Cheap bus tickets from San Diego to Salinas
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Bus from San Diego to Salinas: Journey Information
There is one daily bus from San Diego to Salinas. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Salinas usually takes around 14 hours and 53 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 14 hours and 50 minutes.
| Distance | 374 mi (602 km) |
| Shortest duration | 14h 50m |
| Cheapest price | $90.00 |
| Trips per day | 0 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
| Bus lines | 1 |
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San Diego to Salinas Bus Schedule
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$90.00Cheaper | Avg. Price$117.15 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips1 | Daily Trips5 |
Duration | Duration14h 53m | Duration11h 23mFaster |
There are several bus options that can take you from San Diego to Salinas:
See more detailsPrice trends for buses from San Diego to Salinas
Average bus ticket prices from San Diego to Salinas by travel date
Average bus ticket prices from San Diego to Salinas by month
Prices as travel date approaches
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Salinas?
There are multiple buses that travel from San Diego to Salinas, including Amtrak Thruway. Here is what you should know about the 1 most popular bus lines:
| BUS | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 14h 53m | $90.00 |
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.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Diego to Salinas
There is usually only one bus per day from San Diego to Salinas. However, it is not a direct bus, so you will have to get off your original vehicle to change buses during the trip. Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Diego to Salinas; ticket prices start at $103.
TRIPS PER DAY
1
DIRECT TRIPS
0
The bus takes an average of 14 hours and 53 minutes to cover the 374 miles from San Diego to Salinas. However, the fastest bus only takes 14 hours and 50 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.
DISTANCE (MI)
374
DISTANCE (KM)
602
There is usually only one bus per day from San Diego to Salinas. It leaves the station in San Diego at 10:10pm each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.
EARLIEST BUS
10:10pm
LATEST BUS
10:10pm
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.
MOST CROWDED
Monday
LEAST CROWDED
Wednesday
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
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: Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
The Santa Fe Depot is the main train station in San Diego and one of the end points of the Pacific Surfliner, the only Amtrak train line that serves the city. The station is also used by the Green Line of the San Diego Trolley light rail transit service and the COASTER commuter rail service that connects the city with the central and northern coastal regions of San Diego County. Opened in 1915, the Santa Fe Depot is famous for its Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture and grand interior space that features natural redwood beam ceilings and ceramic details. The train station is located in the heart of Downtown San Diego, making it easy to reach from all parts of the city.
All bus stations in San Diego:
- Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
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
Need a return trip from Salinas to San Diego?
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