There are 7 ways to get from Palo Alto to San Diego by plane, bus (Greyhound), train (Amtrak), car, train, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
best- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane SJC - SAN
3h 3m$78–509Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly
cheapest- Take the train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane SFO - SAN
3h 12m$74–248Bus (Greyhound)
- Take the bus from San Jose Diridon Station to San Diego Greyhound Bus Stopbus Greyhound US0831
12h 46m$75–146Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from San Jose to Los Angelestrain Coast Starlight
- Take the train from Los Angeles to San Diegotrain Pacific Surfliner
16h 2m$175–371Drive 475.3 mi
- Drive from Palo Alto to San Diegocar 475.3 mi
8h 5m$87–126Train to Oakland International Airport, fly
- Take the train from Santa Clara Amtrak to Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtraktrain
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane OAK - SAN
4h 47m$93–294Bus via San Ysidro
- Take the bus from San Jose - King Rd to San Ysidrobus San Jose
13h 30m$94–140
Palo Alto to San Diego by train, bus, and tram (Greyhound)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Palo Alto to San Diego is to bus which costs $75 - $150 and takes 12h 46m.
The fastest way to get from Palo Alto to San Diego is to fly which takes 3h 3m and costs $75 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from Palo Alto station to San Diego. However, there are services departing from San Jose Diridon Station and arriving at San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 46m.
No, there is no direct train from Palo Alto to San Diego. However, there are services departing from California Avenue Caltrain Southbound and arriving at San Diego via San Jose and Los Angeles. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 16h 2m.
The distance between Palo Alto and San Diego is 437 miles. The road distance is 478 miles.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to San Diego without a car is to bus which takes 12h 46m and costs $75 - $150.
It takes approximately 3h 3m to get from Palo Alto to San Diego, including transfers.
Palo Alto to San Diego bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from San Jose Diridon Station.
Palo Alto to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from San Jose station.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to San Diego is to fly which takes 3h 3m and costs $75 - $550. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $75 - $150 and takes 12h 46m, you could also train, which costs $170 - $380 and takes 16h 2m.
What companies run services between Palo Alto, CA, USA and San Diego, CA, USA?
Alaska Airlines, Inc., Southwest Airlines, and Delta fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) hourly. Alternatively, Greyhound USA operates a bus from San Jose Diridon Station to San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop twice daily. Tickets cost $70–140 and the journey takes 11h 10m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–330
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $70–380
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–290
Flights from Oakland International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–360
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–500
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–250
Flights from Oakland International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–260
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–290
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–330
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–190
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Jose to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–280
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Los Angeles to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 57m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Santa Clara Amtrak to Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $11–25
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- Cal Train
Train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $5–7
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from San Jose Diridon Station to San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $70–140
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- Tufesa
Bus from San Jose - King Rd to San Ysidro
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $90–120
- Schedules at
- Tufesa
- Adult One way
- $90–120
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More Questions & Answers
Palo Alto to San Diego bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop station.
Palo Alto to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Los Angeles station.
Yes, the driving distance between Palo Alto to San Diego is 478 miles. It takes approximately 8h 5m to drive from Palo Alto to San Diego.
There are 1927+ hotels available in San Diego.
















