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Cheap train tickets from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Trip Summary
There are usually 9 daily train trips available from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles. Traveling by train from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles usually takes 5 hours and 29 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 4 hours and 15 minutes.
- Distance
- 161 mi (260 km)
- Fastest train
- 4h 15m
- Lowest price
- $42.00
- Trains per day
- 4
- Most frequent service
- Amtrak
- Train lines
- 3
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San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles Train Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles?
There are usually 2 daily bus trips available from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles.
Train | Bus | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$58.57Cheaper | Avg. Price$64.30 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips9 | Daily Trips2 |
Duration | Duration5h 29m | Duration4h 38mFaster |
Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Average score for trains from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles (Based on 11 ratings and reviews)
4.0
4.0
4.0
5.0
There are several train options that can take you from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles:
- Amtrak tickets: $42 one-way
- Amtrak Coast Starlight tickets: $52 one-way
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner tickets: $42 one-way
What is the price of a train ticket from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles?
In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles was $47. 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 28 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $13.21 more if you wait to book until the last minute.
Average train ticket prices from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles by travel date
Over the next 30 days, a one-way train trip from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles will cost between $54 and $60. Book in advance to secure the best price in the next few weeks.
Average train ticket prices from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles by month
Ticket prices for the train from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in June when the average ticket price is only $59. If you're thinking of traveling from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles during January, keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $63 during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in January, is to book your trip well in advance.
Prices as travel date approaches
By booking your train trip from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles on Wanderu at least 28 days ahead of time, you can save about $13.21 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!
Which train should you take from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles?
There are 3 train lines with service from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles. Amtrak is the most popular choice with travelers, offering scheduled service on 5 trains each day.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 5 | 5h 40m | $62.62 |
| Amtrak Coast Starlight | 1 | 5h 17m | $67.40 |
| Amtrak Pacific Surfliner | 3 | 5h 2m | $46.09 |
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 5 Amtrak trains from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles every day, as well as 23 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $42.
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 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 3 train trips from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles every day, and prices for a one-way train ticket start from $42.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles
There are 9 scheduled trains on most days. 4 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 Luis Obispo. If you're not set on traveling by train, you could always take the bus from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles for $27.
Trains per day
9
Direct trains
4
The distance between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles is approximately 161 miles. The average train journey between these two cities takes 5 hours and 29 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 4 hours and 15 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.
Distance (mi)
161
Distance (km)
260
The earliest train departs San Luis Obispo at 3:15 AM while the last train of the day leaves at 4:17 PM. 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
3:15am
Last train
4:17pm
Trains from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles are the most crowded on Thursday. 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 Saturday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
Busiest
Thursday
Least crowded
Saturday
City Information
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.
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 Luis Obispo?
Main departure station: 1011 Railroad Ave
There are two stations in San Luis Obispo where you can board the train to Los Angeles.
All train stations in San Luis Obispo:
- 1011 Railroad Ave
- 1 Grand Avenue, Building 113
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 Luis Obispo?
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- San Luis Obispo to Anaheim Train$46+
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- San Luis Obispo to San Diego Train$61+
- San Luis Obispo to San Jose Train$53+
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- San Luis Obispo to Portland Train$135+
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- San Luis Obispo to Irvine Train$48+
- San Luis Obispo to Oakland Train$98+
- San Luis Obispo to Sacramento Train$92+
- San Luis Obispo to San Francisco Train$67+
- San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara Train$35+
- San Luis Obispo to Las Vegas Train$142+
- San Luis Obispo to Seattle Train$137+
Continue by train from Los Angeles
- Los Angeles to Bakersfield Train$83+
- Los Angeles to Fresno Train$59+
- Los Angeles to Sacramento Train$86+
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- Los Angeles to Seattle Train$186+
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- Los Angeles to Oakland Train$93+
- Los Angeles to San Diego Train$42+
- Los Angeles to San Jose Train$112+
- Los Angeles to Atlanta Train$396+
- Los Angeles, CA to Las Vegas, NM Train$110+
- Los Angeles to New York Train$430+
- Los Angeles to Nashville Train$311+
- Los Angeles, CA to Vancouver, WA Train$168+
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