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7 trains operate daily from Los Angeles to Salinas. The train trip from Los Angeles to Salinas is usually about 8 hours long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 7 hours and 6 minutes.
| Distance | 264 mi (425 km) |
| Fastest train | 7h 6m |
| Lowest price | $46.00 |
| Trains per day | 3 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 2 |
Average score for trains from Los Angeles to Salinas
(Based on 4 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: The view! Cons: Not sure! Tips: Pay early in advance! But dont worry if you cant, good prices are still around even the day before!
5.0
Pros: everything. Cons: nothing. Tips: no.
4.0
Pros: I wish Amtrak was longer train ride like it was last year! Cons: Stay with the same route to San Luis Obispo! Tips: None.
In the last 30 days, the average cost of a train ticket from Los Angeles to Salinas was $82.81. You have the best chances of scoring the cheapest ticket to Salinas if you book your train tickets at least 20 days in advance. Waiting to purchase until the day of your trip could end up costing you an extra $16.74.
For the next 30 days, the cost of a one-way train trip from Los Angeles to Salinas will range from $81 to $86. If you're planning to travel by train to Salinas in the upcoming week, the cheapest train ticket from Los Angeles you can find in the next 7 days is $82. Be sure to book your trip in advance as train ticket prices typically increase as your travel date approaches.
If you're looking to save on your train trip from Los Angeles to Salinas, book online with Wanderu at least 20 days in advance. That way, you’ll save $16.74 compared to booking your ticket last minute.
2 train services operate from Los Angeles to Salinas. Amtrak usually has more trains scheduled, with 6 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 6 | 7h 59m | $86.42 |
| Amtrak Coast Starlight | 1 | 8h 6m | $75.56 |
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 6 Amtrak trains from Los Angeles to Salinas every day, as well as 15 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $62.
The Amtrak Coast Starlight is a service provided by Amtrak that connects Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles on the US Pacific coast. The full journey winds through the Cascade Mountains, perfectly clipped vineyards, and dense coastal forest, allowing passengers to get a glimpse of the US west coast while enjoying air-conditioned cars, power outlets, complimentary onboard WiFi, and snacks.
The distance between Los Angeles and Salinas is approximately 264 miles, or 425 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 8 hours, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 7 hours and 6 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 from Los Angeles to Salinas are the most crowded on Sunday. 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 Wednesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Los Angeles at 5:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 7:00pm. 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 7 scheduled trains on most days. 3 of these are direct connections to Salinas. While direct trains may still make stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains at any point. If you're looking to get to your destination faster, a direct train is the convenient and time-efficient choice.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Salinas to 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.
Image credit: Unsplash
Salinas is a city in California popularly known as the Salad Bowl of the World- though the nickname is about more than healthy food. The city has a vibrant agriculture industry, pristine farmland, historic sites, and plenty of greenery. As an agriculture-based city, it's not surprising that there are a lot of outdoor areas to visit, from Natividad Creek Park to the Creekbridge Neighborhood Park. In addition, history lovers in Salinas can visit the National Steinbeck Center and Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad Museum for their interactive exhibits, while Salinas Valley Art Gallery appeals to art lovers.
For wine lovers in Salinas, there is a wide range of wineries and vineyards in the city, with popular choices being the Chateau Sinnet Winery and Vineyard, and SMD Vineyards. Visitors to the city can check out nightclubs, lounges, and bowling centers. Salinas organizes festivals throughout the year, like the Monthly Art Market & Artisan Fair and the Annual Halloween Beer Crawl.
If you're visiting Salinas by train, over 100 cities offer routes by Amtrak. Fewer bus lines are going to the city, provided by Amtrak Thruway. There are also Monterey-Salinas Transit services for transport inside the city.
Image credit: David Wilson
Link to image attributionUnion Station is the main train station in Los Angeles and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. The station was opened in 1939 and has become one of California’s busiest transportation hubs, serving more than 100 thousand passengers per day. Every Amtrak route that goes through Los Angeles stops at Union Station. In addition, the area around the station serves as the main bus stop for several bus carriers that conduct trips in and out of the city. Located in Downtown LA, Union Station offers easy transit connections to other parts of the city via three Metro Rail lines and one Metro Busway line, as well as a shuttle service to LAX airport. Union Station also serves as the main LA hub for six lines of Metrolink, Southern California’s primary commuter rail service.
Union Station
Amtrak Metrolink Station - 7724 Van Nuys Blvd
10040 Old Depot Plaza Rd, Chatsworth
592 Gayley Ave
Salinas has one train station.
11 Station Pl
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