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Los Angeles to Santa Cruz train

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Los Angeles to Santa Cruz Train Schedule

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Trip Summary

7 trains operate daily from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. The train trip from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz is usually about 12 hours and 50 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 10 hours and 35 minutes.

Distance293 mi (472 km)
Fastest train10h 35m
Lowest price$61.00
Most frequent serviceAmtrak
Train lines1

What is the price of a train ticket from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz?

The average price for a train ticket from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz is $71.23, By booking your trip at least 24 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 $15.90 more.

Average train ticket prices from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz by travel date

$90$60$30OctOct

The average cost of a one-way train trip from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz is expected to fluctuate between $66 and $81 in the next 30 days. If you’re planning a train trip to Santa Cruz in the upcoming week, the cheapest price in the next 7 days for a ticket from Los Angeles is $67.

Monthly avg. prices

$100$80$60$40$20NDJFMAMJJASO
Mark your calendar for January if you want to score the cheapest train tickets from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. You’ll find the best deals during this time of year, when tickets cost an average of $69. If you're planning a trip from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz during October, bear in mind that ticket prices are usually higher during this month. Expect to pay about $99 for your train ticket, unless you book well in advance and find an even better deal.

Prices as travel date approaches

$100$80$60$40$203020100

By booking your train trip from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz on Wanderu at least 24 days ahead of time, you can save about $15.90 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!

Which train should you take from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz?

Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. However, there are 7 trains per day to choose from.

TrainDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak712h 51m$74.30
  • 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 7 Amtrak trains from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz every day, as well as 9 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $61.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz

While the train is the main method of transportation from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz, it will only take you part of the way there. Please note that part of your trip will be on a different vehicle, most commonly a bus or express shuttle.

The distance between Los Angeles and Santa Cruz is approximately 293 miles, or 472 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 12 hours and 50 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 10 hours and 35 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.

On a weekly basis, the greatest number of passengers tend to travel by trains from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz on Saturday. Tickets for Saturday tend to also be the most expensive. For savvy travelers looking for cheaper priced tickets search for travel departing on Monday. Monday also tend to have less passengers which may make boarding faster and let you snag your perfect seat.

The earliest train departs Los Angeles at 1:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 10:00am. 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. 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 Santa Cruz to Los Angeles.

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 is the train station in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles, CA - Union Station - LAXUST-0

Image credit: David Wilson

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: Union Station

Union 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.

All train stations in Los Angeles:

  • Union Station

  • Amtrak Metrolink Station - 7724 Van Nuys Blvd

  • 592 Gayley Ave

Where is the train station in Santa Cruz?

Main arrival station: Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz has one train station.

All train stations in Santa Cruz:

  • Santa Cruz, California

Get around town with Moovit

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