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.
Journey Information
There are 26 intercity buses per day from San Diego to Bakersfield. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Bakersfield usually takes around 6 hours and 54 minutes, but the fastest Tufesa Internacional bus can make the trip in 5 hours,
| Distance | 212 mi (341 km) |
| Shortest duration | 5h 0m |
| Cheapest price | $29.99 |
| Trips per day | 16 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 5 |
How much is a bus ticket from San Diego to Bakersfield?
Bus tickets for a trip from San Diego to Bakersfield cost $41.62 on average. Tickets cheaper than $41.62 are an excellent bargain. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Average prices by travel date
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from San Diego to Bakersfield is expected to be between $42 and $57. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is May 1, 2024, when tickets are available for May 1, 2024. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just $46.
Monthly avg. prices
Prices as travel date approaches
The easiest way to save money on bus tickets is by booking in advance! Many carriers increase prices as the travel date approaches, so it's always a good idea to buy your tickets as early as possible. Book at least 22 days in advance to save $41.26 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Bakersfield?
There are 5 bus lines from San Diego to Bakersfield available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 12 daily trips, FlixBus US usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autobuses Monarca | 1 | 6h 45m | $69.66 |
| FlixBus US | 12 | 7h 5m | $50.81 |
| Greyhound | 9 | 6h 58m | $55.15 |
| Los Limousines | 3 | 7h 37m | $61.93 |
| Tufesa Internacional | 1 | 5h 10m | $60.00 |
Book Autobuses Monarca from San Diego to Bakersfield from $68. Typically there is one Autobuses Monarca schedule per day from San Diego to Bakersfield and you can expect on average to pay for a Autobuses Monarca ticket to Bakersfield. In San Diego, Autobuses Monarca departs to Bakersfield from San Ysidro CA . In Bakersfield, Autobuses Monarca arrives at 1000 Real Rd .
An average trip on Autobuses Monarca from San Diego to Bakersfield takes 6 hours and 45 minutes , while the fastest available Autobuses Monarca trip will get you to Bakersfield in 5 hours and 0 minutes .
On weekends, Autobuses Monarca offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a one way ticket for your weekend getaway trip to Bakersfield.
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 12 trips per day from San Diego to Bakersfield, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 9 bus trips from San Diego to Bakersfield every day, with the average journey taking around 6 hours and 58 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Bakersfield usually start from $30.
Book Los Limousines from San Diego to Bakersfield from $59. There are 3 trips per day offered by Los Limousines from San Diego to Bakersfield and you can expect on average to pay for a Los Limousines ticket to Bakersfield. In San Diego, Los Limousines departs to Bakersfield from San Ysidro Bus Terminal and one other station. In Bakersfield, Los Limousines arrives at Bakersfield Chamberlain Ave .
An average trip on Los Limousines from San Diego to Bakersfield takes 7 hours and 37 minutes , while the fastest available Los Limousines trip will get you to Bakersfield in 5 hours and 0 minutes .
On weekends, Los Limousines offers 3 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Bakersfield.
Tufesa Internacional is the international brand of one of the largest ground transportation providers in Mexico, Tufesa. The carrier offers daily bus trips to and from several cities in the Southwestern United States, including cross-border trips between the U.S. and Mexico. On average, Tufesa Internacional runs 1 from San Diego to Bakersfield, with prices starting from $60. The carrier’s fleet features modern coaches equipped with state-of-the-art technology and amenities, such as onboard restrooms, reclining seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and a digital entertainment system.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 54 minutes to cover the 212 miles from San Diego to Bakersfield. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Because many passengers travel from San Diego to Bakersfield at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for buses. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 1:00am and the last bus leaves at 7:00pm. To see the times for all buses from San Diego to Bakersfield, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 26 scheduled buses that travel from San Diego to Bakersfield every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 16 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Diego to Bakersfield; ticket prices start at $52.00.
City Information
San Diego
San Diego is known as "America's Finest City" for its sunny weather, white-sand beaches, and dazzling attractions from Belmont Park to SeaWorld. San Diego's 70 miles of pristine beaches include such gems as Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach. The city's strong surfing culture may even inspire you to rent a surfboard and catch the epic waves, bro.
Visitors can spend days getting lost in Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre cultural hub which features 16 museums, immaculate gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The historic heart of the city, Old Town, showcases San Diego's heritage and ties to Mexican culture, while other sights like the USS Midway pay tribute to the city's military and maritime history. Leave time for some evening exploring, too! San Diego is rated the #1 best city for craft beer in America, so don't miss out on the bars in the Gaslamp Quarter: 16 walkable blocks packed with nightlife and young crowds.
Two airports, as well as many bus and train options, mean it is easy to get to San Diego from afar or from nearby cities like Tijuana, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California, is just north of LA on the Kern River. The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, one of the city’s biggest attractions, displays fossils, dinosaur models, Native American artifacts, and a changing array of temporary exhibitions. Meanwhile, the Bakersfield Museum of Art features multiple rotating galleries of modern and historical art.
As the sun sets in Bakersfield, locals and visitors alike flock to Buck Owens Crystal Palace for food, drinks, and the biggest live music venue in the area. The Belvedere Cocktail lounge offers a more intimate live music experience– plus some amazing drinks and arcade games. For a truly unique experience, check out the family-friendly Gaslight Melodrama Theatre, where audiences are encouraged to cheer, boo, and get in on the fun of the live performances.
On the quieter side, Bakersfield has a number of beautiful parks across the city. The Park at RiverWalk is a fan favorite, with 32 sprawling acres along the Kern River dotted with picnic areas, public grills, and fishing spots. The Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area provides more outdoor activities with swimming, boating, sailing, cycling, and more.
To get to Bakersfield, fly into the Meadows Field Airport just north of the town. Several bus lines also service the area, connecting the city to Phoenix, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Ontario. For train service, Amtrak offers routes to San Diego, San Francisco, and even New York City.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Diego?
Main departure station: San Ysidro Transit Center
Buses to Bakersfield leave from 9 stations in San Diego.
All bus stations in San Diego:
San Ysidro Transit Center
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
San Ysidro CA
La Jolla - UC San Diego
San Ysidro Bus Terminal
Cross Border Xpress CBX
Balboa Park - Presidents Way
SDSU - 5716 Hardy Ave
Where does the bus arrive in Bakersfield?
Main arrival station: 601 Truxtun Ave - Transit Station
Buses arrive in Bakersfield at 5 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
All bus stations in Bakersfield:
601 Truxtun Ave - Transit Station
McKee Park & Ride Bus Stop
Bakersfield Chamberlain Ave
Bakersfield California
1000 Real Rd
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Bakersfield to San Diego?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from San Diego
Continue by bus from Bakersfield
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.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more