Cheap train tickets from Bakersfield to San Francisco
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
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:
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Bakersfield to San Francisco?
There are usually 5 daily bus trips available from Bakersfield to San Francisco.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$52.54 | Avg. Price$58.40 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips5 | Daily Trips5 |
Duration | Duration9h 34m | Duration6h 38m |
Trip Summary
5 trains operate daily from Bakersfield to San Francisco. The train trip from Bakersfield to San Francisco is usually about 6 hours and 38 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 6 hours and 33 minutes.
| Distance | 251 mi (404 km) |
| Fastest train | 6h 33m |
| Lowest price | $57.00 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Bakersfield to San Francisco?
The average price for a train ticket from Bakersfield to San Francisco is $57.00, By booking your trip at least 11 days in advance, you increase your chances of scoring even cheaper tickets. But if you wait until the day of your trip to book tickets, expect to pay $0.95 more.
Average train ticket prices from Bakersfield to San Francisco by travel date
The average cost of a one-way train trip from Bakersfield to San Francisco is expected to fluctuate between $57 and $68 in the next 30 days. If you’re planning a train trip to San Francisco in the upcoming week, the cheapest price in the next 7 days for a ticket from Bakersfield is $57.
Monthly avg. prices
Prices as travel date approaches
Planning ahead pays off when it comes to booking your train trip from Bakersfield to San Francisco. By reserving your ticket on Wanderu at least 11 days before departure, you can save around $0.95. Don't miss out on these savings — book in advance!
Which train should you take from Bakersfield to San Francisco?
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Bakersfield to San Francisco. However, there are 5 trains per day to choose from.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 5 | 6h 39m | $57.80 |
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 5 Amtrak trains from Bakersfield to San Francisco every day, as well as 6 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $57.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Bakersfield to San Francisco
The distance between Bakersfield and San Francisco is approximately 251 miles, or 404 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 6 hours and 38 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 6 hours and 33 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.
Sunday tends to be the busiest day of the week with travelers taking trains from Bakersfield to San Francisco. Ticket price also tend to be more expensive on Sunday than other days. If you are hoping to have more room on the train and even save some change check out travel options on Thursday instead, as less people travel then and deals are more likely to be found.
The earliest train departs Bakersfield at 3:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 4:00pm. 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 5 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from San Francisco 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.
San Francisco
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
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.
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 San Francisco?
Image credit: 146109843@N05
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: San Francisco, California
Behind a modern curved façade lies San Francisco’s commuter hub, the Salesforce Transit Center. This gateway to downtown San Francisco and the entire Bay Area welcomes tens of thousands of passengers every day. Finding your way around is easy thanks to more than 270 digital displays with transit information. The Salesforce Transit Center serves as a bus station for Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway buses, as well as several public transit options for convenient connections. A standout feature of the Salesforce Transit Center is a public five-acre rooftop park which gives travelers an open space to relax. Rotating food trucks, cafés, carts, and pop-up retail make this a dynamic and vibrant destination in itself.
All train stations in San Francisco:
San Francisco, California
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from San Francisco to Bakersfield?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Bakersfield
- Bakersfield to Tucson
$101+
- Train from Bakersfield to Antioch
$45+
- Bakersfield to Barstow Train
$39+
- Train from Bakersfield to Berkeley
$62+
- Train from Bakersfield to Eureka
$89+
- Bakersfield to Fremont Train
$61+
- Train from Bakersfield to Fresno
$24+
- Bakersfield to Los Angeles Train
$30+
- Train from Bakersfield to Pomona
$35+
- Train from Bakersfield to Redding
$91+
- Bakersfield to Riverside Train
$33+
- Train from Bakersfield to Sacramento
$49+
- Bakersfield to San Bernardino
$36+
- Train from Bakersfield to San Diego
$55+
- Bakersfield to Santa Cruz Train
$62+
- Bakersfield to Visalia
$29+
- Train from Bakersfield to Las Vegas
$87+
- Train from Bakersfield to Medford
$175+
Continue by train from San Francisco
- Train from San Francisco to Anaheim
$67+
- Train from San Francisco to Auburn
$48+
- Train from San Francisco to Davis
$34+
- San Francisco to Fairfield
$24+
- Train from San Francisco to Gilroy
$30+
- San Francisco to Palm Springs Train
$85+
- Train from San Francisco to Pasadena
$76+
- Train from San Francisco to Redding
$73+
- San Francisco to Sacramento Train
$37+
- Train from San Francisco to San Diego
$77+
- Train from San Francisco to San Jose
$29+
- Train from San Francisco to Washington D.C.
$495+
- San Francisco to Chicago
$421+
- Train from San Francisco to St Louis
$339+
- Train from San Francisco to New York
$538+
- San Francisco to Seattle Train
$229+
- San Francisco to Vancouver Train
$195+
Check out these popular routes
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.