Cheap bus tickets from Santa Ana to San Diego
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Bus from Santa Ana to San Diego: Journey Information
There are 49 intercity buses per day from Santa Ana to San Diego. Traveling by bus from Santa Ana to San Diego usually takes around 2 hours and 37 minutes, but the fastest Futura Net bus can make the trip in just one hour and 10 minutes.
| Distance | 82 mi (132 km) |
| Shortest duration | 1h 10m |
| Cheapest price | $15.98 |
| Trips per day | 49 |
| Most frequent service | Futura Net |
| Bus lines | 4 |
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Santa Ana to San Diego Bus Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Santa Ana to San Diego?
There are usually 13 daily train trips available from Santa Ana to San Diego.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$38.70 | Avg. Price$28.92Cheaper |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips49 | Daily Trips13 |
Duration | Duration2h 37m | Duration1h 58mFaster |
There are several bus options that can take you from Santa Ana to San Diego:
- ExpressOne Shuttles: 15 daily buses from $38
- FlixBus US: 6 daily buses from $16
- Futura Net: 24 daily buses from $33
- Greyhound: 4 daily buses from $17
How much is a bus ticket from Santa Ana to San Diego?
Bus tickets for a trip from Santa Ana to San Diego cost $36.83 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 Santa Ana to San Diego by travel date
If you're planning to travel by bus from Santa Ana to San Diego in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $23 to $40. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on October 8, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to San Diego this week, bus tickets are available starting at $37.
Average bus ticket prices from Santa Ana to San Diego by month
Traveling from Santa Ana to San Diego 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 $38 whenever you decide to travel.
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 24 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $2.60 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from Santa Ana to San Diego?
There are 4 bus lines from Santa Ana to San Diego available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 24 daily trips, Futura Net 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressOne Shuttles | 15 | 4h 25m | $38.00 |
| FlixBus US | 6 | 1h 51m | $25.72 |
| Futura Net | 24 | 1h 40m | $44.34 |
| Greyhound | 4 | 2h 3m | $29.65 |
Book ExpressOne Shuttles from Santa Ana to San Diego from $38. There are 15 trips per day offered by ExpressOne Shuttles from Santa Ana to San Diego and you can expect on average to pay $38 for a ExpressOne Shuttles ticket to San Diego. In Santa Ana, ExpressOne Shuttles departs to San Diego from Santa Ana CA. In San Diego, ExpressOne Shuttles arrives at San Ysidro Department of Homeland Security.
An average trip on ExpressOne Shuttles from Santa Ana to San Diego takes 4 hours and 25 minutes, while the fastest available ExpressOne Shuttles trip will get you to San Diego in 4 hours and 25 minutes.
On weekends, ExpressOne Shuttles offers 15 trips per day. A one way ticket costs $38 for a weekend trip to San Diego.
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 6 trips per day from Santa Ana to San Diego, and the average ticket for this route costs only $25.72.
Book Futura Net from Santa Ana to San Diego from $33. There are 24 trips per day offered by Futura Net from Santa Ana to San Diego and you can expect on average to pay $44.34 for a Futura Net ticket to San Diego. In Santa Ana, Futura Net departs to San Diego from Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd. In San Diego, Futura Net arrives at San Diego University Ave and 2 other stations.
An average trip on Futura Net from Santa Ana to San Diego takes 1 hours and 40 minutes, while the fastest available Futura Net trip will get you to San Diego in 1 hours and 10 minutes.
On weekends, Futura Net offers 24 trips per day. A one way ticket costs $33 for a weekend trip to San Diego.
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 Santa Ana to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 2 hours and 3 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from $16.98.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Santa Ana to San Diego
There are 49 scheduled buses that travel from Santa Ana to San Diego 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 Santa Ana to San Diego without transferring. Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Santa Ana to San Diego; ticket prices start at $12.
Trips per day
49
Direct trips
49
The bus takes an average of 2 hours and 37 minutes to cover the 82 miles from Santa Ana to San Diego. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 10 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 6:24am and the last bus leaves at 10:05pm. To see the times for all buses from Santa Ana to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
Earliest bus
6:24am
Latest bus
10:05pm
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to San Diego 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, Monday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. For a less crowded trip, try to book your bus travel for the beginning of the week.
Most crowded
Sunday
Least crowded
Monday
City Information
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.
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.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Santa Ana?
Main departure station: Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd
Santa Ana has two bus stations with service to San Diego.
All bus stations in Santa Ana:
- Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd
- Santa Ana CA
Where does the bus arrive in San Diego?
Main arrival station: San Ysidro Department of Homeland Security
Buses arrive in San Diego at 9 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
All bus stations in San Diego:
- San Ysidro Department of Homeland Security
- San Ysidro Bus Terminal
- San Diego University Ave
- Cross Border Xpress CBX
- San Ysidro Transit Center
- La Jolla - UC San Diego
- San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
- 2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
- 789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
Need a return trip from San Diego to Santa Ana?
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