Cheap train tickets from Los Angeles to Riverside
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Trip Summary
There are usually 5 daily train trips available from Los Angeles to Riverside. Traveling by train from Los Angeles to Riverside usually takes 3 hours and 15 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Southwest Chief train can make the trip in one hour and 19 minutes.
| Distance | 49 mi (79 km) |
| Fastest train | 1h 19m |
| Lowest price | $17.00 |
| Trains per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train 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
Los Angeles to Riverside Train Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Los Angeles to Riverside?
There are usually 2 daily bus trips available from Los Angeles to Riverside.
Train | Bus | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$23.94 | Avg. Price$18.37Cheaper |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips5 | Daily Trips2 |
Duration | Duration3h 15m | Duration1h 35mFaster |
Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Average score for trains from Los Angeles to Riverside (Based on 2 ratings and reviews)
There are several train options that can take you from Los Angeles to Riverside:
See more detailsWhat is the price of a train ticket from Los Angeles to Riverside?
In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from Los Angeles to Riverside was $23.74. This is basically as cheap as train fares can get. Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 20 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $0.43 more if you wait to book until the last minute.
Average train ticket prices from Los Angeles to Riverside by travel date
Over the next 30 days, a one-way train trip from Los Angeles to Riverside will cost between $17 and $24. Book in advance to secure the best price in the next few weeks.
Average train ticket prices from Los Angeles to Riverside by month
Taking the train from Los Angeles to Riverside usually costs about the same throughout the year. In general, train ticket prices for this route are fairly consistent, so expect to pay around $23 whenever you decide to travel.
Prices as travel date approaches
The price of train trips from Los Angeles to Riverside doesn't fluctuate much throughout the year, so you don’t need to book your tickets super far in advance. However, to avoid last-minute price surges or sold-out tickets, we recommend purchasing your train tickets at least 48 hours before departure.
Which train should you take from Los Angeles to Riverside?
2 train services operate from Los Angeles to Riverside. Amtrak usually has more trains scheduled, with 4 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 4 | 3h 25m | $24.47 |
| Amtrak Southwest Chief | 1 | 1h 19m | $17.25 |
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 4 Amtrak trains from Los Angeles to Riverside every day, as well as 14 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $17.
The Southwest Chief is a passenger train operated by America’s largest train service, Amtrak. The full route travels over 2,200 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, which takes over 43 hours. The train covers the stretch from Los Angeles to Riverside in about 1 hours and 19 minutes. In addition to standard Coach Class seats, the Southwest Chief offers several sleeper cabin options on longer journeys. Amtrak’s Southwest Chief is consistently ranked as one of the most scenic train routes in America, thanks to the stunning views of the Painted Desert, the Red Cliffs of Sedona, and the Grand Canyon you’ll see from your train window.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Los Angeles to Riverside
There are 5 scheduled trains on most days. There is one direct train, which you can stay on for the entire journey from Los Angeles to Riverside. 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 Riverside to Los Angeles. If you're not set on traveling by train, you could always take the bus from Los Angeles to Riverside for $12.
Trains per day
5
Direct trains
1
The distance between Los Angeles and Riverside is approximately 49 miles, or 79 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 3 hours and 15 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 1 hour 19 minutes. As a relatively short ride, taking the train is an easy way to travel between these two cities.
Distance (mi)
49
Distance (km)
79
The earliest train departs Los Angeles at 8:19am while the last train of the day leaves at 4:55pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
First train
8:19am
Last train
4:55pm
Trains from Los Angeles to Riverside are the most crowded on Monday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Saturday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
Busiest
Monday
Least crowded
Saturday
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.
Riverside
Riverside is the most populous city in the Inland Empire and the birthplace of the local citrus industry. One of the most popular buildings in the city is the Mission Inn, a historic landmark that is also the largest Mission Revival Style building in the country. The building is now a popular local hotel and spa, offering top-notch hospitality services. While nearby, don't forget to check out the Mission Inn Museum as well. If you are looking to enjoy a great panoramic view of the entire city, take a short hike to the top of Mount Rubidoux, and you will not be disappointed!
Riverside boasts a generally vibrant food scene with plenty of establishments to choose from. The Mission Inn itself offers incredible traditional Spanish dishes and a fabulous open-air patio dining spot. For seasonal produce and local dishes, check out Salted Pig!
Riverside is served by Amtrak trains and several bus companies that operate routes throughout Southern California and beyond. In addition, there are three major airports in Riverside's general area: Ontario International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and John Wayne Orange County Airport.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Los Angeles?
Main departure station: Amtrak Metrolink Station - 7724 Van Nuys Blvd
Because some trains make multiple stops before leaving the city, there are 4 stops and stations in Los Angeles where you can board the train.
All train stations in Los Angeles:
- Amtrak Metrolink Station - 7724 Van Nuys Blvd
- 10040 Old Depot Plaza Rd, Chatsworth
- Metrolink Station
- Union Station
Where is the train station in Riverside?
Main arrival station: Downtown Metrolink Station - 4066 Vine St
On June 14, 1993, the Riverside station on Vine Street opened as a transportation facility. It comprises a platform with modest shelters to shield visitors from the sun and adverse weather. On April 29, 2002, the station was added as a stop on the Southwest Chief route, putting an end to Amtrak trains just passing through Riverside without making a scheduled stop. In addition to Amtrak, the station now primarily operates as a Metrolink commuter rail and transit bus terminal.
All train stations in Riverside:
- Downtown Metrolink Station - 4066 Vine St
Need a return trip from Riverside to Los Angeles?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Los Angeles
- Los Angeles to Birmingham Train$412+
- Los Angeles, CA to Las Vegas, NM Train$93+
- Los Angeles to Hanford Train$47+
- Los Angeles to Fullerton Train$21+
- Los Angeles to Miami Train$585+
- Los Angeles to Niagara Falls Train
- Los Angeles to Visalia Train
- Los Angeles to Las Vegas Train$116+
- Los Angeles to Wichita Train$176+
Continue by train from Riverside
- Riverside to Kingman Train$54+
- Riverside to Sacramento Train$84+
- Riverside to Oceanside Train$24+
- Riverside to San Diego Train$34+
- Riverside to Seattle Train$254+
- Riverside to Los Angeles Train$20+
- Riverside to Las Vegas Train
- Riverside to Santa Cruz Train$91+
- Riverside to Albuquerque Train$68+
- Riverside to San Juan Capistrano Train$19+
- Riverside to San Francisco Train$81+
- Riverside to Portland Train$224+
- Riverside to Anaheim Train$8+
- Riverside to Bakersfield Train$36+
- Riverside to Salt Lake City Train$202+
- Riverside to Fresno Train$54+
- Riverside to Stockton Train$77+
- Riverside to Santa Barbara Train$39+
Check out these popular routes
- Providence to Syracuse Train$147+
- Baltimore to Washington, DC Train$23+
- Washington, DC to Baltimore Train$23+
- Boston to New York Train$126+
- Washington, DC to New York Train$118+
- Québec City to Montreal Train$47+
- New York to Montreal Train$100+
- Montreal to Québec City Train$52+
- Toronto to New York Train$168+
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.