How much is the train ticket from San Diego to San Luis Obispo?

The cheapest train tickets from San Diego to San Luis Obispo start from $65. The average price for this train route is around $65. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from San Diego to San Luis Obispo?

The average train ride duration from San Diego to San Luis Obispo is 8h 47m, covering a distance of 264 miles (425 km). The quickest train can get you there in 8h and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators service the San Diego to San Luis Obispo route?

Several major train operators operate on this route with 5 trains available per day.

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from San Diego to San Luis Obispo?

The earliest train departs from San Diego to San Luis Obispo at 4:01am. And the latest train departs at 1:10pm.

Train San Diego to San Luis Obispo from $61 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for San Diego to San Luis Obispo on December 12
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
6:10am	Old Town San Diego	8h	2:10pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to San Luis Obispo on December 13
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
6:10am	Old Town San Diego	8h	2:10pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to San Luis Obispo on December 14
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
6:10am	Old Town San Diego	8h	2:10pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to San Luis Obispo on December 15
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
8:10am	Old Town San Diego	8h 10m	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 19m	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 19m	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to San Luis Obispo on December 16
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
8:10am	Old Town San Diego	8h 10m	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 19m	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 19m	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to San Luis Obispo on December 17
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
6:10am	Old Town San Diego	8h	2:10pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to San Luis Obispo on December 18
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
6:10am	Old Town San Diego	8h	2:10pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	8h 38m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags
1:01pm	Santa Fe Depot	8h 56m	9:57pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 4:13 AM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from San Diego to San Luis Obispo

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach San Luis Obispo. The journey takes about 8 hours 47 minutes and with fares starting at just $65, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5train per day

8h 47mAverage Duration

264 milesDistance

39kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$44 - $121	Average Duration12h 40m	CO₂ emissions 11kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$65 - $127	Average Duration8h 47m	CO₂ emissions 39kg CO₂e

Train Companies

Amtrak

4/55,637 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Based on 5637 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 $65

Train and bus companies in US:Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about traveling from San Diego, CA, US to San Luis Obispo by train

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

How much is the train ticket from San Diego to San Luis Obispo?
The cheapest train tickets from San Diego to San Luis Obispo start from $65. The average price for this train route is around $65. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from San Diego to San Luis Obispo?
The average train ride duration from San Diego to San Luis Obispo is 8h 47m, covering a distance of 264 miles (425 km). The quickest train can get you there in 8h and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators service the San Diego to San Luis Obispo route?
Several major train operators operate on this route with 5 trains available per day.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from San Diego to San Luis Obispo?
The earliest train departs from San Diego to San Luis Obispo at 4:01am. And the latest train departs at 1:10pm.

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found

12/09

$61

12/10

$61

Today

$61

12/12

$61

12/13

$61

12/14

$61

12/15

$61

12/16

$61

The cheapest trip from San Diego, CA, US to San Luis Obispo was searched and found on Dec 9, 2025 with a price of $61

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 San Luis Obispo, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $61 to $259 for a train ticket from San Diego, CA, US to San Luis Obispo based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $61 which is on 2025-12-12.

What's the cheapest way to go from San Diego, CA, US to San Luis Obispo?

The train is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time12h 40m	Avg Price$89	Daily Departures2
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time8h 47m	Avg Price$65	Daily Departures5

The best way to travel between San Diego, CA, US and San Luis Obispo is by train. By choosing the train, you'll get to save some money as you travel to your destination, as ticket prices cost $65 on average. If you're on a budget, you'll find cheap tickets from $65. If you're looking for the fastest way to get to San Luis Obispo, choose the train, as it will take you from San Diego, CA, US to San Luis Obispo in about 8h 47m - that's the fastest way to get there!