Deutschland
España
France
Italia
México
Nederland
United Kingdom
Cheap bus tickets from San Diego to Irvine
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Bus from San Diego to Irvine: Journey Information
There are 33 intercity buses per day from San Diego to Irvine. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Irvine usually takes around 3 hours and 43 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in just one hour and 40 minutes.
- Distance
- 76 mi (123 km)
- Shortest duration
- 1h 40m
- Cheapest price
- $16.48
- Trips per day
- 33
- Most frequent service
- ExpressOne Shuttles
- Bus lines
- 2
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
San Diego to Irvine Bus Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Diego to Irvine?
There are usually 13 daily train trips available from San Diego to Irvine.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$37.09 | Avg. Price$26.51Cheaper |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips33 | Daily Trips13 |
Duration | Duration3h 43m | Duration1h 45mFaster |
There are several bus options that can take you from San Diego to Irvine:
See more detailsHow much is a bus ticket from San Diego to Irvine?
Bus tickets for a trip from San Diego to Irvine cost $35.48 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 San Diego to Irvine by travel date
If you're planning to travel by bus from San Diego to Irvine in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $18 to $38. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on October 23, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Irvine this week, bus tickets are available starting at $37.
Average bus ticket prices from San Diego to Irvine by month
Taking the bus from San Diego to Irvine is usually cheapest in April, when the average ticket price is only $25. If you're planning to take the bus from San Diego to Irvine during December, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $40. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better 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 14 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $2.52 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Irvine?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from San Diego to Irvine that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, ExpressOne Shuttles usually offers more choice, with 30 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressOne Shuttles | 30 | 3h 50m | $38.00 |
| FlixBus US | 3 | 2h 3m | $24.51 |
Book ExpressOne Shuttles from San Diego to Irvine from $38. There are 30 trips per day offered by ExpressOne Shuttles from San Diego to Irvine and you can expect on average to pay $38 for a ExpressOne Shuttles ticket to Irvine. In San Diego, ExpressOne Shuttles departs to Irvine from San Ysidro Department of Homeland Security and one other station. In Irvine, ExpressOne Shuttles arrives at Irvine Alton Harvard.
An average trip on ExpressOne Shuttles from San Diego to Irvine takes 3 hours and 50 minutes, while the fastest available ExpressOne Shuttles trip will get you to Irvine in 3 hours and 30 minutes.
On weekends, ExpressOne Shuttles offers 30 trips per day. A one way ticket costs $38 for a weekend trip to Irvine.
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 3 trips per day from San Diego to Irvine, and the average ticket for this route costs only $24.51.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Diego to Irvine
There are 33 scheduled buses that travel from San Diego to Irvine 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 San Diego to Irvine without transferring. Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Diego to Irvine; ticket prices start at $26.
Trips per day
33
Direct trips
33
The bus takes an average of 3 hours and 43 minutes to cover the 76 miles from San Diego to Irvine. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 40 minutes. 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.
Distance (mi)
76
Distance (km)
123
The first bus leaves at 6:00am and the last bus leaves at 8:40pm. To see the times for all buses from San Diego to Irvine, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
Earliest bus
6:00am
Latest bus
8:40pm
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Irvine 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, 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.
Most crowded
Sunday
Least crowded
Wednesday
Towns near Irvine
City Information
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.
Irvine
Though Irvine is probably most famous for its corporations and university campuses, the city is well worth the trip for its variety of attractions and activities. Start with a date night at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, which boasts an intimate atmosphere and superb acoustics. You could also check out the UCI Arboretum, where you can learn more about the unique flora of the coastal California region. The Beall Center for Art + Technology features interesting exhibitions that fuse modern art with futuristic technologies.
When you've worked up an appetite, you can find a wide variety of dining options available in the city. For some of the best Japanese dishes in town, check out Fukuda, which serves udon and soba dishes. If you are craving a good chicken parm, North Italia has just what you need!
It's easy to get to Irvine from anywhere in Southern California via intercity buses or Amtrak trains. Flights operate through the nearby John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport, just 4.3 miles away from downtown.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Diego?
Main departure station: San Ysidro Department of Homeland Security
Buses to Irvine leave from 5 stations in San Diego.
All bus stations in San Diego:
- San Ysidro Department of Homeland Security
- San Diego Broadway
- 2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
- La Jolla - UC San Diego
- 789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
Where does the bus arrive in Irvine?
Main arrival station: Irvine Alton Harvard
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Irvine.
All bus stations in Irvine:
- Irvine Alton Harvard
- University of CA - Crawford Hall
Need a return trip from Irvine to San Diego?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from San Diego
Continue by bus from Irvine
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.