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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

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

There are usually 44 daily train trips available from Los Angeles to San Diego.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$32.76
Avg. Price
$36.90
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
128
Daily Trips
44
Duration
Duration
4h 20m
Duration
3h 30m

Bus from Los Angeles to San Diego: Journey Information

There are 117 intercity buses per day from Los Angeles to San Diego. Traveling by bus from Los Angeles to San Diego usually takes around 4 hours and 18 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Distance111 mi (179 km)
Shortest duration2h 15m
Cheapest price$17.47
Trips per day83
Most frequent serviceFlixBus US
Bus lines4

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Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from Los Angeles to San Diego

(Based on 21 ratings and reviews)

4.5

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.

5.0

Annette

February 17, 2024- Visiting family

FlixBus US

Pros: Friendly drivers. Cons: Restrooms always need cleaning.

5.0

Jose

January 28, 2024- Solo travel

FlixBus US

Pros: Everything and nice driver friendly people. Cons: Nothing. Tips: No.

4.0

Cristobal

August 15, 2023- Solo travel

Greyhound

Pros: On time, convenience, good price and great service. The driver went out of his way, to handle a situation (a passenger disturbing with his loud music). Cons: Nothing. Tips: Be mindful, others do not need to listen to your music or personal conversations.

Los Angeles to San Diego Route Map

Los Angeles San Diego
See more details

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

Bus tickets for a trip from Los Angeles to San Diego cost $30.84 on average. Opting to take a bus is a wallet-friendly way to make this trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.

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

$45$30$15FebFeb

If you're planning to travel by bus from Los Angeles to San Diego in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $30 to $37. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on February 26, 2025.

If you’re looking to travel to San Diego this week, bus tickets are available starting at $32.

Average bus ticket prices from Los Angeles to San Diego by month

$50$40$30$20$10MAMJJASONDJF
Taking the bus from Los Angeles to San Diego is usually cheapest in January, when the average ticket price is only $25. If you're planning to take the bus from Los Angeles to San Diego during March, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $34. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

$50$40$30$20$103020100

Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 26 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $6.35 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from Los Angeles to San Diego?

There are 4 bus lines from Los Angeles to San Diego available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 60 daily trips, FlixBus US 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
FlixBus US603h 42m$32.05
Greyhound285h 7m$36.56
Los Limousines294h 40m$34.26
Tufesa Internacional43h 30m$43.60

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

  • 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 28 bus trips from Los Angeles to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 5 hours and 7 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from $21.

  • Book Los Limousines from Los Angeles to San Diego from $31. There are 29 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 40 minutes , while the fastest available Los Limousines trip will get you to San Diego in 2 hours and 15 minutes .

    On weekends, Los Limousines offers 28 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to San Diego.

  • Tufesa Internacional is the international brand of one of the largest ground transportation providers in Mexico, Tufesa. The carrier offers daily bus trips to and from several cities in the Southwestern United States, including cross-border trips between the U.S. and Mexico. On average, Tufesa Internacional runs 4 from Los Angeles to San Diego, with prices starting from $40. The carrier’s fleet features modern coaches equipped with state-of-the-art technology and amenities, such as onboard restrooms, reclining seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and a digital entertainment system.

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

The average bus takes 4 hours and 18 minutes to travel from LA to San Diego. However, the fastest bus can get you there in 2 hours and 15 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.

Saturday is usually the day when buses are busiest, as many travelers take the bus to enjoy the weekend in San Diego. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.

The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 9:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Los Angeles to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 117 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 83 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 $25.00.

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: 800 N Alameda St

Buses to San Diego leave from 11 stations in Los Angeles.

All bus stations in Los Angeles:

  • 800 N Alameda St

  • Los Angeles Bus Station

  • San Fernando Bus Station

  • North Hollywood Bus Station

  • 592 Gayley Ave

  • Downtown - Vignes Lot

  • 10413 Laurel Canyon Blvd Pacoima

  • USC - 3492 S Hope St

  • Los Angeles Un Station Arrival

  • West LA - Expo/Sepulveda

  • 611 Maple Ave

Where does the bus arrive in San Diego?

Main arrival station: San Ysidro Transit Center

Buses arrive in San Diego at 10 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.

All bus stations in San Diego:

  • San Ysidro Transit Center

  • La Jolla - UC San Diego

  • San Ysidro Bus Terminal

  • 2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)

  • Cross Border Xpress CBX

  • 789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village

  • San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop

  • SDSU - 5716 Hardy Ave

  • Balboa Park - Presidents Way

  • San Ysidro CA

Get around town with Moovit

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