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How to get fromSanta Monica to San Franciscoby bus, plane, bus (Greyhound), train (Amtrak), car, tram, subway, train, or bus (Flixbus)

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There are 11 ways to get from Santa Monica to San Francisco by bus, plane, bus (Greyhound), train (Amtrak), car, tram, subway, train, 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.

  1. Line 3 bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly to San Francisco International Airport

    best
    1. Take the bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Centerbus bus
    2. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane plane LAX - SFO
    3h 46m
    $85–195

  2. Bus (Greyhound)

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to San Francisco Bus Stationbus bus Greyhound US0831 / ...
    10h 43m
    $57–122

  3. Train, Caltrain

    1. Take the train from Van Nuys to San Josetrain train Coast Starlight
    2. Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northboundtrain train Local Weekday / ...
    13h 46m
    $131–285

  4. Drive 379.4 mi

    1. Drive from Santa Monica to San Franciscocar car 379.4 mi
    6h 23m
    $70–100

  5. Line 3 bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly to Oakland International Airport

    1. Take the bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Centerbus bus
    2. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane plane LAX - OAK
    4h
    $336–1,411

  6. Tram, subway to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to San Francisco International Airport

    1. Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Linestram tram
    2. Take the subway from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines to North Hollywood Stationsubway subway
    3. Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane plane BUR - SFO
    4h 46m
    $193–816

  7. Tram, subway to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to Oakland International Airport, BART

    1. Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Linestram tram
    2. Take the subway from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines to North Hollywood Stationsubway subway
    3. Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane plane BUR - OAK
    4. Take the subway from Coliseum to Powell Streetsubway subway
    5h
    $189–662

  8. Fly Los Angeles International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, Caltrain

    1. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane plane LAX - SJC
    2. Take the train from Santa Clara Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northboundtrain train
    5h 7m
    $113–618

  9. Tram, subway to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, Caltrain

    1. Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Linestram tram
    2. Take the subway from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines to North Hollywood Stationsubway subway
    3. Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane plane BUR - SJC
    4. Take the train from Santa Clara Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northboundtrain train
    6h 7m
    $506–769

  10. Tram, line 191 bus to Long Beach Airport, fly to Oakland International Airport, BART

    1. Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to Pico Stationtram tram
    2. Take the tram from Pico Station to Del Amo Stationtram tram
    3. Take the bus from Del Amo Station Bay 2 to Del Amo & Lakewood SEbus bus
    4. Fly from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane plane LGB - OAK
    5. Take the subway from Coliseum to Powell Streetsubway subway
    5h 55m
    $66–364

  11. Bus via San Francisco (Flixbus)

    1. Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to San Franciscobus bus FlixBus 2005
    11h 28m
    $67–122

Santa Monica to San Francisco by bus (Greyhound)

Calendar20Weekly Buses
Duration10h 43mAverage Duration
Ticket$57Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Santa Monica to San Francisco.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 363.6 mi
  • Duration: 3h 46m

What companies run services between Santa Monica, CA, USA and San Francisco, CA, USA?

Greyhound USA operates a bus from Los Angeles Union Station to San Francisco Bus Station 3 times a day. Tickets cost $55–120 and the journey takes 8h 5m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Santa Monica Eb & Lincoln Ns to San Francisco Caltrain Northbound via Westwood Nb & Wilshire Ns, Westwood / Lindbrook, Van Nuys / Keswick, Van Nuys, San Jose, and San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound in around 13h 46m.

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