How much is the train ticket from San Jose to San Diego?

The cheapest train tickets from San Jose to San Diego start from R 1 722. The average price for this train route is around R 2 474. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from San Jose to San Diego?

The average train journey time from San Jose to San Diego is 14h 24m, covering a distance of 670 km. The quickest train can get you there in 13h 50m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the San Jose to San Diego route?

Several major train operators run on this route, with 2 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from San Jose to San Diego?

The earliest train from San Jose to San Diego departs at 10:26. And the latest train departs at 10:26.

Train San Jose to San Diego from R 1 349 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures from San Jose to San Diego on 12 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
15:35	Diridon Station	14h	05:35	Old Town San Diego	CheapestFastest
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 24m	00:50	Old Town San Diego	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to San Diego on 13 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 24m	00:50	Old Town San Diego	CheapestFastest
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 24m	00:50	Old Town San Diego	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to San Diego on 14 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
10:26	Diridon Station	19h 9m	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 24m	00:50	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
10:26	Diridon Station	19h 9m	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 34m	01:00	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 34m	01:00	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to San Diego on 15 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
15:35	Diridon Station	14h	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	CheapestFastest
10:26	Diridon Station	19h 9m	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	19h 9m	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 34m	01:00	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 34m	01:00	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to San Diego on 16 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
15:35	Diridon Station	14h	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	CheapestFastest
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	19h 9m	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to San Diego on 17 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
15:35	Diridon Station	14h	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	CheapestFastest
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	19h 9m	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to San Diego on 18 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
15:35	Diridon Station	14h	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	CheapestFastest
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	14h 38m	01:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	19h 9m	05:35	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 12:37 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to travel from San Jose to San Diego

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as a good way to reach San Diego. The journey takes about 13 hours 30 minutes and with fares starting at just R 755, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

6bus per day

13h 30mAverage duration

665 kmDistance

17kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 755 - R 3 687	Average duration13h 30m	CO₂ emissions 17kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 1 722 - R 3 243	Average duration14h 24m	CO₂ emissions 61kg CO₂e

Train Companies

Amtrak

4/55 637 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

Based on 5637 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at R 1 418

Amtrak San Jose San Diego recent customer reviews

It was great trip until we reached Santa Bárbara. It was oversold & the train became crowded in a matter of seconds.

Jade S.

29 May 2023

US train companies: Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about travelling from San Jose, US to San Diego, CA, US by train

Please note that timetables, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or differ at the time of your trip.

How much is the train ticket from San Jose to San Diego?
The cheapest train tickets from San Jose to San Diego start from R 1 722. The average price for this train route is around R 2 474. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from San Jose to San Diego?
The average train journey time from San Jose to San Diego is 14h 24m, covering a distance of 670 km. The quickest train can get you there in 13h 50m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the San Jose to San Diego route?
Several major train operators run on this route, with 2 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from San Jose to San Diego?
The earliest train from San Jose to San Diego departs at 10:26. And the latest train departs at 10:26.

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found

09/12

R 1 764

10/12

R 1 764

Today

R 1 764

12/12

R 1 764

13/12

R 2 802

14/12

R 2 249

15/12

R 1 764

16/12

R 1 764

The cheapest trip from San Jose, US to San Diego, CA, US was searched and found on 09 Dec 2025 with a price of R 1 764

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

You can expect to pay from R 1 764 to R 7 869 for a train ticket from San Jose, US to San Diego, CA, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 1 764, which is on 2025-12-12.