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Santa Clara to Santa Cruz train

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Santa Clara - Santa Cruz Train Schedule

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Trip Summary

9 trains operate daily from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz. The train trip from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz is usually about one hour and 50 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as one hour and 26 minutes.

Distance27 mi (43 km)
Fastest train1h 26m
Lowest price$11.00
Most frequent serviceAmtrak
Train lines1

What is the price of a train ticket from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz?

In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz was $13.55. 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 11 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $0.30 more if you wait to book until the last minute.

Monthly avg. prices

$25$20$15$10$5AMJJASONDJFM
Ticket prices for the train from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz stay pretty consistent throughout the year. You can expect to pay around $13 regardless of when you plan to travel.

Prices as travel date approaches

$25$20$15$10$53020100

Since ticket prices on this route stay pretty consistent, you don’t need to book way in advance. However, we recommend buying your train ticket to Santa Cruz at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure to prevent any unpleasant surprises, like last-minute surges in price or sold-out tickets.

Which train should you take from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz?

Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Santa Clara to Santa Cruz. However, there are 9 trains per day to choose from.

TrainDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak91h 51m$14.03
  • 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 9 Amtrak trains from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz every day, as well as 13 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $11.

Frequently Asked Questions

While the train is the main method of transportation from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz, 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.
The distance between Santa Clara and Santa Cruz is approximately 27 miles, or 43 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 1 hour 50 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 1 hour 26 minutes. As a relatively short ride, taking the train is an easy way to travel between these two cities.

Saturday tends to be the busiest day of the week with travelers taking trains from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz. Ticket price also tend to be more expensive on Saturday than other days. If you are hoping to have more room on the train and even save some change check out travel options on Thursday instead, as less people travel then and deals are more likely to be found.

The earliest train departs Santa Clara at 6:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 7:00pm. 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 9 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 Cruz to Santa Clara.

City Information

Santa Clara

Santa Clara, CA, US - SLR-0

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.

Station Information

Where is the train station in Santa Clara?

Main departure station: Caltrain ACE station - 1001 Railroad Ave

There are two stations in Santa Clara where you can board the train to Santa Cruz.

All train stations in Santa Clara:

  • Caltrain ACE station - 1001 Railroad Ave

  • 5099 Stars and Stripes Dr

Where is the train station in Santa Cruz?

Main arrival station: Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz has one train station.

All train stations in Santa Cruz:

  • Santa Cruz, California

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