How do I get from San Francisco to San Diego without flying?

Taking the bus is the best way to travel to San Diego without flying. The bus trip is an affordable, safe and convenient way to travel between the two cities. Alternatively, you can also use carpooling services.

How long is the bus trip from San Francisco to San Diego?

The average travel time from San Francisco to San Diego is about 14h 10m, although the fastest bus will take 10h 45m, on average. This is the time it takes to travel the 458 miles (739 km) that separate the two cities.

How far is San Francisco from San Diego?

The distance separating San Francisco and San Diego is 458 miles (739 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from San Francisco to San Diego?

Most of the buses traveling from San Francisco to San Diego leave from Hyde/Beach (Fisherman's Wharf) and arrive at Mission Valley Sheraton. These are the most popular departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can find others that could fit better into your travel plans.

What is the cheapest way to travel from San Francisco to San Diego?

The cheapest way to travel this route is by bus. The lowest price for the bus on this route is $46.

How much does a bus ticket from San Francisco to San Diego cost?

You can expect to pay around $66 for a bus ticket. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $46 to $206, so it's good to do your research before booking.

What are the best sights and things to do in San Diego?

Once in San Diego, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Botanical Building and Lily Pond, Coronado, SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo and La Jolla Cove.

San Francisco (CA), US to San Diego (CA), US Bus Tickets

SatApr 26

from $65

SunApr 27

MonApr 28

TueApr 29

WedApr 30

ThuMay 1

FriMay 2

SatMay 3

Next departures to San Diego

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: April 26 at 5:15am
Departure city: San Francisco
Departure location: Mission St & Fremont St
Arrival time: April 26 at 8:04pm
Destination city: San Diego
Destination location: Santa Fe Depot
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 14h 49m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: April 26 at 10:00pm
Departure city: San Francisco
Departure location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Arrival time: April 27 at 8:45am
Destination city: San Diego
Destination location: UCSD Health La Jolla Station
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 10h 45m
Departure time: April 26 at 10:00pm
Departure city: San Francisco
Departure location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Arrival time: April 27 at 9:15am
Destination city: San Diego
Destination location: San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 11h 15m
Departure time: April 26 at 6:30am
Departure city: San Francisco
Departure location: San Francisco Bus Station
Arrival time: April 26 at 11:50pm
Destination city: San Diego
Destination location: Greyhound Bus Stop
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 17h 20m
Departure time: April 26 at 5:15am
Departure city: San Francisco
Departure location: Mission St & Fremont St
Arrival time: April 26 at 8:04pm
Destination city: San Diego
Destination location: Santa Fe Depot
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 14h 49m

Accepted payments

Bus San Francisco to San Diego: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$66

Average bus trip duration14h 10m

Number of daily buses19

Earliest bus departure6:00am

Distance454 miles (731 km)

Latest bus departure11:25pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,391 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

FlixBus San Francisco San Diego recent customer reviews

There was a strong smell coming from the toilet. No electric power supply, no WiFi. And very rude driver (only the first)

Enrico C.

June 5, 2024

Los asientos son muy incómodos, casi no se reclinan. Decía que el viaje era directo e hizo muchas paradas y en cada vez prendían las luces lo que hacía imposible poder descansar (elegimos viajar de noche porque era el único que iba directo). No fue una buena experiencia.

Maria Nazaret C.

January 11, 2024

Greyhound

3.5/586,944 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.8

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.3

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

Greyhound San Francisco San Diego recent customer reviews

Worse service I ever seen. I spend five and an half hours in Los Angeles. No one wants to help me even after I called the customer service. She said her supervisor will contact me and send me my ticket. Nothing happened and no one contacted me. I will never take Greyhound buses again.😠😠

Momin A.

May 19, 2019

The bus bathroom on my transfer bus was unusable. My first bus driver from San Francisco was amazing, he was patient with those who were unintentionally late and those who got off at the last minute to food and held up the bus.

Enjoli Y.

March 23, 2019

Everything was fine. The woman at the information/ticket office could be a bit more kind. But except of this we are satisfied!

Angelina G.

February 27, 2018

Amtrak

4/55,074 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

US bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Los Limousines, Tornado Bus, Valley Transit, New York Trailways, Wanda Coach

San Francisco to San Diego Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from San Francisco to San Diego. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

We make sure you can find a bus service from San Francisco to San Diego from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.

From cheap bus tickets to more luxurious buses traveling from San Francisco to San Diego, we offer a wide range of bus services to best suit your needs depending on how much your budget is.

Where are the popular stops in San Francisco and San Diego?

Stops in San Francisco

A - Hyde/Beach (Fisherman's Wharf)

B - Powell Station

C - Union Square Hilton

D - San Francisco Greyhound Station

E - 444 Townsend St.

Stops in San Diego

A - Mission Valley Sheraton

B - Old Town Courtyard Marriot

C - Downtown Holiday Inn

D - Greyhound Station

E - Market St. & Park Blvd

F - San Ysidro McDonald's

Frequently asked questions for your trip San Francisco - San Diego

How do I get from San Francisco to San Diego without flying?
How long is the bus trip from San Francisco to San Diego?
How far is San Francisco from San Diego?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from San Francisco to San Diego?
What is the cheapest way to travel from San Francisco to San Diego?
How much does a bus ticket from San Francisco to San Diego cost?
What are the best sights and things to do in San Diego?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

04/22

$65

04/23

$79

Today

$65

04/25

$65

04/26

$65

04/27

$56

04/28

$52

04/29

$54

The cheapest trip from San Francisco to San Diego was searched and found on Apr 28, 2025 with a price of $52

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from San Francisco to San Diego, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $52 to $165 for a bus ticket from San Francisco to San Diego based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $52 which is on 2025-04-28.

Usually Amtrak, Greyhound Lines, Inc. will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between San Francisco and San Diego!

Start sightseeing the minute your bus leaves the station. If you're on the night bus from San Francisco to San Diego, get comfy and count the stars.

Taking the bus creates the smallest carbon footprint compared to other modes of transport. Not to mention that buses will allow you to discover scenic gems from San Francisco to San Diego that are otherwise impossible to come by with a plane.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from San Francisco to San Diego, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

It takes 27 hours to go by bus from Lima to Cusco, one of the craziest bus trips on the world. This route is used daily by locals and backpackers.

One of the longest bus route in the world goes all the way from Ontario to Alberta in Canada (with the same bus). This trip is 3,435 km or 2,135 miles long and the price is a bit under $100.

Will you be returning to San Francisco by bus?

Bus from San Francisco to San Diego

You can also go to San Diego by train

Train from San Francisco to San Diego

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud makes bus travel easy. We help travelers find a bus, plot routes, and book intercity bus tickets all over the world. With Busbud, wherever you go, you have a worldwide bus station within reach and available in your own language and currency. Busbud partners with safe and reliable bus companies throughout the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others so you can buy tickets without a worry.

Bus Tickets from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA