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Journey Information
There are 3 intercity buses per day from San Diego to Salinas. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Salinas usually takes around 11 hours and 45 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 11 hours,
| Distance | 374 mi (602 km) |
| Shortest duration | 11h 0m |
| Cheapest price | $44.48 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from San Diego to Salinas?
Bus tickets for a trip from San Diego to Salinas cost $51.18 on average. Tickets cheaper than $51.18 are an excellent bargain. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
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 27 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $76.62 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Salinas?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from San Diego to Salinas that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Greyhound usually offers more choice, with 2 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 1 | 14h 14m | $89.31 |
| Greyhound | 2 | 11h 34m | $72.90 |
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 1 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 2 bus trips from San Diego to Salinas every day, with the average journey taking around 11 hours and 34 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Salinas usually start from $44.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 11 hours and 45 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.
Travelers prefer riding the bus on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in Salinas. 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, Friday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Friday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 5:00am and the last bus leaves at 2:00pm. To see the times for all buses from San Diego to Salinas, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 3 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 $87.00.
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 Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
Buses to Salinas leave from 4 stations in San Diego.
All bus stations in San Diego:
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
San Ysidro Transit Center
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
La Jolla - UC San Diego
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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