Rome2Rio

How to get fromSilicon Valley to Santa Monicaby train, plane, tram, bus, train (Amtrak), car, or subway

Find Transport to Santa Monica

See all options

There are 12 ways to get from Silicon Valley to Santa Monica by train, plane, tram, bus, train (Amtrak), car, or subway

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Caltrain to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport, tram

    best
    1. Take the train from Palo Alto Caltrain Southbound to Santa Clara Caltrain Southboundtrain train
    2. Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane plane SJC - LAX
    3. Take the tram from LAX / Metro Transit Center to Expo / Crenshaw K-Line Stationtram tram
    4. Take the tram from Expo / Crenshaw E-Line Station to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    4h 20m
    $142–615

  2. Bus via Van Nuys / Laurel Canyon

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from San Jose - King Rd Pink Elephant to Los Angeles - Pacoimabus bus San Jose
    11h 23m
    $44–68

  3. Bus

    1. Take the bus from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich to Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Stationbus bus San Jose
    8h 59m
    $55–71

  4. Train (Amtrak)

    1. Take the train from San Jose to Los Angelestrain train Coast Starlight
    13h 16m
    $240–371

  5. Drive  354 mi

    1. Drive from Silicon Valley to Santa Monicacar car 354 mi
    6h 2m
    $61–88

  6. Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport, tram

    1. Take the train from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain train
    2. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane plane SFO - LAX
    3. Take the tram from LAX / Metro Transit Center to Expo / Crenshaw K-Line Stationtram tram
    4. Take the tram from Expo / Crenshaw E-Line Station to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    4h 18m
    $92–214

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

    1. Take the train from Palo Alto Caltrain Southbound to Santa Clara Caltrain Southboundtrain train
    2. Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane plane SJC - BUR
    3. Take the subway from North Hollywood Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Linessubway subway
    4. Take the tram from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    4h 54m
    $212–763

  8. Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, subway, tram

    1. Take the train from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain train
    2. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane plane SFO - BUR
    3. Take the subway from North Hollywood Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Linessubway subway
    4. Take the tram from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    4h 56m
    $137–402

  9. Caltrain, tram, BART to Oakland International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport

    1. Take the train from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northboundtrain train
    2. Take the tram from King St & 4th St to Metro Embarcadero Stationtram tram
    3. Take the subway from Embarcadero to Coliseumsubway subway
    4. Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane plane OAK - LAX
    5. Take the tram from LAX / Metro Transit Center to Expo / Crenshaw K-Line Stationtram tram
    6. Take the tram from Expo / Crenshaw E-Line Station to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    5h 30m
    $48–225

  10. Caltrain, BART to Oakland International Airport, fly to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, subway, tram

    1. Take the train from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northboundtrain train
    2. Take the subway from Embarcadero to Coliseumsubway subway
    3. Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane plane OAK - BUR
    4. Take the subway from North Hollywood Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Linessubway subway
    5. Take the tram from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    6h 4m
    $188–723

  11. Caltrain to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, fly to Long Beach Airport, line 191 bus, tram

    1. Take the train from Palo Alto Caltrain Southbound to Santa Clara Caltrain Southboundtrain train
    2. Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Long Beach Airport (LGB)plane plane SJC - LGB
    3. Take the bus from Del Amo & Lakewood NW to Del Amo Station Bay 3bus bus
    4. Take the tram from Del Amo Station to Pico Stationtram tram
    5. Take the tram from Pico Station to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    6h 9m
    $59–305

  12. Line 22 bus, bus

    1. Take the bus from El Camino & Galvez to Tully & Kingbus bus 22
    2. Take the bus from San Jose - Huong Lan Sandwich to Chinatown Metro Station - Los Angeles, CAbus bus San Jose
    10h 17m
    $50–61

Silicon Valley to Santa Monica by train, bus, and tram

Calendar7Weekly Services
Duration8h 59mAverage Duration
Ticket$55Cheapest Price
See schedules

Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Silicon Valley to Santa Monica.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 345.7 mi
  • Duration: 4h 20m

What companies run services between Silicon Valley, CA, USA and Santa Monica, CA, USA?

Hoang Express operates a bus from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich to Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station once daily. Tickets cost $45–60 and the journey takes 5h 30m. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from San Jose to Los Angeles once daily. Tickets cost $230–360 and the journey takes 10h 45m.

Airlines
Train operators
Bus operators

Want to know more about travelling around United States

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Related travel guides

Booking & Getting There