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There are usually 11 daily train trips available from San Jose to San Diego.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price€74.24 | Avg. Price€105.83 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips16 | Daily Trips11 |
Duration | Duration12h 42m | Duration14h 7m |
There are 21 intercity buses per day from San Jose to San Diego. Traveling by bus from San Jose to San Diego usually takes around 12 hours and 18 minutes, but the fastest Tufesa Internacional bus can make the trip in 10 hours,
| Distance | 416 mi (670 km) |
| Shortest duration | 10h 0m |
| Cheapest price | €37.78 |
| Trips per day | 7 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 4 |
Average score for buses from San Jose to San Diego
(Based on 3 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: On time. Cons: Nothing yet. Tips: Put WiFi.
3.0
Plug was broken for charging We were an hour late coming into LA so nearly missed connection and driver didn’t seem to care... Should be able to communicate with depo somehow to say we are close etc
Bus tickets for a trip from San Jose to San Diego cost €62.25 on average. While it’s a bit pricey for a bus ticket, it’s still significantly more cost-effective than flying. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from San Jose to San Diego is expected to be between €61 and €109. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is November 18, 2025, when tickets are available for November 18, 2025. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just €65.
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 15 days in advance. This way, you can save up to €58.35 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
There are 4 bus lines from San Jose to San Diego available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 12 daily trips, FlixBus US usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 14h 14m | €89.91 |
| FlixBus US | 12 | 13h 26m | €84.47 |
| Greyhound | 3 | 12h 33m | €94.79 |
| Tufesa Internacional | 5 | 10h 56m | €77.34 |
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 Jose to San Diego start at €90. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
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 12 trips per day from San Jose to San Diego, 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 3 bus trips from San Jose to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 12 hours and 33 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from €52.
Book Tufesa Internacional from San Jose to San Diego from €77. There are 5 trips per day offered by Tufesa Internacional from San Jose to San Diego and you can expect on average to pay for a Tufesa Internacional ticket to San Diego. In San Jose, Tufesa Internacional departs to San Diego from San Jose Tufesa and one other station. In San Diego, Tufesa Internacional arrives at San Ysidro Bus Terminal .
An average trip on Tufesa Internacional from San Jose to San Diego takes 10 hours and 56 minutes , while the fastest available Tufesa Internacional trip will get you to San Diego in 10 hours and 0 minutes .
On weekends, Tufesa Internacional offers 5 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to San Diego.
The bus takes an average of 12 hours and 18 minutes to cover the 416 miles from San Jose to San Diego. However, the fastest bus only takes 10 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 San Diego. 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, 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.
The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from San Jose to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 21 scheduled buses that travel from San Jose to San Diego every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 7 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 Jose to San Diego; ticket prices start at €75.61.
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
San Jose is located in the heart of the world-famous Silicon Valley in California’s Bay Area. It is the largest city in Northern California and, as such, it is the area’s cultural, political and financial center.
While you’re in San Jose, make sure to check out the city’s various museums. Since you’re in the world’s foremost technology hub, the Tech Museum of Innovation is a must-visit. And since you’re on the West Coast, you should stop by the San Jose Museum of Art that features the largest permanent collection of works from West Coast artists.
Thanks to its mild California climate, San Jose is one of the best cities in the U.S. for outdoor activities, and due to its largely younger-leaning population, it offers quite the vibrant nightlife. In fact, San Jose is among the biggest party hubs in America.
San Jose is served by various bus carriers and has several Amtrak stops within its vicinity. In addition, the city’s airport is located right near the downtown area, which makes travel to and from San Jose a breeze.
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.
Buses to San Diego leave from 4 stations in San Jose.
Diridon Station
San Jose Tufesa
San Jose Fronteras
Diridon Caltrain Station - 65 Cahill St
Buses arrive in San Diego at 7 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
San Ysidro Bus Terminal
San Ysidro Transit Center
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
La Jolla - UC San Diego
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
€13+
€53+
€65+
€60+
€14+
€338+
€87+
€34+
€145+
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.
