Salt Lake City to San Francisco train
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
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:
Trip Summary
There is usually just one train option from Salt Lake City to San Francisco per day. The average train journey from Salt Lake City to San Francisco takes 19 hours and 5 minutes, though some trains might be a few minutes slower or faster.
| Distance | 599 mi (964 km) |
| Fastest train | 19h 5m |
| Lowest price | $102.00 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Salt Lake City to San Francisco?
The average price for a train ticket from Salt Lake City to San Francisco is $102.00, Tickets are generally pricier for this train route, which is to be expected given the long distance. By booking your trip at least 18 days in advance, you increase your chances of scoring even cheaper tickets. But if you wait until the day of your trip to book tickets, expect to pay $77.00 more.
Average prices by travel date
For the next 30 days, the cost of a one-way train trip from Salt Lake City to San Francisco will range from $96 to $120. If you're planning to travel by train to San Francisco in the upcoming week, the cheapest train ticket from Salt Lake City you can find in the next 7 days is $106. Be sure to book your trip in advance as train ticket prices typically increase as your travel date approaches.
Monthly avg. prices
Which train should you take from Salt Lake City to San Francisco?
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Salt Lake City to San Francisco. 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 | 19h 5m | $113.42 |
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 Salt Lake City to San Francisco every day, as well as 1 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $85.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Salt Lake City and San Francisco is approximately 599 miles, or 964 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 19 hours and 5 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 Salt Lake City to San Francisco tend to have the most passengers on Friday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Friday. 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 Sunday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
Most days, there is only one train which leaves Salt Lake City at 11:00pm and arrives in San Francisco around 19 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 San Francisco to Salt Lake City.
City Information
Salt Lake City
A city shrouded in a mystical veil to most visitors, Salt Lake City stands among one of the most culturally unique destinations in the U.S. Salt Lake City offers tourists a unique chance to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Temple Square is the best place to do so. Housing the Salt Lake Temple along with other significant historic buildings, the square will take you back to the earliest days of the city, immersing you in a unique cultural experience. While here, don’t miss out on the chance to visit the Great Salt Lake itself and to dive into its cool and refreshing water.
Salt Lake City features a diverse food scene, with Mexican food receiving a lot of attention. Those who wish to enjoy the best Mexican dishes in town could try Red Iguana. For travelers who are simply looking for the best burgers, Crown Burgers’ char-broiled patties will certainly be a great choice.
The Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub is the central transportation hub in the city. It is currently served by several rail services such as Amtrak, TRAX, and FrontRunner. Travelers can also catch Greyhound buses at the station. The Salt Lake City International Airport is the main airport for the city. Located about 4 miles west of Downtown, the airport is a major gateway to the Mountain West and the West Coast region.
San Francisco
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Located in the heart of Northern California's Bay Area, San Francisco is a geographically small but culturally huge city known for its historic cable cars, active waterfront, and the eclectic mix of hippies and techies who call it home. While it might be one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, San Fran can actually be very cheap to visit, and there is no shortage of unique sights to see.
If the city's omnipresent fog (nicknamed "Karl the Fog" by locals) takes a break, the best views and Instagram photo ops of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge are found in Golden Gate Park. Stroll through the oldest Chinatown in North America to find the perfect dim sum, or if you and your boo prefer a little Full House moment, try a romantic picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Victorian "Painted Ladies." After all, San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations for couples.
Since the city is condensed onto a small peninsula, exploring by bike is an efficient and scenic way to get around. When you’re ready to travel beyond city limits, San Francisco is a convenient hub for trips throughout Northern California. It's actually the first stop on Wanderu's West Coast Wine Tour, with the next stop, obviously, in Napa Valley. Whether traveling by bus, train, or through either of the two nearby airports, San Francisco is a can't-miss destination.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Salt Lake City?
Image credit: vxla
Link to image attribution
Image credit: Garrett
Link to image attributionMain departure station: 340 S 600 W
The Amtrak Station is a part of Salt Lake Central Station, the principal transportation hub in Salt Lake City. The station is within walking distance from the Bus Terminal, allowing you to easily transfer to bus service on Amtrak Thruway or Jefferson Lines. Along with UTA commuter rail, the station serves Amtrak’s California Zephyr on its journey from Emeryville to Chicago. A park-and-ride lot is available across the street, and travelers can rent bikes from the on-site bicycle sharing service, Greenbike. However you get around town, you’ll appreciate the convenience of the Amtrak station, located less than a mile from the heart of downtown Salt Lake City.
All train stations in Salt Lake City:
340 S 600 W
Where is the train station in San Francisco?
Image credit: 146109843@N05
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: San Francisco, California
Behind a modern curved façade lies San Francisco’s commuter hub, the Salesforce Transit Center. This gateway to downtown San Francisco and the entire Bay Area welcomes tens of thousands of passengers every day. Finding your way around is easy thanks to more than 270 digital displays with transit information. The Salesforce Transit Center serves as a bus station for Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway buses, as well as several public transit options for convenient connections. A standout feature of the Salesforce Transit Center is a public five-acre rooftop park which gives travelers an open space to relax. Rotating food trucks, cafés, carts, and pop-up retail make this a dynamic and vibrant destination in itself.
All train stations in San Francisco:
San Francisco, California
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from San Francisco to Salt Lake City?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Salt Lake City
- Train from Salt Lake City to Fresno
$134+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles
$449+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Roseville
$106+
- Salt Lake City to Denver Train
$101+
- Salt Lake City to Miami
$564+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Saint Paul
$368+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Kansas City
$256+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Omaha
$160+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Newark
$561+
- Salt Lake City to Las Vegas Train
$339+
- Salt Lake City to Las Vegas
$355+
- Salt Lake City to Cleveland
$321+
- Salt Lake City to Oklahoma City Train
$299+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Dallas
$349+
- Salt Lake City to Houston
$304+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Provo
$12+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Vancouver
$216+
- Train from Salt Lake City to Milwaukee
$211+
Continue by train from San Francisco
- San Francisco to Phoenix Train
$138+
- Train from San Francisco to Chico
$48+
- Train from San Francisco to Napa
$23+
- San Francisco to Petaluma Train
$25+
- San Francisco to Sacramento Train
$35+
- Train from San Francisco to San Diego
$74+
- Train from San Francisco to San Jose
$26+
- San Francisco to Santa Ana Train
$63+
- Train from San Francisco to Washington D.C.
$418+
Check out these popular routes
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.