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San Francisco to Sacramento bus

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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San Francisco to Sacramento Bus Schedule

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Journey Information

There are 18 intercity buses per day from San Francisco to Sacramento. Traveling by bus from San Francisco to Sacramento usually takes around 2 hours and 36 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 2 hours,

Distance75 mi (121 km)
Shortest duration2h 0m
Cheapest price$17.98
Trips per day16
Most frequent serviceFlixBus US
Bus lines2

Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from San Francisco to Sacramento

(Based on 17 ratings and reviews)

4.4

5.0

Diana

August 31, 2024- Vacation

FlixBus US

Pros: Quiet, clean bus with extra seats.. Cons: Less air conditioning..It was a bit chilly at times.. Tips: ENJOY!

5.0

Devon

March 16, 2024- Solo travel

FlixBus US

Pros: Nice staff. Cons: Add stuff for charging electronics. Tips: Nah.

5.0

Teresa

February 3, 2022- Business

Greyhound

Pros: Convenient, affordable, relaxing, perfect route schedules, great terminal location. The San Francisco terminal is beautiful. Cons: N/A. Tips: Do it…best way to visit the city!

4.0

Elisabetta

February 22, 2020- Visiting friends

Greyhound

Pros: The seats. Cons: Time schedule. Traffic was terrible.

5.0

Delores

December 25, 2019- Visiting family

Greyhound

Pros: It was great to have someone else do the driving. Cons: Need signage at Salesforce transit center. As this was my first trip, it was difficult to know where to go.

How much is a bus ticket from San Francisco to Sacramento?

Bus tickets for a trip from San Francisco to Sacramento cost $30.96 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 prices by travel date

$45$30$15SepOct

If you're planning to travel by bus from San Francisco to Sacramento in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $30 to $36. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on October 19, 2024.

If you’re looking to travel to Sacramento this week, bus tickets are available starting at $31.

Monthly average prices

$50$40$30$20$10NDJFMAMJJASO
Traveling from San Francisco to Sacramento by bus will cost you about the same throughout the year. In general, bus ticket prices for this route are fairly consistent, so expect to pay around $17 whenever you decide to travel.

Prices as travel date approaches

$50$40$30$20$103020100

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 24 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $1.87 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from San Francisco to Sacramento?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from San Francisco to Sacramento that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus US usually offers more choice, with 14 scheduled trips per day.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus US142h 36m$33.39
Greyhound42h 39m$31.39

  • 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 14 trips per day from San Francisco to Sacramento, 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 Francisco to Sacramento every day, with the average journey taking around 2 hours and 39 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Sacramento usually start from $19.

Frequently Asked Questions

Megabus has the fastest average time for a bus trip from San Francisco to Sacramento. Megabus usually makes this trip in 1 hour 54 minutes, although if traffic is clear and the weather conditions are good it can make it in as fast as 1 hour 40 minutes.
Greyhound offers the cheapest bus tickets from San Francisco to Sacramento on average, with tickets costing around $9. Megabus tickets are only slightly more expensive, with an average price of $10.
Yes, San Francisco to Sacramento makes a very doable day-trip, with the trip taking as little as 1 hour 40 minutes each way. Buses run throughout the day from San Francisco to Sacramento, starting as early as 7:15 a.m. The latest bus for the return journey leaves Sacramento at 9:55 p.m. and arrives back in San Francisco at 11:55 p.m.

The bus takes an average of 2 hours and 36 minutes to cover the 75 miles from San Francisco to Sacramento. However, the fastest bus only takes 2 hours. 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.

Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Sacramento 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.

The first bus leaves at 6:00am and the last bus leaves at 8:00pm. To see the times for all buses from San Francisco to Sacramento, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 18 scheduled buses that travel from San Francisco to Sacramento every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 16 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Francisco to Sacramento; ticket prices start at $24.00.

City Information

San Francisco

San Francisco, CA - SFO-0

Image credit: Unsplash

San Francisco, CA - SFO-1

Image credit: Unsplash

San Francisco, CA - SFO-2

Image credit: Unsplash

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.

Sacramento

As the long-held capital city of California, Sacramento has a rich and vibrant history that is reflected in its historic buildings and quarters. The Old Sacramento Waterfront quarter is the best place to explore the city’s rich heritage. Boasting ages-old constructions and a quaint vibe that is reminiscent of the Wild West, the area allows visitors to travel back in time and relive the Gold Rush era. Among the most interesting destinations in the area is the California State Museum, located at the northern edge of the quarter. It offers numerous restored locomotives as well as exhibitions on the United States’ westward expansion. If history is not really your thing, then the Midtown quarter, which boasts a vibrant and expanding art scene, will be a great alternative.

Sacramento is famous for its vast tracts of farmland, so it makes sense that the best dishes are the ones made from locally-grown produce. Among the best places to try out homemade dishes are The Firehouse and The Kitchen. For a bit of an Asian taste, visit Mikuni in Midtown Sacramento.

The busiest bus station in Sacramento is located right in the heart of the city and offers bus service to Portland, Reno, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, among many other places. The main Amtrak train station is the nearby Sacramento Valley Station, which also serves the Gold Line of the local transit light rail. The principal regional airport is the Sacramento International Airport, located 10 miles northwest of Downtown.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in San Francisco?

Main departure station: Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St

Buses to Sacramento leave from 3 stations in San Francisco.

All bus stations in San Francisco:

  • Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St

  • Salesforce Transit Center

  • 700 Beach Street

Where does the bus arrive in Sacramento?

Main arrival station: 420 Richards Blvd

Buses arrive in Sacramento at 3 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.

All bus stations in Sacramento:

  • 420 Richards Blvd

  • 961 2nd St

  • Univ - 65th St Light Rail Stn - 6740 Q St

Get around town with Moovit

Find the best way to get to and from any station in Sacramento by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

From the Wanderu blog

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