Cheap bus tickets from San Diego to Salinas
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Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Diego to Salinas?
There are usually 5 daily train trips available from San Diego to Salinas.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$73.96 | Avg. Price$103.85 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips3 | Daily Trips5 |
Duration | Duration15h 45m | Duration11h 28m |
Bus from San Diego to Salinas: Journey Information
There are 5 intercity buses per day from San Diego to Salinas. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Salinas usually takes around 15 hours and 12 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 11 hours,
| Distance | 374 mi (602 km) |
| Shortest duration | 11h 0m |
| Cheapest price | $46.97 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Buses from San Diego to Salinas
- Amtrak Thruway: 1 daily buses from $90
- FlixBus US: 4 daily buses from $54
- Greyhound: 4 daily buses from $47
How much is a bus ticket from San Diego to Salinas?
Bus tickets for a trip from San Diego to Salinas cost $66.39 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.
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 21 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $58.66 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Salinas?
There are 3 bus lines from San Diego to Salinas available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 4 daily trips, Greyhound usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 15h 45m | $91.04 |
| FlixBus US | 4 | 17h 13m | $104.72 |
| Greyhound | 4 | 14h 58m | $83.19 |
Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from San Diego to Salinas start at $90. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
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 San Diego to Salinas, 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 4 bus trips from San Diego to Salinas every day, with the average journey taking around 14 hours and 58 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Salinas usually start from $47.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Diego to Salinas
The bus takes an average of 15 hours and 12 minutes to cover the 374 miles from San Diego to Salinas. However, the fastest bus only takes 11 hours. 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 Salinas 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, 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 7:00pm. To see the times for all buses from San Diego to Salinas, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 5 scheduled buses that travel from San Diego to Salinas every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so no matter which bus you take, you will have to transfer buses at least once during your journey.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Diego to Salinas; ticket prices start at $90.00.
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.
Salinas
Image credit: Unsplash
Salinas is a city in California popularly known as the Salad Bowl of the World- though the nickname is about more than healthy food. The city has a vibrant agriculture industry, pristine farmland, historic sites, and plenty of greenery. As an agriculture-based city, it's not surprising that there are a lot of outdoor areas to visit, from Natividad Creek Park to the Creekbridge Neighborhood Park. In addition, history lovers in Salinas can visit the National Steinbeck Center and Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad Museum for their interactive exhibits, while Salinas Valley Art Gallery appeals to art lovers.
For wine lovers in Salinas, there is a wide range of wineries and vineyards in the city, with popular choices being the Chateau Sinnet Winery and Vineyard, and SMD Vineyards. Visitors to the city can check out nightclubs, lounges, and bowling centers. Salinas organizes festivals throughout the year, like the Monthly Art Market & Artisan Fair and the Annual Halloween Beer Crawl.
If you're visiting Salinas by train, over 100 cities offer routes by Amtrak. Fewer bus lines are going to the city, provided by Amtrak Thruway. There are also Monterey-Salinas Transit services for transport inside the city.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Diego?
Main departure station: San Ysidro Transit Center
Buses to Salinas leave from 8 stations in San Diego.
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)
Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
Balboa Park - Presidents Way
SDSU - 5716 Hardy Ave
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
Where does the bus arrive in Salinas?
Main arrival station: 11 Station Pl
All buses from San Diego arrive at one main station in Salinas.
All bus stations in Salinas:
11 Station Pl
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Need a return trip from Salinas to San Diego?
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