How can I travel from San Diego to San Francisco without flying?

You can take a bus or a train to go from San Diego to San Francisco. The two options are easy and eco-friendly ways to reach 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 San Diego by bus?

On average, the trip from San Diego to San Francisco takes around 13h 55m, but you can get there in as little as 10h 10m with the quickest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 458 miles (739 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the travel distance from San Diego to San Francisco?

The distance separating San Diego and San Francisco is 458 miles (739 km).

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

The majority of buses traveling from San Diego to San Francisco start their journey at Mission Valley Sheraton and wind up at Hyde/Beach (Fisherman's Wharf). These are the main pick-up and drop-off locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

What is the most cost-effective way to travel from San Diego to San Francisco?

If you want the cheapest way to travel this route, pick the bus. The lowest tickets for this trip cost as little as $41.

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

You can expect to pay around $66 for a bus ticket. In the past 30 days, prices have fluctuated between $41 and $230, so it's best to compare them to make sure you get the best deal.

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 Aquarium of the Bay, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Park, Walt Disney Family Museum and City Segway Tours of San Francisco.

Is there an overnight bus from San Diego to San Francisco?

Yes, you can take a night bus to go from San Diego to San Francisco. Remember to bring along essentials like a blanket and some snacks to ensure a cozy and convenient journey.

San Diego (CA), US to San Francisco (CA), US Bus Tickets

TodayMay 31

from $96

TomorrowJun 1

from $96

MonJun 2

from $84

TueJun 3

from $75

WedJun 4

from $78

ThuJun 5

from $76

FriJun 6

SatJun 7

from $75

Next departures to San Francisco

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: June 1 at 9:25pm
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: Santa Fe Depot
Arrival time: June 2 at 10:45am
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 13h 20m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: June 1 at 9:25pm
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: UCSD Health La Jolla Station
Arrival time: June 2 at 7:35am
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 10h 10m
Departure time: June 1 at 5:15am
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)
Arrival time: June 1 at 6:10pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 12h 55m
Departure time: June 1 at 9:00am
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)
Arrival time: June 1 at 9:50pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: San Francisco Bus Station
Operated by: FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 12h 50m
Departure time: June 1 at 7:15am
Departure city: San Diego
Departure location: Greyhound Bus Stop
Arrival time: June 1 at 9:50pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: San Francisco Bus Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 14h 35m

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from San Diego to San Francisco.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$41 - $230	Average Duration13h 55m	CO₂ emissions 18kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$69 - $341	Average Duration13h 44m	CO₂ emissions 67kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars	Fastest

Busbud recommends taking the bus from San Diego to San Francisco

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach San Francisco. The journey takes about 13 hours 55 minutes and with fares starting at just $41, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

17bus per day

13h 55mAverage Duration

$41Cheapest ticket

18kgCO₂ emissions

Bus San Diego to San Francisco: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$66

Average bus trip duration13h 55m

Number of daily buses17

Earliest bus departure5:15am

Distance454 miles (731 km)

Latest bus departure9:25pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,834 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.

FlixBus San Diego San Francisco recent customer reviews

Both of my overnight bus drivers were kind, cared about safety and were very informative, keeping us abreast of what was happening with the fires we were passing through and giving us time updates.

Edna R.

September 4, 2024

Greyhound

3.5/587,014 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.

Greyhound San Diego San Francisco recent customer reviews

I Will use ir agin. Justo clean they bathrooms. They drivers are excellent persons

Manuel G.

December 8, 2022

It was actually 3 busses. San Diego to Los Angeles, then to Sacramento, then to San francisco. But when I arrived in Los Angeles I discovered that there was a direct bus to San francisco at around the same time. But when I was searching for my ticket that option wasn't offered to me. So I could've avoided two bus changes and could've had just one instead. So, that was a shame. I also want to say that Beverly, the driver from Los Angeles to Sacramento (sched 9606 on the 7th of November) was very cool and she did a great job. Even though the bus was late to Sacramento it wasn't the driver's fault. The company should account for traffic when making a schedule which they didn't. But Beverly was great, please give her a bonus or an extra day off.

Ainur A.

November 9, 2021

The buses doesn’t smell gud. They smell like urine

Satinder S.

June 2, 2019

Amtrak

4/55,158 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Based on 5158 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the wifi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at $74.00

Amtrak San Diego San Francisco recent customer reviews

Good, but it’s really cold in the bus and train. We told that to driver but he didnt do anything about that. Everything else is good

Danijela D.

September 26, 2023

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

San Diego to San Francisco Bus

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

We make sure you can find a bus service from San Diego to San Francisco from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to San Francisco from San Diego, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in San Diego and San Francisco?

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 San Francisco

A - Hyde/Beach (Fisherman's Wharf)

B - Powell Station

C - Union Square Hilton

D - San Francisco Greyhound Station

E - 444 Townsend St.

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

How can I travel from San Diego to San Francisco without flying?
How long does it take to get to San Francisco from San Diego by bus?
What is the travel distance from San Diego to San Francisco?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from San Diego to San Francisco?
What is the most cost-effective way to travel from San Diego to San Francisco?
How much are the bus tickets from San Diego to San Francisco?
What are the best sights and things to do in San Francisco?
Is there an overnight bus from San Diego to 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

05/29

$87

05/30

$142

Today

$88

06/01

$91

06/02

$77

06/03

$68

06/04

$70

06/05

$68

The cheapest trip from San Diego to San Francisco was searched and found on Jun 3, 2025 with a price of $68

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 San Francisco, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $68 to $202 for a bus ticket from San Diego to San Francisco based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $68 which is on 2025-06-03.

Usually Greyhound Lines, Inc. 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 San Diego 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.

Start sightseeing the minute your bus leaves the station. If you're on the night bus from San Diego to San Francisco, get comfy and count the stars.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from San Diego to San Francisco.

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from San Diego to San Francisco while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

The Superbus, created by a Dutch engineer is the world's fastest bus with 250 km/h. Too bad it's only a prototype for now.

Did you know there are on average 4,400 intercity bus departures every day in the US only? This number has been growing for 9 years in a row, yay!

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

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

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time13h 55m	Avg Price$66	Daily Departures17
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time13h 44m	Avg Price$69	Daily Departures11

Will you be returning to San Diego by bus?

Bus from San Diego to San Francisco

You can also go to San Francisco by train

Train from San Diego 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 Busbud, wherever you go, you have a worldwide bus station within reach and available in your own language and currency. 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.

One passenger / one way

Next departures to San Francisco

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

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 San Francisco.

Bus San Diego to San Francisco: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

San Diego to San Francisco Bus

Where are the popular stops in San Diego and San Francisco?

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

How can I travel from San Diego to San Francisco without flying?

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

What is the travel distance from San Diego to San Francisco?

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

What is the most cost-effective way to travel from San Diego to San Francisco?

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

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

Is there an overnight bus from San Diego to San Francisco?

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 San Francisco?

Will you be returning to San Diego by bus?

You can also go to San Francisco 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

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Popular Buses Connecting San Francisco

Buses Leaving from San Francisco

Buses Going to San Francisco

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers