There are 11 ways to get from San Francisco to El Cajon by plane, tram, subway, bus, train, train (Amtrak), car, taxi, shuttle, or bus (Greyhound)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport, tram
best- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane SFO - SAN
- Take the tram from Santa Fe Depot to El Cajon Stationtram
4h 29m$74–262BART, bus, train
- Take the subway from Civic Center / UN Plaza to Berryessa / North San Josesubway
- Take the bus from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich to Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Stationbus
- Take the train from Los Angeles to San Diego Old Town Transportation Centertrain
12h 56m$99–178Caltrain, train
- Take the train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southboundtrain
- Take the train from San Jose to Los Angelestrain
- Take the train from Los Angeles to San Diego Old Town Transportation Centertrain
17h 27m$182–392Drive 507.4 mi
- Drive from San Francisco to El Cajoncar 507.4 mi
8h 31m$93–134Fly Oakland International Airport to San Diego International Airport, tram
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane OAK - SAN
- Take the tram from Santa Fe Depot to El Cajon Stationtram
4h 33m$85–288Fly San Francisco International Airport to Mcclellan–Palomar Airport, taxi
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Mcclellan–Palomar Airport (CLD)plane SFO - CLD
- Take the taxi from Carlsbad-Airport-CLD to El Cajontaxi
4h$225–492Caltrain to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, fly to San Diego International Airport, tram
- Take the train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to Santa Clara Caltrain Southboundtrain
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane SJC - SAN
- Take the tram from Santa Fe Depot to El Cajon Stationtram
5h 27m$86–534Shuttle to Sonoma County Airport, fly to San Diego International Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from San Francisco Pier 27 to Santa Rosa Airport
- Fly from Sonoma County Airport (STS) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane STS - SAN
5h 56m$169–320Fly Oakland International Airport to Mcclellan–Palomar Airport, taxi
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Mcclellan–Palomar Airport (CLD)plane OAK - CLD
- Take the taxi from Carlsbad-Airport-CLD to El Cajontaxi
3h 47m$231–548BART, bus
- Take the subway from Civic Center / UN Plaza to Berryessa / North San Josesubway Green-N
- Take the bus from San Jose - King Rd to San Ysidrobus San Jose
14h 4m$105–166Bus (Greyhound)
- Take the bus from San Francisco Bus Station to San Diego Greyhound Bus Stopbus Greyhound US0831
14h 35m$83–157
San Francisco to El Cajon by subway, bus, train, and tram
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Francisco to El Cajon is to bus which costs $80 - $160 and takes 14h 35m.
The fastest way to get from San Francisco to El Cajon is to fly and taxi which takes 3h 47m and costs $230 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from San Francisco station to El Cajon. However, there are services departing from San Francisco Bus Station and arriving at El Cajon Transit Center via San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 35m.
No, there is no direct train from San Francisco to El Cajon station. However, there are services departing from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound and arriving at El Cajon Station via San Jose, Los Angeles and Old Town Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 17h 27m.
The distance between San Francisco and El Cajon is 488 miles. The road distance is 510.4 miles.
The best way to get from San Francisco to El Cajon without a car is to BART and bus and train which takes 12h 56m and costs $95 - $180.
It takes approximately 4h 29m to get from San Francisco to El Cajon, including transfers.
San Francisco to El Cajon bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from San Francisco Bus Station.
San Francisco to El Cajon train services, operated by Caltrain, depart from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound station.
The best way to get from San Francisco to El Cajon is to Caltrain and train which takes 17h 27m and costs $180 - $400. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $80 - $160 and takes 14h 35m.
What companies run services between San Francisco, CA, USA and El Cajon, CA, USA?
You can take a train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to El Cajon Station via San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southbound, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego Old Town Transportation Center, and Old Town Station in around 17h 27m. Alternatively, Greyhound USA operates a bus from San Francisco Bus Station to San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop once daily. Tickets cost $80–160 and the journey takes 13h 15m.
- Website
- southwest.com
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
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 Sonoma County Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–250
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 44m
- 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
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–500
Flights from Sonoma County Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–240
- 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
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Mcclellan–Palomar Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–270
- 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
- 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
- jsx.com
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Mcclellan–Palomar Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $55–330
- Phone
- +1 619-557-4555
- Website
- sdmts.com
Tram from Santa Fe Depot to El Cajon Station
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–15
- Website
- https://www.sdmts.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.sdmts.com/getting-around/departures-and-schedules
Tram from Santa Fe Depot to El Cajon Station
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–15
- Website
- https://www.sdmts.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.sdmts.com/getting-around/departures-and-schedules
Tram from Santa Fe Depot to El Cajon Station
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–15
- Website
- https://www.sdmts.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.sdmts.com/getting-around/departures-and-schedules
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Civic Center / UN Plaza to Berryessa / North San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $8–12
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
Subway from Civic Center / UN Plaza to Berryessa / North San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $8–12
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Los Angeles to San Diego Old Town Transportation Center
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 42m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from San Jose to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–280
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Los Angeles to San Diego Old Town Transportation Center
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 42m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southbound
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–12
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $9–12
Train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to Santa Clara Caltrain Southbound
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–12
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $9–12
- Phone
- +1 714-839-3500
- [email protected]
- Website
- xedohoang.com
Bus from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich to Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Book at
- https://www.gotobus.com/hoangexpress/
- Website
- https://xedohoang.com/en
- Adult One-way
- $45–60
- Phone
- +1 707-837-8700
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Shuttle from San Francisco Pier 27 to Santa Rosa Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $25–65
- Website
- https://groometransportation.com/sonoma-county/
- First Passenger
- $25–65
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- tufesainternacional.com
Bus from San Jose - King Rd to San Ysidro
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $90–120
- Schedules at
- tufesainternacional.com
- Adult One way
- $90–120
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from San Francisco Bus Station to San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–160
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Estimated price
- $170–210
Coastal Cab
- Phone
- +1 760-722-7472
- Website
- coastal-cab.com
Craig's Cabs
- Phone
- +1 760-722-2227
- Website
- craigscabs.com
Yellow Cab of North County
- Phone
- +1 760-444-4444
- Website
- driveu.com
Coastal Cab
- Phone
- +1 760-722-7472
- Website
- coastal-cab.com
Craig's Cabs
- Phone
- +1 760-722-2227
- Website
- craigscabs.com
Yellow Cab of North County
- Phone
- +1 760-444-4444
- Website
- driveu.com
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More Questions & Answers
San Francisco to El Cajon bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop station.
San Francisco to El Cajon train services, operated by Caltrain, arrive at San Jose Diridon Caltrain Southbound station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Francisco to El Cajon is 510 miles. It takes approximately 8h 31m to drive from San Francisco to El Cajon.
Book your San Francisco to El Cajon bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 1267+ hotels available in El Cajon.

























