. (Chinatown is less than a half-mile walk from Union Station, making it a great spot to get lunch after dropping off your bags.)
You can also kill time waiting for a train by getting your shoes shined for just $8 in the Passenger Concourse.

Question 2

What is the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner?

Accepted Answer

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is a 350-mile long train service that runs from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. It has 25 stops and the entire route is about four hours long. These trains have an average speed of 41 miles per hour, but can reach a maximum of 80 to 90 miles per hour. They operate 12 daily round trips from L.A. to San Diego.
The Pacific Surfliner offers some amazing ocean views of Southern California, and has enough space and racks to carry a surfboard or bike. The train features comfortable, reclining seats as well as power outlets, free Wi-Fi, restrooms, bike and luggage racks and large picture windows. An onboard Market Café offers fresh food, snacks, and beverages, including soft drinks, wine, cocktails and local craft beer. You can also upgrade to Business Class for additional perks.

Question 3

Is it safe to travel by train from Los Angeles to San Diego during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Accepted Answer

Our train partners have implemented several different policies to keep you safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. From limiting vehicle capacity to enhancing cleaning protocols and upgrading air filters, train carriers are committed to maintaining a safe environment. For details on what each company is doing to ensure their fleet remains safe for travel, click here.
In addition, federal law requires all train passengers to wear a face covering for the entire duration of the trip. Please make sure you are wearing a face mask or you may not be allowed to board the train.
Please visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide for more information on all carrier policies and the latest travel advisories issued by every U.S. state, Canadian province, and European country.

Question 4

Can you take a train all the way from Los Angeles to San Diego?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are trains that can take you the entire way from Los Angeles to San Diego. However, there are also some trips on this route that require you to board another vehicle, such as a bus or a shuttle, during your journey. This is worth paying attention to as you book your trip, since a direct train may be preferable for its speed and convenience.

Question 5

When are trains the most crowded?

Accepted Answer

Trains from Los Angeles to San Diego are the most crowded on Monday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Wednesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

Question 6

Which train should you take from Los Angeles to San Diego?

Accepted Answer

2 train services operate from Los Angeles, California to San Diego, California. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner usually has more trains scheduled, with 5 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:

Question 7

What is the price of a train ticket from Los Angeles to San Diego?

Accepted Answer

The most surefire way to find the lowest-priced train tickets from Los Angeles to San Diego is to plan ahead and book your train travel earlier. In the past 30 days, the cheapest average price users have found for trains from Los Angeles to San Diego was . Trying to save on a last-minute fare and have a bit of flexibility on what day to travel? Take a look at midweek schedules, as these tend to be less busy and are often cheaper than buying tickets to travel on Friday, or a weekend departure. On the Pacific Surfliner, Everyday Discounts are available for seniors, kids, students, military personnel, veterans and passengers with disabilities. Rail fares can be higher during holiday periods. Some restrictions apply.

Question 8

Is there a direct train from Los Angeles to San Diego?

Accepted Answer

There are 9 scheduled trains on most days. 23 of these are direct connections to San Diego. While direct trains may still make stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains at any point. If you're looking to get to your destination faster, a direct train is the convenient and time-efficient choice.
You can also take a train for your return trip from San Diego to Los Angeles. If you're not not set on traveling by train, you could always take the bus from Los Angeles to San Diego for RON 61.71.

Question 9

How long is the train journey from Los Angeles to San Diego?

Accepted Answer

The distance between Los Angeles and San Diego is approximately 111 miles, or 179 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 3 hours and 35 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 2 hours and 20 minutes. Although it takes a couple of hours each way, it's still possible to make a round trip in a single day. Since most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, you should be able to browse the Internet or get some work done during your journey.

Question 10

When are the first and last trains of the day?

Accepted Answer

The earliest train departs Los Angeles at 00:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 23:00. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.

Question 11

San Diego

Accepted Answer

The Santa Fe Depot is the main train station in San Diego and one of the end points of the Pacific Surfliner, the only Amtrak train line that serves the city. The station is also used by the Green Line of the San Diego Trolley light rail transit service and the COASTER commuter rail service that connects the city with the central and northern coastal regions of San Diego County. Opened in 1915, the Santa Fe Depot is famous for its Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture and grand interior space that features natural redwood beam ceilings and ceramic details. The train station is located in the heart of Downtown San Diego, making it easy to reach from all parts of the city.

Question 12

Los Angeles

Accepted Answer

Union Station is the main train station in Los Angeles and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. The station was opened in 1939 and has become one of California’s busiest transportation hubs, serving more than 100 thousand passengers per day. Every Amtrak route that goes through Los Angeles stops at Union Station. In addition, the area around the station serves as the main bus stop for several bus carriers that conduct trips in and out of the city. Located in Downtown LA, Union Station offers easy transit connections to other parts of the city via three Metro Rail lines and one Metro Busway line, as well as a shuttle service to LAX airport. Union Station also serves as the main LA hub for six lines of Metrolink, Southern California’s primary commuter rail service.

Question 13

Prices as travel date approaches

Accepted Answer

Since the average price of train trips from Los Angeles to San Diego remains pretty consistent throughout the year, there’s no need to book your tickets too far in advance. However, we still recommend you purchase your train tickets at least 48 hours ahead of departure time to avoid surprise last-minute surges and the risk of the train selling out.

Question 14

Average prices by travel date

Accepted Answer

Over the next four weeks, the average daily price of train tickets to San Diego from Los Angeles is expected to remain pretty much the same. As a result, a one-way train trip will cost about  regardless of the day you pick to travel.

Question 15

Monthly average prices

Accepted Answer

Traveling from Los Angeles to San Diego by train will cost you about the same regardless of the time of year for which you plan your trip. In general, train ticket prices for that route don’t fluctuate much throughout the year, so expect to pay around  whenever you decide to board the train to San Diego.

Question 16

Need a return trip from San Diego to Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

Accepted Answer

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 and with no additional fees. 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.

Lowest price	RON 144.41
Fastest train	2h 20m
Trains per day	9
Train lines	2

Train	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Amtrak	4	4h 53m	RON 155.31
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner	5	3h 18m	RON 153.05

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City Information

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Station Information

Los Angeles

Union Station

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San Diego

Santa Fe Depot

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