Orange County to San Francisco - 11 ways to travel via train, plane, and BART
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There are 11 ways to get from Orange County to San Francisco by train, plane, subway, bus, night bus or car

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

Recommended option

Train to Los Angeles, fly to Oakland  •  4h 42m

  1. Take the train from Santa Ana to Los Angeles
  2. Fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Oakland (OAK) LAX - OAK

Cheapest option

Train  •  13h 46m

  1. Take the train from Santa Ana to Los Angeles Pacific Surfliner
  2. Take the train from Los Angeles to Oakland Coast Starlight

9 alternative options

Fly Santa Ana to San Francisco  •  4h 34m

  1. Fly from Santa Ana (SNA) to San Francisco (SFO) SNA - SFO

Fly Santa Ana to Oakland, BART  •  4h 40m

  1. Fly from Santa Ana (SNA) to Oakland (OAK) SNA - OAK
  2. Take the BART from Coliseum to Civic Center / UN Plaza

Line 60 bus to Long Beach, fly to Oakland  •  5h 55m

  1. Take the line 60 bus from 17Th-Freeman to 7Th-Channel
  2. Fly from Long Beach (LGB) to Oakland (OAK) LGB - OAK

Fly Santa Ana to San Jose, BART  •  5h 56m

  1. Fly from Santa Ana (SNA) to San Jose (SJC) SNA - SJC
  2. Take the BART from Milpitas to Civic Center / UN Plaza

Train to Ontario/San Bernardino, fly to Oakland  •  6h 8m

  1. Take the train from Santa Ana station to San Bernardino Depot station
  2. Fly from Ontario/San Bernardino (ONT) to Oakland (OAK) ONT - OAK

Bus via Oakland  •  9h 30m

  1. Take the bus from Santa Ana Bus Stop to Oakland Greyhound US0831

Bus  •  9h 55m

  1. Take the bus from Santa Ana Bus Stop to San Francisco Bus Station Greyhound US0831

Night bus  •  10h 10m

  1. Take the night bus from Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center to San Francisco FlixBus N2003

Drive  •  6h 52m

  1. Drive from Orange County to San Francisco 416 miles

Orange County to San Francisco by bus and subway

7 Weekly Services
9h 30m Average Duration
$48 Cheapest Price
See schedules

Questions & Answers

The cheapest way to get from Orange County to San Francisco is to night bus which costs $35 - $120 and takes 10h 10m.

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The fastest way to get from Orange County to San Francisco is to fly which takes 4h 34m and costs $75 - $250.

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Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Santa Ana Bus Stop and arriving at San Francisco Bus Station station. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 9h 55m.

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No, there is no direct train from Orange County to San Francisco. However, there are services departing from Santa Ana and arriving at Civic Center / UN Plaza via Los Angeles and Lake Merritt. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 46m.

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The distance between Orange County and San Francisco is 409 miles. The road distance is 416 miles.

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The best way to get from Orange County to San Francisco without a car is to bus via Oakland which takes 9h 30m and costs $45 - $110.

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It takes approximately 4h 42m to get from Orange County to San Francisco, including transfers.

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Orange County to San Francisco bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Santa Ana Bus Stop station.

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Orange County to San Francisco train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Santa Ana station.

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The best way to get from Orange County to San Francisco is to fly which takes 4h 34m and costs $75 - $250. Alternatively, you can bus via Oakland, which costs $45 - $110 and takes 9h 30m, you could also train, which costs $22 - $240 and takes 13h 46m.

Mode details

Map of how to get from Orange County to San Francisco.
Launch map view
  • Distance: 408.6 miles
  • Duration: 4h 42m

What companies run services between Orange County, CA, USA and San Francisco, CA, USA?

Frontier Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Inc. and United Airlines fly from Orange County to San Francisco every 2 hours. Alternatively, Greyhound USA operates a bus from Santa Ana Bus Stop to Oakland once daily. Tickets cost $45 - $110 and the journey takes 9h 15m.

Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Website
southwest.com
Flights from Los Angeles to Oakland
Ave. Duration
1h 20m
When
Every day
Estimated price
$85 - $340
Flights from Los Angeles to Oakland via Reno
Ave. Duration
3h 40m
When
Tuesday and Wednesday
Estimated price
$85 - $340
Flights from Santa Ana to Oakland
Ave. Duration
1h 27m
When
Every day
Estimated price
$95 - $330
Flights from Long Beach to Oakland
Ave. Duration
1h 21m
When
Every day
Estimated price
$140 - $480
Flights from Santa Ana to San Jose
Ave. Duration
1h 20m
When
Every day
Estimated price
$180 - $310
Flights from Ontario/San Bernardino to Oakland
Ave. Duration
1h 18m
When
Every day
Estimated price
$110 - $370
Spirit Airlines
Website
spirit.com
Flights from Los Angeles to Oakland
Ave. Duration
1h 22m
When
Every day
Estimated price
$55 - $310
Flights from Santa Ana to Oakland
Ave. Duration
1h 18m
When
Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Estimated price
$45 - $360
Alaska Airlines, Inc.
Website
alaskaair.com
Flights from Santa Ana to San Francisco
Ave. Duration
1h 31m
When
Every day
Estimated price
$95 - $400
United Airlines
Website
united.com
Flights from Santa Ana to San Francisco
Ave. Duration
1h 36m
When
Every day
Estimated price
$110 - $380
Frontier Airlines
Website
flyfrontier.com
Flights from Santa Ana to San Francisco
Ave. Duration
1h 27m
When
Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
Estimated price
$70 - $480
Train operators
Amtrak

