chiku-desktop

Cheap bus tickets from Modesto to San Francisco

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

chiku-mobile

Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:

Lowest Prices

We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.

Best Travel Options

We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.

Quick & Easy Booking

Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.

Fast Customer Support

We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.

See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Chiku

Modesto to San Francisco Bus Schedule

Is it better to travel by bus or train from Modesto to San Francisco?

There are usually 5 daily train trips available from Modesto to San Francisco.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
€21.32
Avg. Price
€24.83
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
1
Daily Trips
5
Duration
Duration
2h 34m
Duration
2h 46m

Bus from Modesto to San Francisco: Journey Information

There is one daily bus from Modesto to San Francisco. Traveling by bus from Modesto to San Francisco usually takes around 2 hours and 35 minutes, but some buses might arrive slightly earlier or later than scheduled depending on traffic conditions.

Distance78 mi (126 km)
Shortest duration2h 35m
Cheapest price€15.39
Trips per day1
Most frequent serviceGreyhound
Bus lines2

Wander into savings:
Get deals in your inbox!

Sign up to get the latest deals on bus & train tickets sent directly to you.

How much is a bus ticket from Modesto to San Francisco?

Bus tickets for a trip from Modesto to San Francisco cost €18.34 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 Modesto to San Francisco by travel date

€26€17€9JulJul

Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from Modesto to San Francisco is expected to be between €17 and €21. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is July 15, 2025, when tickets are available for July 15, 2025. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just €17.

Average bus ticket prices from Modesto to San Francisco by month

€43€34€26€17€9ASONDJFMAMJJ
Taking the bus from Modesto to San Francisco is usually cheapest in October, when the average ticket price is only €18. If you're planning to take the bus from Modesto to San Francisco during December, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of €30. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

€43€34€26€17€93020100

To save money on bus tickets, buy them as early as possible. Bus carriers usually charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel. Book your ticket at least 29 days in advance to save up to €2.17.

What bus companies travel from Modesto to San Francisco?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from Modesto to San Francisco that you can compare and book on Wanderu. However, each company only runs one bus per day.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus US18h 0m€37.64
Greyhound12h 35m€19.14
  • 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 1 trips per day from Modesto to San Francisco, 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 1 bus trips from Modesto to San Francisco every day, with the average journey taking around 2 hours and 35 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Francisco usually start from €15.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Modesto to San Francisco

The bus takes an average of 2 hours and 35 minutes to cover the 78 miles from Modesto to San Francisco. It's the perfect amount of time to take a nap, get some work done, or watch a movie. 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.

Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to San Francisco at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Monday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. For a less crowded trip, try to book your bus travel for the beginning of the week.

There is usually only one bus per day from Modesto to San Francisco. It leaves the station in Modesto at 1:00pm 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 Modesto to San Francisco. Fortunately, this happens to be a direct bus, meaning that you do not have to get on a different bus at any point during your trip.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Modesto to San Francisco; ticket prices start at €24.83.

City Information

Modesto

Modesto, CA, US - MOD-0

Image credit: Tom Hilton

Link to image attribution

Modesto is a city in Central Valley, California. The city is known for its large agricultural industry and number of museums. Modesto is home to museums, natural history sites, and planetariums, like the Great Valley Museum and McHenry Museum. It also has different amusement and recreational centers offering playgrounds, rides, go-cart, and more, like Funworks Modesto and Graceada Park. As for nature lovers, Modesto features places for sports, hiking, camping, fishing, and picnics, like Jacob Myers Park and Ceres River Bluff Regional Park. The city is also a fun place for arts with the Graffiti Summer and the Gallo Center for the Arts.

The CA city is ideal for all craft beer and wine lovers, as it has several breweries and wineries to visit. Modesto also has a vibrant nightlife, with different nightclubs, lounges, bars, and restaurants, and is always brimming with pool parties, trance festivals, DJ nights, and more. Downtown Modesto has become a vibrant place for shopping, dining, and parties.

Modesto features several train and bus lines for those in and around the city. The city is easily accessible by Amtrak and Amtrak San Joaquins for trains, while Tufesa Plus offers bus services. The City of Modesto Transit Services powers the city's transportation.

San Francisco

San Francisco, CA - SFO-0

Image credit: Unsplash

San Francisco, CA - SFO-1

Image credit: Unsplash

San Francisco, CA - SFO-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Located in the heart of Northern California's Bay Area, San Francisco is a geographically small but culturally huge city known for its historic cable cars, active waterfront, and the eclectic mix of hippies and techies who call it home. While it might be one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, San Fran can actually be very cheap to visit, and there is no shortage of unique sights to see.

If the city's omnipresent fog (nicknamed "Karl the Fog" by locals) takes a break, the best views and Instagram photo ops of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge are found in Golden Gate Park. Stroll through the oldest Chinatown in North America to find the perfect dim sum, or if you and your boo prefer a little Full House moment, try a romantic picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Victorian "Painted Ladies." After all, San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations for couples.

Since the city is condensed onto a small peninsula, exploring by bike is an efficient and scenic way to get around. When you’re ready to travel beyond city limits, San Francisco is a convenient hub for trips throughout Northern California. It's actually the first stop on Wanderu's West Coast Wine Tour, with the next stop, obviously, in Napa Valley. Whether traveling by bus, train, or through either of the two nearby airports, San Francisco is a can't-miss destination.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Modesto?

Main departure station: 1001 9th St Ste C

Modesto has two bus stations with service to San Francisco.

All bus stations in Modesto:

  • 1001 9th St Ste C

  • 3441 Dale Rd

Where does the bus arrive in San Francisco?

Main arrival station: Salesforce Transit Center

All buses from Modesto arrive at one main station in San Francisco.

All bus stations in San Francisco:

  • Salesforce Transit Center

Get around town with Moovit

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

Need a return trip from San Francisco to Modesto?

Search Bus Tickets

Plan your next adventure

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

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. 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.