There are 5 ways to get from Santa Monica to El Cajon by train (Amtrak), bus, car, plane, tram, or bus (Flixbus)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train (Amtrak)
best- Take the train from Los Angeles to San Diego Old Town Transportation Centertrain Pacific Surfliner
5h 22m$46–104Drive 138.1 mi
cheapest- Drive from Santa Monica to El Cajoncar 138.1 mi
2h 29m$26–37Bus via Metro Transit Center Bay 2
- Take the bus from LAX Terminal 1 Shared Rides Stop to San Diegobus reLAXsan
5h 46mLine 3 bus, fly, tram
- Take the bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Centerbus
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane LAX - SAN
- Take the tram from Santa Fe Depot to El Cajon Stationtram
4h 30m$155–823Bus (Flixbus)
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to San Diegobus FlixBus 2017
6h 8m$27–56
Santa Monica to El Cajon by tram, subway, and train (Amtrak)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Monica to El Cajon is to drive which costs $25 - $40 and takes 2h 29m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Monica to El Cajon is to drive which takes 2h 29m and costs $25 - $40.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Monica to El Cajon. However, there are services departing from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place and arriving at El Cajon Transit Center via Metro Transit Center Bay 2, LAX Terminal 1 Shared Rides Stop and San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 46m.
No, there is no direct train from Santa Monica station to El Cajon station. However, there are services departing from Downtown Santa Monica Station and arriving at El Cajon Station via 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines, Los Angeles and Old Town Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 22m.
The distance between Santa Monica and El Cajon is 157 miles. The road distance is 138.9 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Monica to El Cajon without a car is to train which takes 5h 22m and costs $45 - $110.
It takes approximately 5h 22m to get from Santa Monica to El Cajon, including transfers.
Santa Monica to El Cajon bus services, operated by reLAXsan, depart from LAX Terminal 1 Shared Rides Stop station.
Santa Monica to El Cajon train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Los Angeles station.
The best way to get from Santa Monica to El Cajon is to train which takes 5h 22m and costs $45 - $110. Alternatively, you can bus via Metro Transit Center Bay 2, which costs and takes 5h 46m.
What companies run services between Santa Monica, CA, USA and El Cajon, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a train from Los Angeles to San Diego Old Town Transportation Center hourly. Tickets cost $40–85 and the journey takes 2h 42m. Alternatively, reLAXsan operates a bus from LAX Terminal 1 Shared Rides Stop to San Diego 5 times a day, and the journey takes 2h 35m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
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
.jpg "Pacific Surfliner interior")
- 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
- Phone
- (858) 430-8440
- [email protected]
- Website
- gorelaxsan.com
Bus from LAX Terminal 1 Shared Rides Stop to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Website
- https://www.gorelaxsan.com/
- Phone
- +1 310-451-5444
- Website
- bigbluebus.com
Bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- http://www.bigbluebus.com
- Schedules at
- http://www.bigbluebus.com/Routes-And-Schedules/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Los Angeles to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $24–40
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
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More Questions & Answers
Santa Monica to El Cajon bus services, operated by reLAXsan, arrive at San Diego station.
Santa Monica to El Cajon train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at San Diego Old Town Transportation Center station.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Monica to El Cajon is 139 miles. It takes approximately 2h 29m to drive from Santa Monica to El Cajon.
There are 1045+ hotels available in El Cajon.