5.0
Pros: Beautiful scenery, quiet compared to air travel. Cons: Availability of WiFi on the Coast Starlight, restrooms better attended.
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
11 trains operate daily from San Luis Obispo to Davis. The train trip from San Luis Obispo to Davis is usually about 9 hours and 41 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 7 hours and 18 minutes.
Distance | 233 mi (375 km) |
Fastest train | 7h 18m |
Lowest price | $38.00 |
Trains per day | 1 |
Most frequent service | Amtrak |
Train lines | 2 |
Average score for trains from San Luis Obispo to Davis
(Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: Beautiful scenery, quiet compared to air travel. Cons: Availability of WiFi on the Coast Starlight, restrooms better attended.
Over the past month, a train ticket between San Luis Obispo and Davis cost $67.81, on average. Booking your trip at least 20 days in advance can help you secure tickets at the best price. For same-day bookings, you’ll likely have to pay around $11.92 more.
2 train services operate from San Luis Obispo to Davis. Amtrak usually has more trains scheduled, with 10 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Amtrak | 10 | 9h 46m | $76.27 |
Amtrak Coast Starlight | 1 | 8h 6m | $76.50 |
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 10 Amtrak trains from San Luis Obispo to Davis every day, as well as 20 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $38.
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 San Luis Obispo and Davis is approximately 233 miles, or 375 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 9 hours and 41 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 7 hours and 18 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 departing from San Luis Obispo to Davis tend to have the most passengers on Wednesday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Wednesday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Thursday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs San Luis Obispo at 12:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 2:00pm. 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 11 scheduled trains on most days. There is one direct train, which you can stay on for the entire journey from San Luis Obispo to Davis. In contrast, taking a non-direct train would require you to transfer trains during your trip.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Davis to San Luis Obispo.
San Luis is a remarkable city known for accommodating travelers with different intents - those looking for nightlife, a laid-back experience, or a healthy mix of both. It is also known for its outstanding farmers' market with some of the best fruits and veggies in all of California. The historic Spanish Mission, art galleries, museums, wine, craft beer tasting room, and great restaurants can provide any type of fun you're looking for in the Sunshine State.
Want a truly unique experience? Swing by Bubblegum Alley, with walls lined with chewed bubblegum. Leave some yourself to make your mark! Or, for more traditional art, visit the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, with galleries displaying work by contemporary California artists.
SLO has two major bus and train stations in San Luis - 1011 Railroad Ave and Grand Avenue, Building 113. FlixBus and Amtrak Thruway buses both service the town for bus transport, and Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight provide train options. There is also a county airport that lets you fly in from wherever you are in the world and is located just two miles from the main city.
Davis, located west of Sacramento in California, is famous for its small-town charm, green spaces, and bike-friendliness. Bring your bike to enjoy 50 miles of bicycle paths packed into the city, and pedal just about anywhere – including to the US Bicycling Hall of Fame, complete with antique bikes and trophies. Or, if you’d prefer to stay on your own two feet, talk a walk through any of the 399 acres of park land with picnic spots and sports fields. Swing by Central Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays to bag some fresh fruit and veggies at the Davis Farmers Market.
The event of the year is the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, held in mid-April at Sudwerk Brewery. This hanami-inspired event celebrates Japanese and Asian culture with live music, local artist galleries, seasonal beer, and cultural activities like mochi pounding. The best part? The whole event is a fundraiser, usually supporting one or more charities.
Other unique attractions in Davis include the California Raptor Center, an educational and research facility, and the UC Davis Arboretum, botanical garden and research center. Pick your own boysenberries, blackberries, and cherries at Impossible Acres, just east of town. The Explorit Science Center is an interactive science museum perfect for hands-on kiddos– and adults.
For food and entertainment, visit Roots Of Happiness, a coffee and tea lounge with karaoke and a piano. Check out Putah Creek Winery to learn about (and taste) a variety of different wines. The Artery is the perfect place to find decor, gifts, jewelry and more all while supporting local artists in Davis.
Amtrak Station is the central train station in Davis, and trains connect to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Seattle. There are three main bus stops across the city with service from Flixbus and Amtrak Thruway, including popular routes from Sacramento – making it easy to get to the nearest airport, the Sacramento International Airport.
There are two stations in San Luis Obispo where you can board the train to Davis.
1011 Railroad Ave
1 Grand Avenue, Building 113
Davis has one train station.
Amtrak Station - 840 Second St
$43+
$39+
$71+
$45+
$43+
$40+
$81+
$46+
$65+
$40+
$62+
$54+
$74+
$76+
$50+
$41+
$194+
$193+
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.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more