Cheap train tickets from San Francisco to Santa Clara
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Trip Summary
There are usually 2 daily train trips available from San Francisco to Santa Clara. Traveling by train from San Francisco to Santa Clara usually takes 5 hours and 27 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 2 hours and 13 minutes.
| Distance | 39 mi (62 km) |
| Fastest train | 2h 13m |
| Lowest price | $24.00 |
| Trains per day | 0 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
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 Francisco to Santa Clara Train Schedule
There are several train options that can take you from San Francisco to Santa Clara:
See more detailsWhat is the price of a train ticket from San Francisco to Santa Clara?
In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from San Francisco to Santa Clara was $24.47. 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 2 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $2.03 more if you wait to book until the last minute.
Average train ticket prices from San Francisco to Santa Clara by travel date
The cost of a one-way train trip from San Francisco to Santa Clara is expected to stay pretty stable over the next four weeks. No matter which day you travel, you can expect to pay about $25 for your ticket.
Average train ticket prices from San Francisco to Santa Clara by month
Taking the train from San Francisco to Santa Clara usually costs about the same throughout the year. In general, train ticket prices for this route are fairly consistent, so expect to pay around $24 whenever you decide to travel.
Prices as travel date approaches
The price of train trips from San Francisco to Santa Clara 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.
What train companies travel from San Francisco to Santa Clara?
There are multiple trains that travel from San Francisco to Santa Clara, including Amtrak. Here is what you should know about the 1 most popular train lines:
| TRAIN | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 2 | 5h 27m | $24.54 |
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 Francisco to Santa Clara every day, as well as 3 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $24.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from San Francisco to Santa Clara
Trains leave the station in San Francisco twice a day, so there are a couple of options depending on your preferred travel time. However, there are no direct trains. This means that you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train at some point during your journey. You will need to remember to bring your carry-on luggage with you when you change trains. Depending on the carrier's policy, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage. You can also take a train for your return trip from Santa Clara to San Francisco.
TRIPS PER DAY
2
DIRECT TRIPS
0
The distance between San Francisco and Santa Clara is approximately 39 miles, or 62 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 5 hours and 27 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 2 hours and 13 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)
39
DISTANCE (KM)
62
The earliest train departs San Francisco at 7:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 3:30pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
EARLIEST TRAIN
7:00am
LATEST TRAIN
3:30pm
Trains from San Francisco to Santa Clara are the most crowded on Saturday. 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 Sunday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
MOST CROWDED
Saturday
LEAST CROWDED
Sunday
City Information
San Francisco
Located in the heart of Northern California's Bay Area, San Francisco is a geographically small but culturally huge city known for its historic cable cars, active waterfront, and the eclectic mix of hippies and techies who call it home. While it might be one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, San Fran can actually be very cheap to visit, and there is no shortage of unique sights to see.
If the city's omnipresent fog (nicknamed "Karl the Fog" by locals) takes a break, the best views and Instagram photo ops of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge are found in Golden Gate Park. Stroll through the oldest Chinatown in North America to find the perfect dim sum, or if you and your boo prefer a little Full House moment, try a romantic picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Victorian "Painted Ladies." After all, San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations for couples.
Since the city is condensed onto a small peninsula, exploring by bike is an efficient and scenic way to get around. When you’re ready to travel beyond city limits, San Francisco is a convenient hub for trips throughout Northern California. It's actually the first stop on Wanderu's West Coast Wine Tour, with the next stop, obviously, in Napa Valley. Whether traveling by bus, train, or through either of the two nearby airports, San Francisco is a can't-miss destination.
Santa Clara
Santa Clara is a city in the San Francisco Bay Area, home to Santa Clara University, the San Francisco 49ers, and many of Silicon Valley's prominent tech companies. The Intel Museum, at Intel's headquarters, is the perfect place to celebrate technological advances and see exhibits like a giant replica of an Intel computing chip. The Intel Museum is free to visit, as is the Triton Museum of Art, home to contemporary artworks from Bay Area artists.
If you'd rather escape the fast-paced world of tech, the Santa Clara Valley is also home to over 30 wineries that encourage visitors to take it slow and relax a while. Drink in the view as you sip the wines at Kirigin Cellars, one of the oldest wineries in California.
Santa Clara is a fabulous city for a family vacation, too, just maybe without the winery visits. Instead, treat the kids to thrills at California's Great Adventure amusement park and South Bay Shores water park.
Santa Clara is one of the stops on the Capitol Corridor train that runs from San Jose to Sacramento. Amtrak Thruway provides a few bus trips out of Santa Clara, but there are even more options departing from its neighbors, San Jose and San Francisco. The closest major airport to Santa Clara is the San Jose Airport, but it also convenient to fly into San Francisco or Oakland.
Station Information
Where does the train leave from in San Francisco?
Main departure station: San Francisco, California
Behind a modern curved façade lies San Francisco’s commuter hub, the Salesforce Transit Center. This gateway to downtown San Francisco and the entire Bay Area welcomes tens of thousands of passengers every day. Finding your way around is easy thanks to more than 270 digital displays with transit information. The Salesforce Transit Center serves as a bus station for Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway buses, as well as several public transit options for convenient connections. A standout feature of the Salesforce Transit Center is a public five-acre rooftop park which gives travelers an open space to relax. Rotating food trucks, cafés, carts, and pop-up retail make this a dynamic and vibrant destination in itself.
All train stations in San Francisco:
- San Francisco, California
Where does the train arrive in Santa Clara?
Main arrival station: 5099 Stars and Stripes Dr
Santa Clara receives travelers from San Francisco at its two active train stations.
All train stations in Santa Clara:
- 5099 Stars and Stripes Dr
- Caltrain ACE station - 1001 Railroad Ave
Need a return trip from Santa Clara to San Francisco?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from San Francisco
Continue by train from Santa Clara
Check out these popular routes
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.