Cheap bus tickets from San Diego to Oakland
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San Diego to Oakland Bus Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Diego to Oakland?
There are usually 11 daily train trips available from San Diego to Oakland.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$75.24 | Avg. Price$101.52 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips16 | Daily Trips11 |
Duration | Duration13h 41m | Duration14h 42m |
Bus from San Diego to Oakland: Journey Information
There are 17 intercity buses per day from San Diego to Oakland. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Oakland usually takes around 13 hours and 33 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 10 hours and 35 minutes.
| Distance | 455 mi (731 km) |
| Shortest duration | 10h 35m |
| Cheapest price | $52.97 |
| Trips per day | 5 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from San Diego to Oakland?
Bus tickets for a trip from San Diego to Oakland cost $70.56 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 San Diego to Oakland by travel date
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from San Diego to Oakland is expected to be between $64 and $122. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is July 12, 2025, when tickets are available for July 12, 2025. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just $77.
Monthly avg. prices
Prices as travel date approaches
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 22 days in advance to save up to $72.16.
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Oakland?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from San Diego to Oakland that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus US usually offers more choice, with 12 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 12 | 14h 3m | $97.00 |
| Greyhound | 5 | 12h 54m | $98.54 |
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 12 trips per day from San Diego to Oakland, 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 5 bus trips from San Diego to Oakland every day, with the average journey taking around 12 hours and 54 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Oakland usually start from $52.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Diego to Oakland
The bus takes an average of 13 hours and 33 minutes to cover the 455 miles from San Diego to Oakland. 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.
Because many passengers travel from San Diego to Oakland at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for buses. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, 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 4:00am and the last bus leaves at 9:00pm. To see the times for all buses from San Diego to Oakland, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 17 scheduled buses that travel from San Diego to Oakland every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 5 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 San Diego to Oakland; ticket prices start at $68.00.
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.
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.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Diego?
Main departure station: La Jolla - UC San Diego
Buses to Oakland leave from 7 stations in San Diego.
All bus stations in San Diego:
La Jolla - UC San Diego
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
San Ysidro Transit Center
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
Balboa Park - Presidents Way
SDSU - 5716 Hardy Ave
Where does the bus arrive in Oakland?
Image credit: Pi.1415926535
Link to image attributionMain arrival 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
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