How can I travel from Chico to San Francisco without a car?

You have the option of traveling from one city to the other by either bus or train. Both are practical and sustainable ways to travel to San Francisco. You can also use carpool services and share a car ride with other travelers.

How long does it take to get to San Francisco from Chico by bus?

The travel time from Chico to San Francisco is about 5h 50m, although the fastest bus will take 5h 5m, on average. This is the time it takes to travel the 138 miles (223 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the travel distance from Chico to San Francisco?

About 138 miles (223 km) separate Chico and San Francisco.

How much are the bus tickets from Chico to San Francisco?

The average price of a one-way ticket from Chico to San Francisco is $58. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $46 to $94, so it's good to do your research before booking.

What are the best sights and things to do in San Francisco?

Once in San Francisco, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, City Segway Tours of San Francisco, Ocean Beach and San Francisco Zoo.

Bus Chico to San Francisco (CA), US from $32 | Compare & Save up to 45%

SatJun 14

SunJun 15

from $50

MonJun 16

TueJun 17

WedJun 18

ThuJun 19

FriJun 20

SatJun 21

Next departures to San Francisco

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: June 15 at 1:00pm
Departure city: Chico
Departure location: Chico Bus Station
Arrival time: June 15 at 6:05pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: San Francisco Bus Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 5m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: June 15 at 7:45am
Departure city: Chico
Departure location: Chico
Arrival time: June 15 at 12:05pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 4h 20m
Departure time: June 15 at 7:45am
Departure city: Chico
Departure location: Chico
Arrival time: June 15 at 12:05pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 4h 20m
Departure time: June 15 at 1:00pm
Departure city: Chico
Departure location: Chico Bus Station
Arrival time: June 15 at 9:50pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 8h 50m
Departure time: June 15 at 7:45am
Departure city: Chico
Departure location: Chico
Arrival time: June 15 at 1:10pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 25m

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from Chico to San Francisco.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$46 - $94	Average Duration5h 50m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Most eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$37 - $77	Average Duration5h 8m	CO₂ emissions 20kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars	CheapestFastest

Busbud recommends taking the train from Chico to San Francisco

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach San Francisco. The journey takes about 5 hours 8 minutes and with fares starting at just $37, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1train per day

5h 8mAverage Duration

$37Cheapest ticket

20kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Chico to San Francisco: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$58

Average bus trip duration5h 50m

Number of daily buses2

Earliest bus departure6:30am

Distance138 miles (222 km)

Latest bus departure1:00pm

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/587,030 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.8

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.3

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

FlixBus

3.5/59,020 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Amtrak

4/55,194 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

US bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Tornado Bus, Los Limousines, Valley Transit, Tufesa, Wanda Coach

Chico to San Francisco Bus

With Busbud, comparing and booking tickets for a bus from Chico to San Francisco is a breeze. Browse through an extensive selection of bus fares and bus schedules to find the best deals.

Bus service from Chico to San Francisco will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

From cheap bus tickets to more luxurious buses traveling from Chico to San Francisco, we offer a wide range of bus services to best suit your needs depending on how much your budget is.

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chico - San Francisco (CA), US

How can I travel from Chico to San Francisco without a car?
How long does it take to get to San Francisco from Chico by bus?
What is the travel distance from Chico to San Francisco?
How much are the bus tickets from Chico to San Francisco?
What are the best sights and things to do in San Francisco?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

06/10

No data

06/11

$49

Today

$49

06/13

$49

06/14

$49

06/15

$42

06/16

No data

06/17

$49

The cheapest trip from Chico to San Francisco was searched and found on Jun 15, 2025 with a price of $42

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Chico to San Francisco, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $42 to $59 for a bus ticket from Chico to San Francisco based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $42 which is on 2025-06-15.

Usually Amtrak will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Meet and talk to locals at the bus stations while traveling from Chico to San Francisco.There is no better way to get inside travel information while exploring a new city than to go straight to its people.

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Chico to San Francisco, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Taking the bus creates the smallest carbon footprint compared to other modes of transport. Not to mention that buses will allow you to discover scenic gems from Chico to San Francisco that are otherwise impossible to come by with a plane.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from Chico to San Francisco, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

One of the longest bus route in the world goes all the way from Ontario to Alberta in Canada (with the same bus). This trip is 3,435 km or 2,135 miles long and the price is a bit under $100.

The word 'bus' is an abbreviation of 'omnibus" which means 'for all' in Latin as buses were meant to be transportation for everybody.

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

Will you be returning to Chico by bus?

Bus from Chico to San Francisco

You can also go to San Francisco by train

Train from Chico to San Francisco

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. With several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. Busbud partners with safe and reliable bus companies throughout the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others so you can buy tickets without a worry.

Bus Tickets from Chico to San Francisco (CA), US