Cheap train tickets from San Diego to Los Angeles
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Trip Summary
There are usually 14 daily train trips available from San Diego to Los Angeles. Traveling by train from San Diego to Los Angeles usually takes 3 hours and 21 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train can make the trip in 2 hours and 47 minutes.
| Distance | 111 mi (179 km) |
| Fastest train | 2h 47m |
| Lowest price | $35.00 |
| Trains per day | 13 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Pacific Surfliner |
| 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
San Diego to Los Angeles Train Schedule
Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Average score for trains from San Diego to Los Angeles (Based on 55 ratings and reviews)
4.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
San Diego to Los Angeles Route Map
There are several train options that can take you from San Diego to Los Angeles:
See more detailsWhat is the price of a train ticket from San Diego to Los Angeles?
In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from San Diego to Los Angeles was $36.39. Compared to most train fares, this is an excellent price. Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 23 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $1.52 more if you wait to book until the last minute.
Average train ticket prices from San Diego to Los Angeles by travel date
Over the next 30 days, a one-way train trip from San Diego to Los Angeles will cost between $37 and $41. Book in advance to secure the best price in the next few weeks.
Average train ticket prices from San Diego to Los Angeles by month
Taking the train from San Diego to Los Angeles usually costs about the same throughout the year. In general, train ticket prices for this route are fairly consistent, so expect to pay around $37 whenever you decide to travel.
Prices as travel date approaches
The price of train trips from San Diego to Los Angeles 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 San Diego to Los Angeles?
2 train services operate from San Diego to Los Angeles. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner usually has more trains scheduled, with 13 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 2 | 7h 45m | $62.63 |
| Amtrak Pacific Surfliner | 13 | 3h 17m | $36.78 |
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 2 Amtrak trains from San Diego to Los Angeles every day, as well as 5 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $38.
The Pacific Surfliner is Amtrak’s passenger train service that runs along the Pacific coast of Southern California, connecting San Luis Obispo to the north with San Diego to the south. The line is among the most famous Amtrak routes due to the unique scenic views it presents, as the train parallels the coastline for large portions of the 268-mile railroad stretch. The Pacific Surfliner offers first-class amenities like onboard restrooms, free WiFi, seats with extra legroom and power outlets, as well as storage racks for surfboards. On average, the service offers 13 train trips from San Diego to Los Angeles every day, and prices for a one-way train ticket start from $35.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from San Diego to Los Angeles
There are a number of different transportation options to get from Union Station to other parts of Los Angeles. To get to LAX, passengers can take the LAX Flyaway bus from Bus Stop 9 at Union Station’s Patsaouras Transit Plaza. The cost is $9.75 per person. The Los Angeles Metro Rail has a number of lines that you can take from Union Station, such as the Red Line, Gold Line and Purple Line. The Silver Line on the Metro Busway departs from Union Station as well. The Metrolink commuter rail offers transport to five Southern California counties. Lines that pass through Union Station include the 91/Perris Valley, San Bernardino, Antelope Valley, Ventura County, Orange County, and Riverside lines. In addition, you can summon an Uber or Lyft, or take a taxi from the taxi stand located in front of Union Station West.
There are 14 scheduled trains on most days. 13 of these are direct connections to Los Angeles. 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 Los Angeles to San Diego. If you're not set on traveling by train, you could always take the bus from San Diego to Los Angeles for $23.
Trains per day
14
Direct trains
13
The distance between San Diego and Los Angeles is approximately 111 miles, or 179 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 3 hours and 21 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 2 hours and 47 minutes. Although it takes a couple of hours each way, it's still possible to make a round trip in a single day. Since most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, you should be able to browse the Internet or get some work done during your journey.
Distance (mi)
111
Distance (km)
179
The earliest train departs San Diego at 4:01am while the last train of the day leaves at 9:10pm. 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
4:01am
Last train
9:10pm
Trains from San Diego to Los Angeles are the most crowded on Friday. 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 Thursday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
Busiest
Friday
Least crowded
Thursday
City Information
San Diego
San Diego is known as "America's Finest City" for its sunny weather, white-sand beaches, and dazzling attractions from Belmont Park to SeaWorld. San Diego's 70 miles of pristine beaches include such gems as Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach. The city's strong surfing culture may even inspire you to rent a surfboard and catch the epic waves, bro.
Visitors can spend days getting lost in Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre cultural hub which features 16 museums, immaculate gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The historic heart of the city, Old Town, showcases San Diego's heritage and ties to Mexican culture, while other sights like the USS Midway pay tribute to the city's military and maritime history. Leave time for some evening exploring, too! San Diego is rated the #1 best city for craft beer in America, so don't miss out on the bars in the Gaslamp Quarter: 16 walkable blocks packed with nightlife and young crowds.
Two airports, as well as many bus and train options, mean it is easy to get to San Diego from afar or from nearby cities like Tijuana, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
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 San Diego?
Main departure station: 4005 Taylor St
There are two stations in San Diego where you can board the train to Los Angeles.
All train stations in San Diego:
- 4005 Taylor St
- Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
Where is the train station in Los Angeles?
Main arrival 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
- 10040 Old Depot Plaza Rd, Chatsworth
- Metrolink Station
- 592 Gayley Ave
Need a return trip from Los Angeles to San Diego?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from San Diego
Continue by train from Los Angeles
- Los Angeles to Chicago Train$321+
- Los Angeles to Denver Train$277+
- Los Angeles to Sacramento Train$88+
- Los Angeles to Phoenix Train$103+
- Los Angeles to Oakland Train$93+
- Los Angeles to Santa Barbara Train$35+
- Los Angeles to Portland Train$208+
- Los Angeles to Oceanside Train$35+
- Los Angeles to Houston Train$212+
- Los Angeles to Fresno Train$56+
- Los Angeles, CA to Las Vegas, NM Train$93+
- Los Angeles to New York Train$449+
- Los Angeles to Seattle Train$231+
- Los Angeles to Palm Springs Train$22+
- Los Angeles to Las Vegas Train$117+
- Los Angeles to San Diego Train$43+
- Los Angeles to San Francisco Train$80+
- Los Angeles to San Jose Train$113+
Check out these popular routes
- New York to Baltimore Train$104+
- Philadelphia to New York Train$58+
- Baltimore to New York Train$104+
- Philadelphia to Washington, DC Train$72+
- Washington, DC to Philadelphia Train$70+
- Philadelphia to New Rochelle Train$47+
- Boston to New Rochelle Train$80+
- Washington, DC to New York Train$118+
- Montreal to Toronto Train$61+
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.