Cheap train tickets from Santa Cruz to Monterey

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

One way
Round trip

Find cheap hotels

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:

Santa Cruz to Monterey Train Schedule

No preview is currently available. Please try another date or search the full schedule.

Trip Summary

There is one daily train from Santa Cruz to Monterey. Traveling by train from Santa Cruz to Monterey usually takes 4 hours and 41 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 4 hours and 25 minutes.

	Distance	27 mi (43 km)
	Fastest train	4h 25m
	Lowest price	NOK 571.38
	Most frequent service	Amtrak
	Train lines	1

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

Over the past month, a train ticket between Santa Cruz and Monterey cost NOK 634.64, on average. Booking your trip at least 3 days in advance can help you secure tickets at the best price. For same-day bookings, you’ll likely have to pay around NOK 3.37 more.

Monthly avg. prices

Ticket prices for the train from Santa Cruz to Monterey often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in November when the average ticket price is only NOK 469. If you're thinking of traveling from Santa Cruz to Monterey during July, keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of NOK 622 during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in July, is to book your trip well in advance.

Which train should you take from Santa Cruz to Monterey?

Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Santa Cruz to Monterey. Furthermore, there is only one train per day, so you will have to plan your travel around this limited availability. On the other hand, you won't have to spend a ton of time comparing a bunch of possible options.

Train	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Amtrak	1	4h 41m	NOK 658.21

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 1 Amtrak trains from Santa Cruz to Monterey every day, as well as 3 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from NOK 571.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Santa Cruz to Monterey

While the train is the main method of transportation from Santa Cruz to Monterey, 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 Cruz and Monterey is approximately 27 miles, or 43 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 4 hours and 41 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 4 hours and 25 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 from Santa Cruz to Monterey are the most crowded on Wednesday. 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 days, there is only one train which leaves Santa Cruz at 7:00am and arrives in Monterey around 4 hours later.

Typically there is only one scheduled train per day. However, it is not a direct train. 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 transfer 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 Monterey to Santa Cruz.

City Information

Station Information

Where is the train station in Santa Cruz?

Main departure station: Santa Cruz, California

There is one train station in Santa Cruz.

All train stations in Santa Cruz:

Santa Cruz, California

Where is the train station in Monterey?

Main arrival station: 351 Fremont St

There are more train stations and stops in Monterey than most cities. Most trains from Santa Cruz will stop at one (or more) of the 5 following stations in Monterey:

All train stations in Monterey:

351 Fremont St
1 Old Golf Course Rd
Monterey Bay Aquarium
500 Tyler St
Monterey (Calle Principal Parking Garage), California

Get around town with Moovit

Find the best way to get to and from any station in Monterey by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

From the Wanderu blog

How to Travel on Amtrak Trains With Pets Read more

How to Read Your Amtrak Ticket Read more

The 5 Best Train Routes for a Last-Minute Fall Foliage Adventure Read more

Need a return trip from Monterey to Santa Cruz?

Search Train Tickets

Plan your next adventure

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.