Question 1

How many stations does the train from San Francisco to L.A. stop at?

Accepted Answer

The train journey from Jack London Square Station in Oakland to Union Station in Los Angeles includes stops at eight stations. These stations are: San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, and Van Nuys.

Question 2

How hard is it to get to the train station versus the airport?

Accepted Answer

San Francisco International Airport and Oakland’s Jack London Square Station (the nearest train station to S.F.), are both about 13 miles away from the city center. However, 101 South toward SFO tends to have significantly worse traffic, which may extend your total travel time.
On Bay Area Rapid Transit, the light rail to SFO takes approximately 29 minutes, whereas the Blue and Green lines to Jack London Square take about 24 minutes.

Question 3

Can you take a train all the way from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

While the train is the main method of transportation from San Francisco to Los Angeles, 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.

Question 4

Other ways to get from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Accepted Answer

There are usually 42 daily bus trips available from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Question 5

When is the most crowded San Francisco to Los Angeles train route?

Accepted Answer

Saturday emerges as the peak day for travelers journeying from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Ticket fares also tend to be the most expensive on this day. Consider booking your trip on a weekday for a more cost-effective journey to secure the best deals.

Question 6

Which train should you take from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects San Francisco to Los Angeles.  However, there are 17 trains per day to choose from.

Question 7

What is the price of a train ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

On average, the price of a train ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles was $46.00 in the past month. To unlock better savings, secure your tickets at least 20 days in advance for the most economical prices. But if you must opt for a last-minute booking, it’ll likely cost an extra $18.50.

Question 8

Are there direct trains from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

While there is a total of 17 scheduled daily trains, none of them are direct trains. Passengers will need to change trains during the journey, potentially involving the transfer of checked baggage depending on the chosen service.

Question 9

How long does the train journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles take?

Accepted Answer

Covering a distance of approximately 347 miles or 559 kilometers, the average train journey between San Francisco and Los Angeles is 10 hours and 40 minutes. The fastest possible travel time by train is 9 hours and 30 minutes.
Despite the extended duration, most trains on this route are equipped with Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to stream music, browse social media, or attend to work tasks during the journey. It’s advisable to pre-download any shows or podcasts you plan to enjoy in case of occasional Wi-Fi fluctuations.

Question 10

When are the first and last trains of the day?

Accepted Answer

The first train leaves San Francisco at 4 am, and the final train departs at 10 pm. For a comprehensive breakdown of all departure timings, use the search function on this page for your travel dates.

Question 11

Get around town with Moovit

Accepted Answer

Find the best way to get to and from any station in Los Angeles by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

Question 12

Where is the train station in Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

There are more train stations and stops in Los Angeles than most cities. Most trains from San Francisco will stop at one (or more) of the 5 following stations in Los Angeles:

Question 13

Where is the train station in San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

There is one train station in San Francisco.

Question 14

Prices as travel date approaches

Accepted Answer

Given the tendency of many carriers to increase prices as the travel date approaches, we recommend booking your tickets well in advance. Reserving a ticket at least 20 days in advance can save at least $18.50 compared to booking last minute.

Question 15

Average prices by travel date

Accepted Answer

is the best time to book your train ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles! At just , this is the cheapest time of the year for this route. In contrast, traveling the same way in  will cost you an average of . Our advice? Plan ahead and book your train tickets as early as possible to lock in the best savings.

Question 16

Monthly average prices

Accepted Answer

In the upcoming month, anticipate an average price ranging from  to  for a train ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The most budget-friendly train tickets within the week are priced at $46.00. So be sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid price hikes closer to the date of your adventure.

Question 17

Need a return trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

Search Train Tickets

Question 18

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

Accepted Answer

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.