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Trip Summary
There are usually 17 daily train trips available from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Traveling by train from San Francisco to Los Angeles usually takes 10 hours and 49 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 9 hours and 30 minutes.
| Distance | 347 mi (559 km) |
| Fastest train | 9h 30m |
| Lowest price | $44.00 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Average score for trains from San Francisco to Los Angeles
(Based on 4 ratings and reviews)
4.8
San Francisco to Los Angeles Route Map
What is the price of a train ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
On average, the price of a train ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles was $53.00 in the past month. To unlock better savings, secure your tickets at least 28 days in advance for the most economical prices. But if you must opt for a last-minute booking, it’ll likely cost an extra $16.76.
Average prices by travel date
March is the best time to book your train ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles! At just $60, this is the cheapest time of the year for this route. In contrast, traveling the same way in October will cost you an average of $70. Our advice? Plan ahead and book your train tickets as early as possible to lock in the best savings.
Monthly average prices
In the upcoming month, anticipate an average price ranging from $54 to $63 for a train ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The most budget-friendly train tickets within the week are priced at $53.00. So be sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid price hikes closer to the date of your adventure.
Prices as travel date approaches
Given the tendency of many carriers to increase prices as the travel date approaches, we recommend booking your tickets well in advance. Reserving a ticket at least 28 days in advance can save at least $16.76 compared to booking last minute.
Which train should you take from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects San Francisco to Los Angeles. However, there are 17 trains per day to choose from.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 17 | 10h 49m | $59.99 |
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 17 Amtrak trains from San Francisco to Los Angeles every day, as well as 27 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $44.
Frequently Asked Questions
The train journey from Jack London Square Station in Oakland to Union Station in Los Angeles includes stops at eight stations. These stations are: San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, and Van Nuys.
San Francisco International Airport and Oakland’s Jack London Square Station (the nearest train station to S.F.), are both about 13 miles away from the city center. However, 101 South toward SFO tends to have significantly worse traffic, which may extend your total travel time.
On Bay Area Rapid Transit, the light rail to SFO takes approximately 29 minutes, whereas the Blue and Green lines to Jack London Square take about 24 minutes.
While the train is the main method of transportation from San Francisco to Los Angeles, 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.
Covering a distance of approximately 347 miles or 559 kilometers, the average train journey between San Francisco and Los Angeles is 10 hours and 40 minutes. The fastest possible travel time by train is 9 hours and 30 minutes.
Despite the extended duration, most trains on this route are equipped with Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to stream music, browse social media, or attend to work tasks during the journey. It’s advisable to pre-download any shows or podcasts you plan to enjoy in case of occasional Wi-Fi fluctuations.
Saturday emerges as the peak day for travelers journeying from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Ticket fares also tend to be the most expensive on this day. Consider booking your trip on a weekday for a more cost-effective journey to secure the best deals.
The first train leaves San Francisco at 4 am, and the final train departs at 10 pm. For a comprehensive breakdown of all departure timings, use the search function on this page for your travel dates.
While there is a total of 17 scheduled daily trains, none of them are direct trains. Passengers will need to change trains during the journey, potentially involving the transfer of checked baggage depending on the chosen service.
City Information
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.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the undisputed world capital of the entertainment business. Because of that, the City of Angels is where you will find some of the most iconic landmarks of the film and music industries, including the world-famous Walk of Fame and Dolby Theatre (home of the Academy Awards) on Hollywood Boulevard, the easily recognizable Capitol Records building at Hollywood & Vine, and the LA Live complex in Downtown Los Angeles.
The best part of LA is that it has something to offer for people of all interests: outdoor enthusiasts can hike up to the Hollywood sign, fashion aficionados can go shopping in Beverly Hills, art lovers can check out the prominent Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in the Miracle Mile district, and those looking for a fun night out can go bar-hopping in West Hollywood. Are you a Pokémon GO addict? Well then this is the place for you because LA is the best city to catch the rarest Pokémon in the U.S.. And if you want to want to experience the famed golden coast of Southern California for yourself, head west to Santa Monica and Venice for a refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean.
With one of the biggest airports on the West Coast and several bus and train stops across the county, Los Angeles makes it easy to travel elsewhere in California, visit the neighboring Nevada, Arizona and Mexico, or take a flight to pretty much any other part of the world.
Station Information
Where is the train station in San Francisco?
Image credit: 146109843@N05
Link to image attributionMain departure 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
Where is the train station in Los Angeles?
Image credit: David Wilson
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Union Station
Union Station is the main train station in Los Angeles and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. The station was opened in 1939 and has become one of California’s busiest transportation hubs, serving more than 100 thousand passengers per day. Every Amtrak route that goes through Los Angeles stops at Union Station. In addition, the area around the station serves as the main bus stop for several bus carriers that conduct trips in and out of the city. Located in Downtown LA, Union Station offers easy transit connections to other parts of the city via three Metro Rail lines and one Metro Busway line, as well as a shuttle service to LAX airport. Union Station also serves as the main LA hub for six lines of Metrolink, Southern California’s primary commuter rail service.
All train stations in Los Angeles:
Union Station
Amtrak Metrolink Station - 7724 Van Nuys Blvd
10040 Old Depot Plaza Rd, Chatsworth
592 Gayley Ave
Metrolink Station
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