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Bakersfield to Sacramento train

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Bakersfield - Sacramento Train Schedule

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Trip Summary

There are 10 daily trains from Bakersfield to Sacramento. Traveling by train from Bakersfield to Sacramento usually takes around 6 hours, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 5 hours and 23 minutes.

Distance260 mi (419 km)
Fastest train5h 23m
Lowest price$36.75
Trains per day1
Most frequent serviceAmtrak
Train lines2

Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Overall score for trains from Bakersfield to Sacramento

(Based on 9 ratings and reviews)

4.9

5.0

Susan

February 26, 2023- Visiting family

Amtrak

Pros: Speed of the trip and informative bus driver and accommodating me with my luggage. I’d ride again and again! Cons: So far it was as great as going through Italys Train system. I was impressed ! Tips: Better way to travel without having a vehicle and no traffic ...

Pros: Speed of the trip and informative bus driver and accommodating me with my luggage. I’d ride again and again! Cons: So far it was as great as going through Italys Train system. I was impressed ! Tips: Better way to travel without having a vehicle and no traffic to contend with!

More

5.0

Luis

November 13, 2021- Business

Amtrak San Joaquins

Pros: Nice. Cons: Nothing. Tips: No.

Pros: Nice. Cons: Nothing. Tips: No.

5.0

Kathy A

November 10, 2021- Visiting family

Amtrak

Pros: No driving for me . Relaxing. Cons: Idk. Tips: Bring snacks and neck pillow.

Pros: No driving for me . Relaxing. Cons: Idk. Tips: Bring snacks and neck pillow.

5.0

Joyce

September 13, 2019- Visiting family

Amtrak

Pros: It was a relaxing way to travel. Cons: Arriving at my final destination an hour late. Tips: I found other travelers very friendly and willing to share.

Pros: It was a relaxing way to travel. Cons: Arriving at my final destination an hour late. Tips: I found other travelers very friendly and willing to share.

4.0

Heather

August 25, 2019- Visiting friends

Amtrak San Joaquins

The bathrooms were filthy the toilet didnt flush and the was a mound of focus in the stool you could smell it upstairs.

The bathrooms were filthy the toilet didnt flush and the was a mound of focus in the stool you could smell it upstairs.

What is the price of a train ticket from Bakersfield to Sacramento?

In the last month, $38.12 was the average price of a train ticket from Bakersfield to Sacramento. This is a great price, especially considering the length of the route. You can expect to find tickets at that price or lower if you book your trip at least 9 days in advance. Otherwise, expect to pay around $9.56 more than that for a same-day booking.

Average prices by travel date

$60$40$20MarApr

Over the next 30 days, the average cost of a one-way train trip from Bakersfield to Sacramento will vary between $37 and $56. Planning a train trip to Sacramento within the upcoming week? The cheapest train ticket you can find from Bakersfield over the next 7 days is $37. Make sure to book your trip as soon as possible as train fares tend to go up as you get closer to your travel date.

Monthly average prices

$75$60$45$30$15AMJJASONDJFM

If you are trying to decide when to travel from Bakersfield to Sacramento by train so you can score the best possible deal, your best bet would be to plan your trip for October. That’s when the average price for a train ticket is expected to be just $40 – the lowest of the year.

Alternatively, if you plan to travel from Bakersfield to Sacramento in May, expect to spend more on your train trip, as the average ticket price usually surges to $58 at that time of year. However, if you book your trip ahead of time, you have a high chance of scoring a ticket at a lower price.

Prices as travel date approaches

$50$40$30$20$103020100

If you want to score the best deal, you should plan to book your train trip online on Wanderu at least 9 days ahead of time. If you do that, your train ticket to Sacramento from Bakersfield will be about $9.56 cheaper compared to what you would pay if you book at the last minute.

Which train should you take from Bakersfield to Sacramento?

2 train services operate from Bakersfield to Sacramento. Amtrak usually has more trains scheduled, with 9 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:

TrainDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak96h 4m$41.31
Amtrak San Joaquins15h 23m$39.89

  • Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 9 Amtrak trains from Bakersfield to Sacramento every day, as well as 13 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $37.

  • After becoming a permanent Amtrak rail route in 1974, the San Joaquins has offered train services throughout California and the San Joaquin Valley. The line runs daily from the San Francisco Bay Area to Bakersfield, with many stops in between, including Martinez and Modesto. Although Amtrak San Joaquins is one of the nation's busiest routes, it is renowned for being impeccably clean and safe, with passenger comfort remaining the carrier's highest priority. Most of the trains on this line are equipped with lavatories, onboard WiFi, disabled access, and personal power outlets, ensuring a comfortable journey for every passenger.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our train partners have implemented several different policies to keep you safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. From limiting vehicle capacity to enhancing cleaning protocols and upgrading air filters, train carriers are committed to maintaining a safe environment. For details on what each company is doing to ensure their fleet remains safe for travel, click here.

Although masks are no longer required on public transportation, we stand behind CDC guidelines that encourage passengers to wear a mask over their nose and mouth while on the train or in stations.

Please visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide for more information on all carrier policies and the latest travel advisories issued by every U.S. state, Canadian province, and European country.

Yes, there are trains that can take you the entire way from Bakersfield to Sacramento. However, there are also some trips on this route that require you to board another vehicle, such as a bus or a shuttle, during your journey. This is worth paying attention to as you book your trip, since a direct train may be preferable for its speed and convenience.

The distance between Bakersfield and Sacramento is approximately 260 miles, or 419 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 6 hours, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 5 hours and 23 minutes.

Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.

Trains departing from Bakersfield to Sacramento tend to have the most passengers on Thursday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Thursday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Friday as the least number of people tend to travel then.

The earliest train departs Bakersfield at 4:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 6:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.

There are 10 scheduled trains on most days. There is one direct train, which you can stay on for the entire journey from Bakersfield to Sacramento. In contrast, taking a non-direct train would require you to transfer trains during your trip.

You can also take a train for your return trip from Sacramento to Bakersfield.

City Information

Bakersfield

Bakersfield, California, is just north of LA on the Kern River. The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, one of the city’s biggest attractions, displays fossils, dinosaur models, Native American artifacts, and a changing array of temporary exhibitions. Meanwhile, the Bakersfield Museum of Art features multiple rotating galleries of modern and historical art.

As the sun sets in Bakersfield, locals and visitors alike flock to Buck Owens Crystal Palace for food, drinks, and the biggest live music venue in the area. The Belvedere Cocktail lounge offers a more intimate live music experience– plus some amazing drinks and arcade games. For a truly unique experience, check out the family-friendly Gaslight Melodrama Theatre, where audiences are encouraged to cheer, boo, and get in on the fun of the live performances.

On the quieter side, Bakersfield has a number of beautiful parks across the city. The Park at RiverWalk is a fan favorite, with 32 sprawling acres along the Kern River dotted with picnic areas, public grills, and fishing spots. The Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area provides more outdoor activities with swimming, boating, sailing, cycling, and more.

To get to Bakersfield, fly into the Meadows Field Airport just north of the town. Several bus lines also service the area, connecting the city to Phoenix, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Ontario. For train service, Amtrak offers routes to San Diego, San Francisco, and even New York City.

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 is the train station in Bakersfield?

Main departure station: 601 Truxtun Ave - Transit Station

There is one train station in Bakersfield.

All train stations in Bakersfield:

  • 601 Truxtun Ave - Transit Station

Where is the train station in Sacramento?

Valley Station - 401 I St - SACAMT-0

Image credit: rosemarie_mckeon

Link to image attribution
Valley Station - 401 I St - SACAMT-1

Image credit: Lev Lazinskiy

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: Valley Station - 401 I St

Sacramento Valley Station is the second busiest transport hub in California and is used by more than one million people every year. Originally constructed in 1926, it now serves as a major center for Amtrak trains traveling within California, northwards along the West Coast, and eastwards into the American Southwest. The station also falls along four Amtrak Thruway bus routes and operates as the western terminus for the Sacramento Light Rail network. Located between Old Sacramento and Downtown, the station is within walking distance of several Gold-Rush era historical monuments as well as an ultra-modern retail district filled with shops and restaurants.

All train stations in Sacramento:

  • Valley Station - 401 I St

  • 1389 10th Street 10th and N Streets

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