There are 4 ways to get from Palo Alto to Salinas by train, bus, train (Amtrak), or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Caltrain, bus
best- Take the train from California Avenue Caltrain Southbound to San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southboundtrain Local Weekday / ...
- Take the bus from San Jose to Salinasbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
2h 20m$25–35Line 22 bus, bus
cheapest- Take the bus from El Camino & Churchill to Santa Clara & 1stbus 22
- Take the bus from 2nd & Santa Clara to Gilroy Transit Centerbus 68
- Take the bus from Monterey / Gilroy Train Station to Salinas Intermodal Transit Centerbus 59
4h 46m$6–14Caltrain, train
- Take the train from California Avenue Caltrain Southbound to San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southboundtrain Local Weekday / ...
- Take the train from San Jose to Salinastrain Coast Starlight
3h 5m$27–51Drive 75.2 mi
- Drive from Palo Alto to Salinascar 75.2 mi
1h 19m$14–20
Palo Alto to Salinas by train and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Palo Alto to Salinas is to line 22 bus and bus which costs $6 - $14 and takes 4h 46m.
The fastest way to get from Palo Alto to Salinas is to drive which takes 1h 19m and costs $13 - $20.
No, there is no direct bus from Palo Alto to Salinas. However, there are services departing from El Camino & Churchill and arriving at Salinas Intermodal Transit Center via 2nd & Santa Clara and Monterey / Gilroy Train Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4h 46m.
No, there is no direct train from Palo Alto to Salinas. However, there are services departing from California Avenue Caltrain Southbound and arriving at Salinas via San Jose. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3h 5m.
The distance between Palo Alto and Salinas is 75 miles. The road distance is 75.6 miles.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to Salinas without a car is to Caltrain and bus which takes 2h 20m and costs $25 - $40.
It takes approximately 2h 20m to get from Palo Alto to Salinas, including transfers.
Palo Alto to Salinas bus services, operated by Santa Clara VTA, depart from El Camino & Churchill station.
Palo Alto to Salinas train services, operated by Caltrain, depart from California Avenue Caltrain Southbound station.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to Salinas is to Caltrain and train which takes 3h 5m and costs $27 - $55. Alternatively, you can line 22 bus and bus, which costs $6 - $14 and takes 4h 46m.
What companies run services between Palo Alto, CA, USA and Salinas, CA, USA?
You can take a train from California Avenue Caltrain Southbound to Salinas via San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southbound and San Jose in around 3h 5m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from El Camino & Churchill to Salinas Intermodal Transit Center via Santa Clara & 1st, 2nd & Santa Clara, Gilroy Transit Center, and Monterey / Gilroy Train Station in around 4h 46m.
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from California Avenue Caltrain Southbound to San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southbound
- Ave. Duration
- 25 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $5–7
Train from California Avenue Caltrain Southbound to San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southbound
- Ave. Duration
- 25 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $5–7
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from San Jose to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from San Jose to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $20–29
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Website
- example.com
Bus from San Jose to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Schedules at
- example.com
- Phone
- +1 408-321-2300
- Website
- vta.org
Bus from El Camino & Churchill to Santa Clara & 1st
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 24m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Website
- https://www.vta.org/
- Adult
- $2–5
Bus from 2nd & Santa Clara to Gilroy Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Website
- https://www.vta.org/
- Adult
- $2–5
- Phone
- 1-888-678-2871
- [email protected]
- Website
- mst.org
Bus from Monterey / Gilroy Train Station to Salinas Intermodal Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 41 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- https://mst.org/
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More Questions & Answers
Palo Alto to Salinas bus services, operated by Santa Clara VTA, arrive at Santa Clara & 1st station.
Palo Alto to Salinas train services, operated by Caltrain, arrive at San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southbound station.
Yes, the driving distance between Palo Alto to Salinas is 76 miles. It takes approximately 1h 19m to drive from Palo Alto to Salinas.
There are 163+ hotels available in Salinas.











