San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA train with Amtrak

Fri, 05 Dec
+ Add return
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The cheapest and fastest trains from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Showing times and prices for 05 Dec

Cheapest price

$40

Average price

$40

Fastest journey

2 h 42 m

Average duration

2 h 46 m

Trains per day

24

Distance

180 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap train ticket from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.

The average ticket from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA will cost around $40 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only $40.

Fast trains

Of the 24 trains that leave San Diego, CA for Los Angeles, CA every day 24 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.

These direct trains cover the 180 km distance in an average of 2 h 46 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 42 m .

The slowest trains will take 2 h 47 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

Amtrak779 Pacific Surfliner
01:10PM2h47
Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
03:57PMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
$401One-way
0 changes
Amtrak577 NA
12:10PM2h47
Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
02:57PMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
$401One-way
0 changes
Amtrak761 Pacific Surfliner
04:10AM2h47
Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
06:57AMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
$401One-way
0 changes
Amtrak581 Pacific Surfliner
02:10PM2h47
Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
04:57PMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
$401One-way
0 changes
Amtrak765 Pacific Surfliner
06:10AM2h47
Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
08:57AMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
$401One-way
0 changes

Travel Information

Compare train, coach and flight for San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from $28. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 49m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of $28, and a flight costs an average of $101.

Distance: 180 km

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Coach
Flight

$40

Average Price

$35

Average Price

Cheapest

$323

Average Price

3h 22m

Average total duration

2h 52m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

3h 37m

Average total duration

3h 7m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

5h 49m

Average total duration

Fastest

2h 49m

Onboard

+

3h 0m

Additional time*

0.1 - 0.2kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.2 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

0.5 - 1.1kg

CO2 emissions

Amtrak

Most popular train company

FlixBus

Most popular bus company

Spirit Airlines

Most popular airline

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Live departures

San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA train times

The table below shows live departures for San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA trains for today, Thursday, 4 December. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.

Last updated at 9:54 am
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesChanges
Tickets
amtrak761 Pacific Surfliner12:01 pm Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
2:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak761 Pacific Surfliner12:10 pm Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
2:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak765 Pacific Surfliner2:01 pm Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
4:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak765 Pacific Surfliner2:10 pm Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
4:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak769 Pacific Surfliner4:01 pm Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h51
6:52 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak769 Pacific Surfliner4:10 pm Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h42
6:52 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak573 Pacific Surfliner6:01 pm Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
8:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak573 Pacific Surfliner6:10 pm Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
8:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak577 NA8:01 pm Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
10:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak577 NA8:10 pm Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
10:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak779 Pacific Surfliner9:01 pm Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
11:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak779 Pacific Surfliner9:10 pm Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
11:57 pm Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak581 Pacific Surfliner10:01 pm Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
12:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak581 Pacific Surfliner10:10 pm Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
12:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
Friday, 5 December
amtrak785 Pacific Surfliner12:01 am Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
2:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak785 Pacific Surfliner12:10 am Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
2:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak587 Pacific Surfliner1:01 am Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
3h03
4:04 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak587 Pacific Surfliner1:10 am Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h54
4:04 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak591 Pacific Surfliner3:01 am Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
5:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak591 Pacific Surfliner3:10 am Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
5:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak593 Pacific Surfliner4:01 am Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
6:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak593 Pacific Surfliner4:10 am Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
6:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak595 Pacific Surfliner5:01 am Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA
2h56
7:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect
amtrak595 Pacific Surfliner5:10 am Old Town Station, San Diego, CA
2h47
7:57 am Union Station, Los Angeles, CA0 changesdirect

This is the last train of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA by train, coach or flight

Compare train, coach and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Fri
05 Dec
Sat
06 Dec
Sun
07 Dec
Mon
08 Dec
Tue
09 Dec
Wed
10 Dec
Thu
11 Dec
Fri
12 Dec
Sat
13 Dec
Sun
14 Dec
Mon
15 Dec
Tue
16 Dec
Wed
17 Dec
Thu
18 Dec

How far in advance should I book train tickets from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA?

The best time to book your train from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA is 21 days before departure. See how prices for trains change on the San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA route.
Prices are for one-way tickets for one passenger from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA per month. Insights are sourced from fares found by Omio users in the last 12 months. Current prices may differ as prices vary depending on the time of day, class or how far in advance you book your train from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA.

Journey information

Overview: Train from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA

USAUSA
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Icon of train

Trains from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA run on average 18 times per day, taking around 2h 52m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $36 but you can travel from only $28 by coach.

There are 17 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 03:50, the last at 22:10. The fastest train covers the 180 km distance in 2h 47m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Coach from $28
Distance
180 km
Average train duration
2h 52m
Cheapest ticket price
$36
Trains per day
18
Direct trains
17
Fastest train
2h 47m
First train
03:50
Last train
22:10
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Coach from $28

Train companies: Amtrak from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA trainsAmtrak trains will get you between San Diego, CA and Los Angeles, CA from $28. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.