Amtrak is a rail service that connects the US and three Canadian provinces. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations. Founded in 1971, it is based in Washington, D.C. and offers four classes of travel: First Class, Sleeper, Business and Coach. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. Amtrak trains are known for their wide seats, plug-in power, big windows and storage capabilities.

Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
Phone
+1 800-872-7245
Website
amtrak.com
Train from Santa Ana to Los Angeles
Ave. Duration
56 min
Frequency
Every 2 hours
Estimated price
$1 - $65
Website
https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Child Coach - Advance Purchase
$1 - $17
Child Coach - short notice
$8 - $19
Child Business Class - advance purchase
$10 - $35
Child Business Class - short notice
$12 - $40
Coach Seat - Advance Purchase
$11 - $25
Business Seat - advance purchase
$23 - $75
Business Seat - short notice
$28 - $55
Coach Seat - short notice
$6 - $65
Train from Los Angeles to Oakland
Ave. Duration
11h 15m
Frequency
Twice daily
Estimated price
$19 - $170
Website
https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Child Coach - Advance Purchase
$19 - $65
Child Coach - short notice
$35 - $60
Child Business Class - advance purchase
$30 - $110
Child Business Class - short notice
$35 - $110
Coach Seat - Advance Purchase
$45 - $120
Business Seat - advance purchase
$65 - $210
Business Seat - short notice
$70 - $210
Coach Seat - short notice
$50 - $170
BART
Phone
+1-510-464-6000
Website
bart.gov
Subway from Coliseum to Civic Center / UN Plaza
Ave. Duration
25 min
Frequency
Every 15 minutes
Estimated price
$3 - $5
Website
http://www.bart.gov
Subway from Milpitas to Civic Center / UN Plaza
Ave. Duration
1h 4m
Frequency
Every 30 minutes
Estimated price
$6 - $10
Website
http://www.bart.gov
Metrolink Trains
Phone
(800) 371-LINK (5465)
Website
metrolinktrains.com
Train from Santa Ana station to San Bernardino Depot station
Ave. Duration
1h 14m
Frequency
3 times a day
Estimated price
$10 - $30
Website
https://metrolinktrains.com
children 5 and under with a paid adult
$0
Senior / Disabled / Medicare
$5 - $20
Student / Youth 6-18
$7 - $21
Bus operators
OCTA
Phone
+1 714-560-6282
Website
octa.net
Bus from 17Th-Freeman to 7Th-Channel
Ave. Duration
1h 11m
Frequency
Every 30 minutes
Estimated price
$2
Schedules at
octa.net
Greyhound USA

Greyhound is a leading bus company based in Dallas, Texas, serving over 3800 destinations across North America, Mexico and Canada. Greyhound carries around 18 million passengers a year who travel 5.4 billion miles (8.6 billion km) a year on their fleet of around 1700 vehicles. For travel flexibility, you can board or get off a Greyhound bus at official Greyhound stations, partner stations and curbside stops. There are around 230 Greyhound stations across the US where you can both catch your bus and buy tickets, that are also available on the official website and via the mobile app.

Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
Phone
+1 214-849-8100
Email
ifsr@greyhound.com
Website
greyhound.com
Bus from Santa Ana Bus Stop to Oakland
Ave. Duration
9h 15m
Frequency
Once daily
Estimated price
$45 - $110
Website
https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Santa Ana Bus Stop to San Francisco Bus Station
Ave. Duration
9h 55m
Frequency
Once daily
Estimated price
$45 - $110
Website
https://www.greyhound.com/
Flixbus USA
Phone
+1 (855) 626-8585
Website
flixbus.com
Night bus from Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center to San Francisco
Ave. Duration
8h 45m
Frequency
Once daily
Estimated price
$35 - $120
Schedules at
flixbus.com
Adult
$35 - $120

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More Questions & Answers

Orange County to San Francisco bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at San Francisco Bus Station.

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Orange County to San Francisco train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Oakland station.

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Yes, the driving distance between Orange County to San Francisco is 416 miles. It takes approximately 6h 52m to drive from Orange County to San Francisco.

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Book your Orange County to San Francisco bus tickets online with FlixBus.

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