Cheap bus tickets from Oakland to San Francisco
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Is it better to travel by bus or train from Oakland to San Francisco?
There are usually 8 daily train trips available from Oakland to San Francisco.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price€7.67 | Avg. Price€9.65 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips8 | Daily Trips8 |
Duration | Duration0h 24m | Duration2h 37m |
Bus from Oakland to San Francisco: Journey Information
There are 8 intercity buses per day from Oakland to San Francisco. Traveling by bus from Oakland to San Francisco usually takes around 25 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 15 minutes.
| Distance | 8 mi (13 km) |
| Shortest duration | 0h 15m |
| Cheapest price | €7.02 |
| Trips per day | 8 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from Oakland to San Francisco?
Bus tickets for a trip from Oakland to San Francisco cost €7.58 on average. This is an excellent value for the 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 Oakland to San Francisco by travel date
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from Oakland to San Francisco is expected to be between €7 and €8. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is May 1, 2025, when tickets are available for May 1, 2025. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just €8.
Average bus ticket prices from Oakland to San Francisco by month
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 26 days in advance. This way, you can save up to €0.68 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from Oakland to San Francisco?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Oakland to San Francisco that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Greyhound usually offers more choice, with 6 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 4 | 0h 18m | €7.74 |
| Greyhound | 6 | 0h 26m | €7.74 |
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 4 trips per day from Oakland 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 6 bus trips from Oakland to San Francisco every day, with the average journey taking around 0 hours and 26 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Francisco usually start from €7.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Oakland to San Francisco
The bus takes an average of 25 minutes to cover the 8 miles from Oakland to San Francisco. However, the fastest bus only takes 15 minutes. It's a short trip that goes by very quickly. 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 San Francisco. 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 6:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Oakland to San Francisco, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 8 scheduled buses that travel from Oakland to San Francisco every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Oakland to San Francisco without transferring.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Oakland to San Francisco; ticket prices start at €8.79.
City Information
Oakland
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Oakland, CA is a port city that is beginning to step out of the shadow of San Francisco, its neighbor to the west. Every visitor should start their Oakland trip in the downtown area and Old Oakland, the city's historic quarter full of quaint old buildings. While here, don't forget to take a short detour to Oakland's famous Chinatown as well. The African American Museum and Library at Oakland tells the history of Black communities in the area and is definitely worth a stop. For those who would prefer to stay close to nature, Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park's abundance of redwood groves will offer amazing views.
Oakland's food scene is vibrant and diverse, with a wide range of offerings for all budgets. Enssaro is a popular local name with mid-range dishes that will whet your appetite. For an excellent haute-cuisine dinner, head towards The Wolf.
It's easy to get around the Bay Area on local public transit (called the BART, for Bay Area Rapid Transit). Getting to Oakland from further afield is also a breeze thanks to many intercity bus routes in the area and Amtrak's Capitol Corridor train, which stops in Oakland. Flights arrive at the Oakland International Airport, but several additional airport options in the larger Bay Area are also available.
San Francisco
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
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 Oakland?
Image credit: Pi.1415926535
Link to image attributionMain departure station: West Oakland Bart Station
The Greyhound bus station, located at 2103 San Pablo Ave, was built in 1926 and is still open and operating today. The station has dramatic doorways and a magnificently ornate domed ceiling design. A security guard is on duty at all times to guarantee passenger safety. When passengers arrive, baggage goes through a security check, and you are only allowed in the station if you have a ticket, so say your goodbyes before you come. It serves as a primary stop for Alameda County's National bus system. The station is open from 5 am until 1:30 am every day and offers regular bus trips operated by Greyhound to locations around the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
All bus stations in Oakland:
West Oakland Bart Station
Where does the bus arrive in San Francisco?
Main arrival station: Salesforce Transit Center
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in San Francisco.
All bus stations in San Francisco:
Salesforce Transit Center
Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St
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