Amtrak

About
Amtrak is the main passenger train operator in the United States, providing medium- and long-distance intercity services across 46 states and three Canadian provinces. Operating over 300 trains daily and serving more than 500 destinations, Amtrak connects cities and regions nationwide through routes such as the high-speed Acela in the Northeast Corridor, the scenic Coast Starlight along the West Coast, and the Empire Builder linking Chicago to the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. Other notable services include the Northeast Regional, Keystone Service, and the unique Auto Train, which allows passengers to bring their cars onboard. Amtrak offers a variety of classes to suit different budgets and travel needs, including Coach, Business, First Class, and Sleeper Class with options like Roomettes, Bedrooms, and Bedroom Suites for overnight journeys. Ticket types include Saver, Value, Flexible, Business, and Premium. Onboard amenities vary by service but may include comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, power outlets, dining options, and lounge access on select trains. Popular routes include Washington, D.C.–Boston, San Diego–San Luis Obispo, San Jose–Sacramento, and Chicago–Seattle.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
2h 47m
Cheapest Price
$36
Amtrak frequency
9 a day
Luggage included
2 personal items and 2 carry-on bags included free
Luggage storage
Overhead racks, under seats, and designated luggage areas at end of cars
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation policies depend on ticket type and timing
Refund
Full refund if train is canceled by Amtrak
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Café car with snacks, beverages, and light meals. Long-distance trains have full-service dining cars
Seat reservation
Included in ticket price for Business and First Class. Optional fee for Coach Class
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces, accessible restrooms, Red Cap assistance service, accessible platforms and stations
Pets
Small pets under 20 pounds allowed for $26 fee. Must be in carrier. Service animals travel free
Quiet zone

FAQs: San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA train

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Los Angeles, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
Cheap train tickets from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA can start from as little as $50 when you book in advance. The average train ticket price for San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA is $53; however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.
On average the San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA train time is 2 h 42 min   covering the 179 km long journey, but the journey time can vary depending on specific dates or if traveling on weekends and holidays.
The first train from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA leaves at 11: 10am. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner   from Omio.
The last train from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA leaves at 9: 10pm.
Yes, there are 17 direct trains a day from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA with Amtrak. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer direct trains.
Take the San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA train with Amtrak. However, it's always good to check out all possible train providers for the trip between San Diego, CA and Los Angeles, CA as there might be differences in the amenities they offer.
A trip to Los Angeles, CA from San Diego, CA is worth doing but not as a day trip with a journey time of 2 h 42 min each way. Check with Omio app   the best way to travel.
The cheapest month for a train from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA is August.
You have options as you can travel from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA 3 different ways: coach, train or flight.

popular train stations

Important Stations and Airports in San Diego, CA and Los Angeles, CA

San Diego
Los Angeles
The major train station for departures in San Diego is Santa Fe Depot. Find all the information you need to know about services, amenities and connections at Santa Fe Depot for your trip from San Diego to Los Angeles.
Santa Fe DepotWifiLockersParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCHotelLost and Found OfficeTicket OfficeBike ParkingCar RentalInformation DeskLuggage Carts
Amenities at train station
WifiWifi
LockersLockers
ParkingParking
DiningDining
ATMATM
TaxisTaxis
AccessibilityAccessibility
WCWC
HotelHotel
Lost and Found OfficeLost and Found Office
Ticket OfficeTicket Office
Bike ParkingBike Parking
Car RentalCar Rental
Information DeskInformation Desk
Luggage CartsLuggage Carts
information
phone
Phone Number
ticketOfficeHours
Ticket Office Hours
  • 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
ticketOfficeHours
Distance to city center
1 km
platformCount
Number of platforms
6
Wifi
Wifi
  • Free
Parking
Parking
  • Parking is available nearby with various public and private options.
Dining
Dining
  • The Fish Market
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Taxis
Taxis
  • Outside the main entrance.
Accessibility
Accessibility
  • Ramps.
WC
WC
  • $1.25
Hotel
Hotel
  • The Westin San Diego
  • The Guild Hotel, San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
  • Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego Bay Downtown
Lost and Found Office
Lost and Found Office
  • Located in the main hall
Car Rental
Car Rental
  • Enterprise
  • Hertz
Information Desk
Information Desk
  • Located in the main hall
Luggage Carts
Luggage Carts
  • Free
Station Plan
  • Hall 1: main entrance, platforms for Amtrak and Coaster trains
  • Hall 2: Trolley connections
Public transport options for Santa Fe Depot
  • San Diego Trolley: Blue Line, Green Line
  • Bus: Several lines available
  • Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
Old Town StationWifiLockersParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCHotelLost and Found OfficeTicket OfficeBike ParkingCar RentalInformation DeskLuggage Carts
Amenities at train station
WifiWifi
LockersLockers
ParkingParking
DiningDining
ATMATM
TaxisTaxis
AccessibilityAccessibility
WCWC
HotelHotel
Lost and Found OfficeLost and Found Office
Ticket OfficeTicket Office
Bike ParkingBike Parking
Car RentalCar Rental
Information DeskInformation Desk
Luggage CartsLuggage Carts
information
ticketOfficeHours
Ticket Office Hours
  • 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM Monday - Sunday
ticketOfficeHours
Distance to city center
5 km
platformCount
Number of platforms
2
Wifi
Wifi
  • Free
Parking
Parking
  • Parking is available with several spaces for commuters and visitors.
Dining
Dining
  • Casa Guadalajara
  • Old Town Mexican Cafe
Taxis
Taxis
  • Outside the main entrance.
Accessibility
Accessibility
  • Elevators, ramps.
WC
WC
  • $0.25
Hotel
Hotel
  • Old Town Inn
  • Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott San Diego Old Town
  • Best Western Plus Hacienda Hotel Old Town
Lost and Found Office
Lost and Found Office
  • Located in the main hall
Car Rental
Car Rental
  • Enterprise
  • Hertz
Information Desk
Information Desk
  • Located in the main hall
Luggage Carts
Luggage Carts
  • Free
Station Plan
  • Hall 1: main entrance, platforms for Amtrak and Coaster trains
  • Hall 2: Trolley connections
Public transport options for Old Town Station
  • Trolley: Green Line
  • Bus: Several lines available including 8, 9, 10, 28, 30, 35, 44, 88, 105, 150, 923, 928

More options for your journey from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA

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