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San Diego to Los Angeles - Compare Coaches, Trains and Flights

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Travel from San Diego to Los Angeles

There are a variety of ways to get from San Diego to LA other than having to drive there yourself. Primary methods of travel include riding a coach, taking a train or flying. Deciding between these options will depend on what you value most between price, speed and comfort. Here is what you need to know:

Fastest time

2h 39m

Cheapest ticket

€33

Daily trips

60

Traveling by Amtrak train is the most comfortable way to get from San Diego to Los Angeles. Fares start at about £28, with 60 trains departing each day.

This route is serviced by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, one of the most scenic Amtrak routes in the country, with ocean views available for a significant portion of the ride.

Fastest time

2h 25m

Cheapest ticket

€8

Daily trips

49

With ticket prices as low as £6, and trips departing consistently throughout the day, traveling by coach between SD and Los Angeles is an easy, budget-friendly option.

The coach carriers servicing this route — Greyhound and Tufesa Internacional — offer amenities like free Wi-Fi, power outlets and on-board bathrooms.

Fastest time

0h 57m

Cheapest ticket

€92

Daily trips

10

With a typical travel time of about 1 hour 5 minutes for nonstop flights, taking a plane is definitely the quickest way to get from San Diego to Los Angeles.

However, San Diego International Airport suggests arriving 2 hours prior to your scheduled flight, which makes the overall travel time more comparable to coach and train — but with significantly higher prices.

Fastest time

2h 39m

Cheapest ticket

€33

Daily trips

60

Traveling by Amtrak train is the most comfortable way to get from San Diego to Los Angeles. Fares start at about £28, with 60 trains departing each day.

This route is serviced by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, one of the most scenic Amtrak routes in the country, with ocean views available for a significant portion of the ride.

Of the 3 different ways you can travel from San Diego to Los Angeles, we recommend taking a coach. Coach rides offer the perfect balance of cheap and relatively fast transit, getting you to Los Angeles in 3 hours or less.
Taking a flight is the fastest way to get to LA from San Diego. Nonstop flights have an average travel time of about 1 hour. To compare, the quickest coach on this route takes around 2 hours 25 minutes, and the fastest Amtrak train takes 2 hours 39 minutes.
Traveling by coach is the cheapest way to get from SD to LA, with tickets averaging about £14. Train travel is a little more expensive, costing around £31 per ticket. Flights are the most high-priced option, with tickets starting at £79.

The distance between the two cities is about 111 miles, or 179 kilometers. Getting to LA from San Diego can take anywhere from 57 minutes to 4 hours 24 minutes, depending on the mode of transportation.

Greyhound is the cheapest, fastest coach option for this route, and offers 46 trips per day.

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