Cheap bus tickets from San Francisco to El Monte

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

Bus from San Francisco to El Monte: Journey Information

There are 4 intercity buses per day from San Francisco to El Monte. Traveling by bus from San Francisco to El Monte usually takes around 12 hours and 38 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 10 hours and 20 minutes.

Distance: 355 mi (571 km)
Shortest duration: 10h 20m
Cheapest price: $54.46
Trips per day: 0
Most frequent service: Greyhound
Bus lines: 2

Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:

Lowest Prices

We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.

Best Travel Options

We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.

Quick & Easy Booking

Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.

Fast Customer Support

We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.

See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

San Francisco to El Monte Bus Schedule

There are several bus options that can take you from San Francisco to El Monte:

See more details

How much is a bus ticket from San Francisco to El Monte?

Bus tickets for a trip from San Francisco to El Monte cost $56.84 on average. Tickets cheaper than $56.84 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.

Average bus ticket prices from San Francisco to El Monte by travel date

If you're planning to travel by bus from San Francisco to El Monte in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $56 to $120. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on September 28, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to El Monte this week, bus tickets are available starting at $75.

Average bus ticket prices from San Francisco to El Monte by month

Taking the bus from San Francisco to El Monte is usually cheapest in October, when the average ticket price is only $71. If you're planning to take the bus from San Francisco to El Monte during March, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $132. 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 17 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $70.89 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from San Francisco to El Monte?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from San Francisco to El Monte 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	2	12h 43m	$108.44
Greyhound	2	12h 36m	$116.17

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 2 trips per day from San Francisco to El Monte, and the average ticket for this route costs only $108.44.
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 Francisco to El Monte every day, with the average journey taking around 12 hours and 36 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to El Monte usually start from $54.46.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Francisco to El Monte

There are 4 scheduled buses that travel from San Francisco to El Monte 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.

Trips per day

Direct trips

The bus takes an average of 12 hours and 38 minutes to cover the 355 miles from San Francisco to El Monte. However, the fastest bus only takes 10 hours and 20 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)

355

Distance (km)

571

The first bus leaves at 1:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:30pm. To see the times for all buses from San Francisco to El Monte, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

Earliest bus

1:00am

Latest bus

10:30pm

Thursday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Thursday, 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.

Most crowded

Thursday

Least crowded

Friday

City Information

San Francisco

Located in the heart of Northern California's Bay Area, San Francisco is a geographically small but culturally huge city known for its historic cable cars, active waterfront, and the eclectic mix of hippies and techies who call it home. While it might be one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, San Fran can actually be very cheap to visit, and there is no shortage of unique sights to see.

If the city's omnipresent fog (nicknamed "Karl the Fog" by locals) takes a break, the best views and Instagram photo ops of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge are found in Golden Gate Park. Stroll through the oldest Chinatown in North America to find the perfect dim sum, or if you and your boo prefer a little Full House moment, try a romantic picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Victorian "Painted Ladies." After all, San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations for couples.

Since the city is condensed onto a small peninsula, exploring by bike is an efficient and scenic way to get around. When you’re ready to travel beyond city limits, San Francisco is a convenient hub for trips throughout Northern California. It's actually the first stop on Wanderu's West Coast Wine Tour, with the next stop, obviously, in Napa Valley. Whether traveling by bus, train, or through either of the two nearby airports, San Francisco is a can't-miss destination.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in San Francisco?

Main departure station: Salesforce Transit Center

San Francisco has two bus stations with service to El Monte.

All bus stations in San Francisco:

Salesforce Transit Center
Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St

Where does the bus arrive in El Monte?

Main arrival station: Bus Station

All buses from San Francisco arrive at one main station in El Monte.

All bus stations in El Monte:

Bus Station

Need a return trip from El Monte to San Francisco?

Search Bus Tickets

Plan your next adventure

More buses from San Francisco

Continue by bus from El Monte

Check out these popular routes

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.