Cheap bus tickets from Sacramento to San Diego
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
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:
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Sacramento to San Diego?
There are usually 15 daily train trips available from Sacramento to San Diego.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price€81.82 | Avg. Price€106.85 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips16 | Daily Trips15 |
Duration | Duration16h 4m | Duration15h 42m |
Bus from Sacramento to San Diego: Journey Information
There are 16 intercity buses per day from Sacramento to San Diego. Traveling by bus from Sacramento to San Diego usually takes around 15 hours and 37 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 10 hours and 35 minutes.
| Distance | 473 mi (761 km) |
| Shortest duration | 10h 35m |
| Cheapest price | €52.17 |
| Trips per day | 2 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from Sacramento to San Diego?
Bus tickets for a trip from Sacramento to San Diego cost €73.08 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.
Average bus ticket prices from Sacramento to San Diego by travel date
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from Sacramento to San Diego is expected to be between €70 and €97. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is March 25, 2025, when tickets are available for March 25, 2025. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just €72.
Monthly avg. prices
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 29 days in advance. This way, you can save up to €57.64 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from Sacramento to San Diego?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Sacramento to San Diego that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Greyhound usually offers more choice, with 16 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 2 | 12h 43m | €130.18 |
| Greyhound | 16 | 15h 37m | €86.46 |
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 2 trips per day from Sacramento 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 16 bus trips from Sacramento to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 15 hours and 37 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from €52.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Sacramento to San Diego
The bus takes an average of 15 hours and 37 minutes to cover the 473 miles from Sacramento to San Diego. However, the fastest bus only takes 10 hours and 35 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 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, 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.
The first bus leaves at 5:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Sacramento to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 16 scheduled buses that travel from Sacramento to San Diego every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 2 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 Sacramento to San Diego; ticket prices start at €73.24.
City Information
Sacramento
As the long-held capital city of California, Sacramento has a rich and vibrant history that is reflected in its historic buildings and quarters. The Old Sacramento Waterfront quarter is the best place to explore the city’s rich heritage. Boasting ages-old constructions and a quaint vibe that is reminiscent of the Wild West, the area allows visitors to travel back in time and relive the Gold Rush era. Among the most interesting destinations in the area is the California State Museum, located at the northern edge of the quarter. It offers numerous restored locomotives as well as exhibitions on the United States’ westward expansion. If history is not really your thing, then the Midtown quarter, which boasts a vibrant and expanding art scene, will be a great alternative.
Sacramento is famous for its vast tracts of farmland, so it makes sense that the best dishes are the ones made from locally-grown produce. Among the best places to try out homemade dishes are The Firehouse and The Kitchen. For a bit of an Asian taste, visit Mikuni in Midtown Sacramento.
The busiest bus station in Sacramento is located right in the heart of the city and offers bus service to Portland, Reno, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, among many other places. The main Amtrak train station is the nearby Sacramento Valley Station, which also serves the Gold Line of the local transit light rail. The principal regional airport is the Sacramento International Airport, located 10 miles northwest of Downtown.
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 Sacramento?
Main departure station: 420 Richards Blvd
Most buses depart from the main station in Sacramento.
All bus stations in Sacramento:
420 Richards Blvd
Where does the bus arrive in San Diego?
Main arrival station: San Ysidro Transit Center
Buses arrive in San Diego at 8 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
All bus stations in San Diego:
San Ysidro Transit Center
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
La Jolla - UC San Diego
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
San Ysidro Bus Terminal
Balboa Park - Presidents Way
SDSU - 5716 Hardy Ave
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from San Diego to Sacramento?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from Sacramento
Continue by bus from San Diego
Check out these popular routes
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.