5.0
Pros: Arrived in time. Cons: Bathroom stalls. Tips: .
Cheap bus tickets from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz
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Bus from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz: Journey Information
There is one daily bus from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. Traveling by bus from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz usually takes around 31 hours and 50 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 31 hours and 27 minutes.
| Distance | 293 mi (472 km) |
| Shortest duration | 31h 27m |
| Cheapest price | $93.00 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
| Bus lines | 1 |
Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Average score for buses from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz
(Based on 2 ratings and reviews)
5.0
How much is a bus ticket from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz?
Bus tickets for a trip from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz cost $93.00 on average. While it’s a bit pricey for a bus ticket, it’s still significantly more cost-effective than flying. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Prices as travel date approaches
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 12 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $0.75 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. Amtrak Thruway is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 1d 7h 51m | $93.27 |
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 Santa Cruz start at $93. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz
The bus takes an average of 31 hours and 50 minutes to cover the 293 miles from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. However, the fastest bus only takes 31 hours and 27 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Travelers prefer riding the bus on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in Santa Cruz. 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, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet.
There is usually only one bus per day from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. It leaves the station in Los Angeles at 5:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.
There is usually only one bus per day from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. However, it is not a direct bus, so you will have to get off your original vehicle to change buses during the trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz; ticket prices start at $61.00.
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.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Los Angeles?
Image credit: David Wilson
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Union Station
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.
All bus stations in Los Angeles:
Union Station
592 Gayley Ave
Where does the bus arrive in Santa Cruz?
Main arrival station: Santa Cruz, California
All buses from Los Angeles arrive at one main station in Santa Cruz.
All bus stations in Santa Cruz:
Santa Cruz, California
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