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.
You can pick from 4 daily train trips between San Luis Obispo and Santa Clara. The average train journey from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara takes 6 hours and 55 minutes, but some Amtrak train trips are as short as 4 hours and 45 minutes.
| Distance | 160 mi (258 km) |
| Fastest train | 4h 45m |
| Lowest price | $65.00 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
Average score for trains from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara
(Based on 3 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: Comfortable ride. Cons: Bus arrived 35 minutes late. No one let us know about the tardiness. Too long connection from San Jose to Santa Clara (about 90 minutes) for a 5 minutes ride. Tips: Be aware of bus arrival delays.
5.0
Wi-Fi is very basic, only good for messaging apps
In the last 30 days, the average cost of a train ticket from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara was $70.81. You have the best chances of scoring the cheapest ticket to Santa Clara if you book your train tickets at least 23 days in advance. Waiting to purchase until the day of your trip could end up costing you an extra $2.68.
Planning ahead pays off when it comes to booking your train trip from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara. By reserving your ticket on Wanderu at least 23 days before departure, you can save around $2.68. Don't miss out on these savings — book in advance!
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara. However, there are 4 trains per day to choose from.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 4 | 6h 56m | $73.66 |
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 4 Amtrak trains from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara every day, as well as 15 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $65.
The distance between San Luis Obispo and Santa Clara is approximately 160 miles, or 258 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 6 hours and 55 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 4 hours and 45 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.
On a weekly basis, the greatest number of passengers tend to travel by trains from San Luis Obispo to Santa Clara on Monday. Tickets for Monday tend to also be the most expensive. For savvy travelers looking for cheaper priced tickets search for travel departing on Wednesday. Wednesday also tend to have less passengers which may make boarding faster and let you snag your perfect seat.
The earliest train departs San Luis Obispo at 12:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 12:00pm. 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 4 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, 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 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.
Image credit: Unsplash
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.
There are two stations in San Luis Obispo where you can board the train to Santa Clara.
1011 Railroad Ave
1 Grand Avenue, Building 113
Santa Clara receives travelers from San Luis Obispo at its two active train stations.
5099 Stars and Stripes Dr
Caltrain ACE station - 1001 Railroad Ave
$98+
$92+
$83+
$49+
$61+
$34+
$57+
$38+
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
