How do I get from San Diego to Oakland without flying?

You can take a bus or a train to go from San Diego to Oakland. The two options are practical and sustainable ways to reach Oakland. You can also use carpool services and share a car ride with other travelers.

How long is the bus trip from San Diego to Oakland?

Traveling from San Diego to Oakland takes around 13h 15m on average, although the fastest bus will take 10h 40m, on average. This is the time it takes to travel the 455 miles (733 km) that separate the two cities.

How far is San Diego from Oakland?

The distance separating San Diego and Oakland is 455 miles (733 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from San Diego to Oakland?

Most of the buses traveling from San Diego to Oakland leave from Mission Valley Sheraton and arrive at Emeryville Station. These are the most popular departure and arrival locations on this route, there are other pick-up and drop-off locations that could make it easier for you to reach your destination.

What is the cheapest way to travel from San Diego to Oakland?

If you want the cheapest way to travel this route, pick the bus. The lowest price for the bus on this route is $61.

How much does a bus ticket from San Diego to Oakland cost?

You can expect to pay around $75 for a bus ticket. In the past 30 days, prices have fluctuated between $61 and $166, so it's best to compare them to make sure you get the best deal.

Can I take an overnight bus from San Diego to Oakland?

Certainly! You can indeed opt for an overnight bus from San Diego to Oakland. Remember to bring along essentials like a blanket and some snacks to ensure a cozy and convenient journey.

San Diego (CA), US to Oakland Bus Tickets

TodayMay 7

from $69

TomorrowMay 8

from $63

FriMay 9

from $82

SatMay 10

from $69

SunMay 11

from $75

MonMay 12

TueMay 13

WedMay 14

Next departures to Oakland

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 8 at 12:00pm
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: Downtown SD (Seaport)
Arrival time: May 9 at 8:30am
Destination city: Oakland
Destination location: El Cerrito del Norte BART
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 20h 30m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 8 at 9:05pm
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: UCSD Health La Jolla Station
Arrival time: May 9 at 7:45am
Destination city: Oakland
Destination location: West Oakland BART
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 10h 40m
Departure time: May 8 at 8:35pm
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)
Arrival time: May 9 at 7:45am
Destination city: Oakland
Destination location: West Oakland BART
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 11h 10m
Departure time: May 8 at 7:35pm
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: Greyhound Bus Stop
Arrival time: May 9 at 6:35am
Destination city: Oakland
Destination location: West Oakland BART
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 11h
Departure time: May 8 at 9:25pm
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: Santa Fe Depot
Arrival time: May 9 at 10:10am
Destination city: Oakland
Destination location: Emeryville Station
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 12h 45m

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from San Diego to Oakland.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$61 - $166	Average Duration13h 15m	CO₂ emissions 18kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestFastestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$72 - $183	Average Duration14h 17m	CO₂ emissions 66kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars

Busbud recommends taking the bus from San Diego to Oakland

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Oakland. The journey takes about 13 hours 15 minutes and with fares starting at just $61, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

20bus per day

13h 15mAverage Duration

$61Cheapest ticket

18kgCO₂ emissions

Bus San Diego to Oakland: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$75

Average bus trip duration13h 15m

Number of daily buses20

Earliest bus departure5:15am

Distance459 miles (739 km)

Latest bus departure9:05pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,537 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

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.

Greyhound

3.5/586,964 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.

Amtrak

4/55,103 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

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

San Diego to Oakland Bus

Busbud shows you the best bus ticket fares and bus schedules so you can easily plan and book a trip by bus from San Diego to Oakland.

Bus service from San Diego to Oakland will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

Discover how much the bus trip from San Diego to Oakland will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.

Where are the popular stops in San Diego and Oakland?

Stops in San Diego

A - Mission Valley Sheraton

B - Old Town Courtyard Marriot

C - Downtown Holiday Inn

D - Greyhound Station

E - Market St. & Park Blvd

F - San Ysidro McDonald's

Stops in Oakland

A - Emeryville Station

B - Greyhound Station

C - Oakland Bus Station

D - West Oakland BART Station

Frequently asked questions for your trip San Diego - Oakland

How do I get from San Diego to Oakland without flying?
How long is the bus trip from San Diego to Oakland?
How far is San Diego from Oakland?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from San Diego to Oakland?
What is the cheapest way to travel from San Diego to Oakland?
How much does a bus ticket from San Diego to Oakland cost?
Can I take an overnight bus from San Diego to Oakland?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

05/05

$74

05/06

$69

Today

$69

05/08

$63

05/09

$82

05/10

$69

05/11

$75

05/12

No data

The cheapest trip from San Diego to Oakland was searched and found on May 8, 2025 with a price of $63

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

You can expect to pay from $63 to $188 for a bus ticket from San Diego to Oakland based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $63 which is on 2025-05-08.

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

If you're abroad, study some local language. Not only could it get you out of a pickle during your bus trip from San Diego to Oakland but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

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

Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from San Diego to Oakland will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

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

Did you know?

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

Did you know some bus companies in Germany offer to their passenger low-costs snacks and regional beer based on their destination? Prosit!

Did you know that 80% of the buses in North America are equipped with WiFi and power outlets ? And 60% of bus travelers have used their electronic device on board during 2014.

What's the cheapest way to go from San Diego to Oakland?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time13h 15m	Avg Price$75	Daily Departures20
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time14h 17m	Avg Price$96	Daily Departures29

Will you be returning to San Diego by bus?

Bus from San Diego to Oakland

You can also go to Oakland by train

Train from San Diego to Oakland

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud helps you easily search, compare and book intercity bus tickets on a worldwide scale with our comprehensive list of bus routes and schedules. With Busbud, wherever you go, you have a worldwide bus station within reach and available in your own language and currency. With Busbud, you can buy tickets with confidence. We ensure that you make the most out of your bus trip by partnering up with reliable bus companies from all around the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from San Diego, CA to Oakland, CA

One passenger / one way

Next departures to Oakland

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Compare 2 ways to go from San Diego to Oakland.

Bus San Diego to Oakland: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

San Diego to Oakland Bus

Where are the popular stops in San Diego and Oakland?

Frequently asked questions for your trip San Diego - Oakland

How do I get from San Diego to Oakland without flying?

How long is the bus trip from San Diego to Oakland?

How far is San Diego from Oakland?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from San Diego to Oakland?

What is the cheapest way to travel from San Diego to Oakland?

How much does a bus ticket from San Diego to Oakland cost?

Can I take an overnight bus from San Diego to Oakland?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

What's the cheapest way to go from San Diego to Oakland?

Will you be returning to San Diego by bus?

You can also go to Oakland by train

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

Popular Buses Connecting San Diego

Buses Leaving from San Diego

Buses Going to San Diego

Popular Buses Connecting Oakland

Buses Leaving from Oakland

Buses Going to Oakland

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers