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Cheap bus tickets from Los Angeles to San Diego

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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Los Angeles to San Diego Bus Schedule

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

There are usually 70 daily train trips available from Los Angeles to San Diego.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$36.84
Avg. Price
$41.00
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
103
Daily Trips
70
Duration
Duration
4h 30m
Duration
3h 58m

Bus from Los Angeles to San Diego: Journey Information

There are usually 108 daily bus trips available from Los Angeles to San Diego. Traveling by bus from Los Angeles to San Diego usually takes 4 hours and 23 minutes, but the fastest Futura Net bus can make the trip in 2 hours and 19 minutes.

Distance111 mi (179 km)
Shortest duration2h 19m
Cheapest price$23.47
Trips per day84
Most frequent serviceLos Limousines
Bus lines6

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Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from Los Angeles to San Diego

(Based on 24 ratings and reviews)

4.5

4.0

randolph

December 23, 2025- Solo travel

Futura Net

Price and customer service, just one hiccup when the bus was unboarded and passengers split up between two vans at the stop after DTLA.

5.0

Luisa

November 16, 2025- Visiting family

Amtrak Thruway

Everything good. Just perfect! 👌 Thank you

5.0

Catherine

July 18, 2025- Visiting family

FlixBus US

Pros: Bus was very comfortable, generally felt safe both at dropoff and pickup! This was my 3rd trip with Flixbus, was most satisfied with this one out of the 3 between San Diego and LA. Cons: I think the bus had a driver trainee driving. She did a great job! But I think the driver made a few mistakes (missed a turnoff in LA), and I didn't know that there would be multiple stops along the route in LA. If the company informs passengers of these stops beforehand, this would be better! I didn't know about WiFi available onboard. Tips: Arrived ~15-20 minutes late! Not bad, but this affected plans for after.

2.0

Jennifer

October 5, 2024- Solo travel

FlixBus US

Pros: On time. Cons: There was no AC the entire 4 hour trip, during a heat wave . It was hot and sweaty and smelly. Tips: As long as ac works, it’s worth the trip.

5.0

Donal

August 24, 2024- Solo travel

Greyhound

Pros: La amabilidad de los choferes. Cons: Los conectores para cargar los celulares no sirven y el wifi no trabajaba. Tips: No.

Los Angeles to San Diego Route Map

Los Angeles San Diego

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

The average price for a train ticket from Los Angeles to San Diego is $35.05, Compared to most train fares, this is an excellent price. By booking your trip at least 29 days in advance, you increase your chances of scoring even cheaper tickets. But if you wait until the day of your trip to book tickets, expect to pay $10.26 more.

Average bus ticket prices from Los Angeles to San Diego by travel date

$45$30$15JanJan

The average cost of a one-way bus trip from Los Angeles to San Diego is expected to fluctuate between $35 and $42 in the next 30 days. If you’re planning a bus trip to San Diego in the upcoming week, the cheapest price in the next 7 days for a ticket from Los Angeles is $37.

Monthly avg. prices

$50$40$30$20$10FMAMJJASONDJ
Mark your calendar for October if you want to score the cheapest train tickets from Los Angeles to San Diego. You’ll find the best deals during this time of year, when tickets cost an average of $32. If you're planning a trip from Los Angeles to San Diego during May, bear in mind that ticket prices are usually higher during this month. Expect to pay about $44 for your train ticket, unless you book well in advance and find an even better deal.

Prices as travel date approaches

$50$40$30$20$103020100

If you're looking to save on your bus trip from Los Angeles to San Diego, book online with Wanderu at least 29 days in advance. That way, you’ll save $10.26 compared to booking your ticket last minute.

What bus companies travel from Los Angeles to San Diego?

There are 6 bus lines from Los Angeles to San Diego available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 37 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:

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Thruway15h 49m$26.02
FlixBus US304h 49m$37.84
Futura Net232h 50m$44.34
Greyhound135h 31m$45.09
Los Limousines374h 49m$39.70
Tufesa Internacional33h 11m$43.00
  • Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from Los Angeles to San Diego start at $25. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.

  • 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 30 trips per day from Los Angeles to San Diego, and the average ticket for this route costs only .

  • Book Futura Net from Los Angeles to San Diego from $37. There are 23 trips per day offered by Futura Net from Los Angeles to San Diego and you can expect on average to pay for a Futura Net ticket to San Diego. In Los Angeles, Futura Net departs to San Diego from Los Angeles East 7th St . In San Diego, Futura Net arrives at San Diego University Ave and 2 other stations.

    An average trip on Futura Net from Los Angeles to San Diego takes 2 hours and 50 minutes , while the fastest available Futura Net trip will get you to San Diego in 2 hours and 19 minutes .

    On weekends, Futura Net offers 23 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to San Diego.

  • Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus 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 13 bus trips from Los Angeles to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 5 hours and 31 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from $23.

  • Book Los Limousines from Los Angeles to San Diego from $37. There are 37 trips per day offered by Los Limousines from Los Angeles to San Diego and you can expect on average to pay for a Los Limousines ticket to San Diego. In Los Angeles, Los Limousines departs to San Diego from Los Angeles Bus Station and one other station. In San Diego, Los Limousines arrives at Cross Border Xpress CBX and one other station.

    An average trip on Los Limousines from Los Angeles to San Diego takes 4 hours and 49 minutes , while the fastest available Los Limousines trip will get you to San Diego in 2 hours and 19 minutes .

    On weekends, Los Limousines offers 37 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to San Diego.

  • Book Tufesa Internacional from Los Angeles to San Diego from $43. There are 3 trips per day offered by Tufesa Internacional from Los Angeles to San Diego and you can expect on average to pay for a Tufesa Internacional ticket to San Diego. In Los Angeles, Tufesa Internacional departs to San Diego from 611 Maple Ave . In San Diego, Tufesa Internacional arrives at San Ysidro Bus Terminal .

    An average trip on Tufesa Internacional from Los Angeles to San Diego takes 3 hours and 11 minutes , while the fastest available Tufesa Internacional trip will get you to San Diego in 2 hours and 19 minutes .

    On weekends, Tufesa Internacional offers 3 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to San Diego.

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

The average bus takes 4 hours and 23 minutes to travel from LA to San Diego. However, the fastest bus can get you there in 2 hours and 19 minutes. The distance between LA and SD is 111 miles, or 179 kilometers, which makes for a manageable day trip.

If you depart from Union Station in the morning, you will have plenty of time to enjoy San Diego in the daylight. Experience the beautiful beaches and ocean views, as well as famous sites like the San Diego Zoo and the U.S.S. Midway Museum. You can easily spend eight hours in San Diego before heading back to LA.

Buses departing from Los Angeles to San Diego tend to have the most passengers on Saturday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Saturday. If you are trying to snag a cheap bus tickets or just want an emptier bus you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Thursday as the least number of people tend to travel then.

The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Los Angeles to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 108 scheduled buses that travel from Los Angeles to San Diego every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 84 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 Los Angeles to San Diego; ticket prices start at $35.00.

City Information

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.

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 Los Angeles?

Main departure station: Los Angeles Bus Station

Buses to San Diego leave from 10 stations in Los Angeles.

All bus stations in Los Angeles:

  • Los Angeles Bus Station

  • Los Angeles East 7th St

  • 800 N Alameda St

  • San Fernando Bus Station

  • North Hollywood Bus Station

  • Downtown - Vignes Lot

  • 10413 Laurel Canyon Blvd Pacoima

  • 592 Gayley Ave

  • 611 Maple Ave

  • USC - 3492 S Hope St

Where does the bus arrive in San Diego?

Main arrival station: San Ysidro Bus Terminal

Buses arrive in San Diego at 9 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.

All bus stations in San Diego:

  • San Ysidro Bus Terminal

  • Cross Border Xpress CBX

  • San Ysidro Transit Center

  • La Jolla - UC San Diego

  • San Diego University Ave

  • 2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)

  • San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop

  • 789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village

  • Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd

Get around town with Moovit

Find the best way to get to and from any station in San Diego by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

Need a return trip from San Diego to Los Angeles?

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