Cheap bus tickets from San Diego to Santa Ana
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Bus from San Diego to Santa Ana: Journey Information
There are 55 intercity buses per day from San Diego to Santa Ana. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Santa Ana usually takes around 3 hours and 3 minutes, but the fastest Futura Net bus can make the trip in just one hour and 8 minutes.
| Distance | 82 mi (132 km) |
| Shortest duration | 1h 8m |
| Cheapest price | $19.48 |
| Trips per day | 55 |
| Most frequent service | ExpressOne Shuttles |
| Bus lines | 3 |
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San Diego to Santa Ana Bus Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Diego to Santa Ana?
There are usually 13 daily train trips available from San Diego to Santa Ana.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$38.40 | Avg. Price$29.01Cheaper |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips55 | Daily Trips13 |
Duration | Duration3h 3m | Duration1h 56mFaster |
Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Average score for buses from San Diego to Santa Ana (Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
5.0
March 4, 2024 - Business
GreyhoundThere are several bus options that can take you from San Diego to Santa Ana:
- ExpressOne Shuttles: 30 daily buses from $35
- Futura Net: 21 daily buses from $24
- Greyhound: 4 daily buses from $18
How much is a bus ticket from San Diego to Santa Ana?
Bus tickets for a trip from San Diego to Santa Ana cost $37.65 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 Santa Ana by travel date
If you're planning to travel by bus from San Diego to Santa Ana in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $19 to $38. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on September 1, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Santa Ana this week, bus tickets are available starting at $37.
Average bus ticket prices from San Diego to Santa Ana by month
Taking the bus from San Diego to Santa Ana is usually cheapest in June, when the average ticket price is only $36. If you're planning to take the bus from San Diego to Santa Ana during December, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $38. 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 9 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $1.21 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Santa Ana?
There are multiple buses that travel from San Diego to Santa Ana, including ExpressOne Shuttles, Futura Net, Greyhound. Here is what you should know about the 3 most popular bus lines:
| BUS | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressOne Shuttles | 30 | 4h 20m | $37.81 |
| Futura Net | 21 | 1h 28m | $41.29 |
| Greyhound | 4 | 2h 4m | $27.47 |
Book ExpressOne Shuttles from San Diego to Santa Ana from $35. There are 30 trips per day offered by ExpressOne Shuttles from San Diego to Santa Ana and you can expect on average to pay $37.81 for a ExpressOne Shuttles ticket to Santa Ana. In San Diego, ExpressOne Shuttles departs to Santa Ana from San Diego Broadway and one other station. In Santa Ana, ExpressOne Shuttles arrives at Santa Ana CA.
An average trip on ExpressOne Shuttles from San Diego to Santa Ana takes 4 hours and 20 minutes, while the fastest available ExpressOne Shuttles trip will get you to Santa Ana in 4 hours and 0 minutes.
On weekends, ExpressOne Shuttles offers 30 trips per day. A one way ticket costs $35 for a weekend trip to Santa Ana.
Book Futura Net from San Diego to Santa Ana from $24. There are 21 trips per day offered by Futura Net from San Diego to Santa Ana and you can expect on average to pay $41.29 for a Futura Net ticket to Santa Ana. In San Diego, Futura Net departs to Santa Ana from San Ysidro Bus Terminal and 2 other stations. In Santa Ana, Futura Net arrives at Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd.
An average trip on Futura Net from San Diego to Santa Ana takes 1 hours and 28 minutes, while the fastest available Futura Net trip will get you to Santa Ana in 1 hours and 8 minutes.
On weekends, Futura Net offers 21 trips per day. A one way ticket costs $24 for a weekend trip to Santa Ana.
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 Santa Ana every day, with the average journey taking around 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Santa Ana usually start from $17.98.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Diego to Santa Ana
Bus tickets for a trip from San Diego to Santa Ana cost $37.65 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.
There are 55 scheduled buses that travel from San Diego to Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana without transferring. Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Diego to Santa Ana; ticket prices start at $29.
TRIPS PER DAY
55
DIRECT TRIPS
55
The bus takes an average of 3 hours and 3 minutes to cover the 82 miles from San Diego to Santa Ana. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 8 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)
82
DISTANCE (KM)
132
The first bus leaves at 4:55am and the last bus leaves at 8:40pm. To see the times for all buses from San Diego to Santa Ana, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
EARLIEST BUS
4:55am
LATEST BUS
8:40pm
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Santa Ana 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, Tuesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Tuesday ticket is the way to go.
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.
Santa Ana
Santa Ana is a sunny city in Orange County located between Anaheim and Irvine in the greater Los Angeles area. Downtown Santa Ana bustles with independent breweries, diverse restaurants, unique retail shops, weekly pop-up markets, and art centers. This lively downtown area, in addition to Santa Ana's live-work housing and creative working spaces, make it attractive to young professionals.
One of the most popular spots for visitors is the Santa Ana Zoo, where little ones can enjoy a carousel and mini-train ride along with the animal exhibits. Architecture enthusiasts will love seeing the Bowers Museum, built in a Mission Revival style, and the Heritage Museum, which has restored homes from the 1890s.
The Orange County Transportation Authority and several shuttle services provide transit within Santa Ana. Santa Ana is easily accessible from over 20 other cities by Amtrak Thruway bus or on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train. The primary airport for Orange County, John Wayne Airport, is located in Santa Ana and also makes it easy to travel to this vibrant SoCal spot.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Diego?
Main departure station: San Diego Broadway
Buses to Santa Ana leave from 7 stations in San Diego.
All bus stations in San Diego:
- San Diego Broadway
- San Ysidro Department of Homeland Security
- San Ysidro Bus Terminal
- San Diego University Ave
- Cross Border Xpress CBX
- San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
- San Ysidro Transit Center
Where does the bus arrive in Santa Ana?
Main arrival station: Santa Ana CA
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Santa Ana.
All bus stations in Santa Ana:
- Santa Ana CA
- Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd
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