How much is the train ticket from San Diego to Washington?

The cheapest train tickets from San Diego to Washington start from R 6 986. The average price for this train route is around R 10 369. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from San Diego to Washington?

The average train journey time from San Diego to Washington is 2d 20h, covering a distance of 3657 km. The quickest train can get you there in 2d 20h and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the San Diego to Washington route?

Several major train operators run on this route, with 3 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from San Diego to Washington?

The earliest train from San Diego to Washington departs at 14:01. And the latest train departs at 16:10.

Train San Diego to Washington from R 7 957 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures from San Diego to Washington on 14 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
16:10	Old Town San Diego	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	Cheapest
14:10	Old Town San Diego	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	No tags
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 1h	18:44	Union Station	No tags
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from San Diego to Washington on 15 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	Cheapest
14:10	Old Town San Diego	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	No tags
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	No tags
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from San Diego to Washington on 16 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	Cheapest
14:10	Old Town San Diego	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	No tags
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 1h	18:44	Union Station	No tags
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from San Diego to Washington on 18 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	Cheapest
14:10	Old Town San Diego	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	No tags
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	No tags
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from San Diego to Washington on 19 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
16:10	Old Town San Diego	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	Cheapest
14:10	Old Town San Diego	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	No tags
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	No tags
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from San Diego to Washington on 20 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
14:01	Santa Fe Depot	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	Cheapest
14:10	Old Town San Diego	2d 20h	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	No tags
16:01	Santa Fe Depot	3d 23h	18:44	Union Station	No tags
16:10	Old Town San Diego	3d 18h	13:10	Union Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 5:02 AM PST.

Compare 2 ways to travel from San Diego to Washington

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as a good way to reach Washington. The journey takes about 2 days, 21 hours 10 minutes and with fares starting at just R 3 912, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

22bus per day

2d 21hAverage duration

3658 kmDistance

91kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 3 912 - R 14 454	Average duration2d 21h	CO₂ emissions 91kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 6 986 - R 53 336	Average duration2d 20h	CO₂ emissions 333kg CO₂e

Train Companies

Amtrak

4/55 642 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

Based on 5642 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at R 6 986

US train companies: Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about travelling from San Diego, CA, US to Washington, DC, US by train

Please note that timetables, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or differ at the time of your trip.

How much is the train ticket from San Diego to Washington?
The cheapest train tickets from San Diego to Washington start from R 6 986. The average price for this train route is around R 10 369. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from San Diego to Washington?
The average train journey time from San Diego to Washington is 2d 20h, covering a distance of 3657 km. The quickest train can get you there in 2d 20h and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the San Diego to Washington route?
Several major train operators run on this route, with 3 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from San Diego to Washington?
The earliest train from San Diego to Washington departs at 14:01. And the latest train departs at 16:10.

Find cheapest prices for trains

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

11/12

R 31 274

12/12

R 8 026

Today

R 7 957

14/12

R 11 953

15/12

R 8 805

16/12

R 10 950

17/12

No data

18/12

R 12 109

The cheapest trip from San Diego, CA, US to Washington, DC, US was searched and found on 13 Dec 2025 with a price of R 7 957

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from San Diego, CA, US to Washington, DC, US as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from R 7 957 to R 47 793 for a train ticket from San Diego, CA, US to Washington, DC, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 8 805, which is on 2025-12-15.