Cheap bus tickets from San Marcos to Los Angeles
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Bus from San Marcos to Los Angeles: Journey Information
There are 6 intercity buses per day from San Marcos to Los Angeles. Traveling by bus from San Marcos to Los Angeles usually takes around 39 hours and 42 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 35 hours and 40 minutes.
| Distance | 1222 mi (1967 km) |
| Shortest duration | 35h 40m |
| Cheapest price | $218.44 |
| Trips per day | 0 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| 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 Marcos to Los Angeles Bus Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Marcos to Los Angeles?
There are usually 3 daily train trips available from San Marcos to Los Angeles.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$278.48Cheaper | Avg. Price$332.83 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips6 | Daily Trips3 |
Duration | Duration39h 42m | Duration35h 27mFaster |
There are several bus options that can take you from San Marcos to Los Angeles:
See more detailsHow much is a bus ticket from San Marcos to Los Angeles?
Bus tickets for a trip from San Marcos to Los Angeles cost $263.22 on average. Bus tickets on this route can be a bit expensive due to the length of the trip. But even with a higher price tag, taking the bus is often more affordable than flying to Los Angeles. 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 Marcos to Los Angeles by travel date
If you're planning to travel by bus from San Marcos to Los Angeles in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $234 to $241. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on September 13, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Los Angeles this week, bus tickets are available starting at $241.
Average bus ticket prices from San Marcos to Los Angeles by month
Taking the bus from San Marcos to Los Angeles is usually cheapest in February, when the average ticket price is only $245. If you're planning to take the bus from San Marcos to Los Angeles during December, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $290. 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. Booking in advance, even by a couple of days, is the best way to find cheaper bus tickets.
What bus companies travel from San Marcos to Los Angeles?
There are multiple buses that travel from San Marcos to Los Angeles, including FlixBus US, Tornado Bus. Here is what you should know about the 2 most popular bus lines:
| BUS | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 6 | 39h 40m | $278.70 |
| Tornado Bus | 3 | 41h 36m | $260.00 |
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 San Marcos to Los Angeles, and the average ticket for this route costs only $278.70.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Marcos to Los Angeles
There are 6 scheduled buses that travel from San Marcos to Los Angeles 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. Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Marcos to Los Angeles; ticket prices start at $287.
TRIPS PER DAY
6
DIRECT TRIPS
0
The bus takes an average of 39 hours and 42 minutes to cover the 1222 miles from San Marcos to Los Angeles. However, the fastest bus only takes 35 hours and 40 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)
1222
DISTANCE (KM)
1967
The first bus leaves at 12:05pm and the last bus leaves at 11:30pm. To see the times for all buses from San Marcos to Los Angeles, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
EARLIEST BUS
12:05pm
LATEST BUS
11:30pm
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Los Angeles 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.
MOST CROWDED
Sunday
LEAST CROWDED
Tuesday
City Information
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the undisputed world capital of the entertainment business. Because of that, the City of Angels is where you will find some of the most iconic landmarks of the film and music industries, including the world-famous Walk of Fame and Dolby Theatre (home of the Academy Awards) on Hollywood Boulevard, the easily recognizable Capitol Records building at Hollywood & Vine, and the LA Live complex in Downtown Los Angeles.
The best part of LA is that it has something to offer for people of all interests: outdoor enthusiasts can hike up to the Hollywood sign, fashion aficionados can go shopping in Beverly Hills, art lovers can check out the prominent Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in the Miracle Mile district, and those looking for a fun night out can go bar-hopping in West Hollywood. Are you a Pokémon GO addict? Well then this is the place for you because LA is the best city to catch the rarest Pokémon in the U.S.. And if you want to want to experience the famed golden coast of Southern California for yourself, head west to Santa Monica and Venice for a refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean.
With one of the biggest airports on the West Coast and several bus and train stops across the county, Los Angeles makes it easy to travel elsewhere in California, visit the neighboring Nevada, Arizona and Mexico, or take a flight to pretty much any other part of the world.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Marcos?
Main departure station: 338 S Guadalupe St - San Marcos Intermodal Station
San Marcos has two bus stations with service to Los Angeles.
All bus stations in San Marcos:
- 338 S Guadalupe St - San Marcos Intermodal Station
- Restaurant Mazatlan
Where does the bus arrive in Los Angeles?
Main arrival station: 800 N Alameda St
Buses arrive in Los Angeles at 5 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
All bus stations in Los Angeles:
- 800 N Alameda St
- North Hollywood Bus Station
- San Fernando Bus Station
- Downtown - Vignes Lot
- 611 Maple Ave
Need a return trip from Los Angeles to San Marcos?
Search Bus Tickets
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.