Skip to Content
Transport

SF to LA by Public Transport: 30 Hours, 14 Transfers, $42.25

Matt Nelson of California Streets Blog realized that because of two new bus routes introduced this year in Salinas, it's now possibly to traverse the coastal route between Los Angeles and San Francisco entirely by using public transport. Is there a brave soul out there ready to stop being theoretical and actually make the journey? Before you say yes, take a look at the itinerary, which involves 30 hours of travel, 14 transfers, and costs $42.25:

Monday – Depart San Francisco Embarcadero Station

5:48 a.m. – Take inbound N-Judah light rail to 4th and King. Fare: $2.Operator: Muni Metro. Schedule here.

5:57 a.m. – Arrive at 4th and King Station. Layover: 14 minutes.

6:11 a.m. – Take southbound Caltrain Limited 206 to San Jose. Fare: $8.50Operator: Caltrain. Schedule here.

7:24 a.m. – Arrive at San Jose Diridon Station. Layover: 31 minutes.

7:55 a.m. – Take 55 Monterey Express bus to Prunedale. Pay the operator $10 for this fare plus a Day Pass.Operator: MST. Schedule here.

9:22 a.m. - Arrive Prunedale Park & Ride. Layover: 40 minutes.

10:02 a.m. - Take 29 Salinas bus to Salinas. Fare: use Day Pass.Operator: MST. Schedule here.

10:35 a.m. - Arrive Salinas Transit Center. Layover: 10 minutes.

10:45 a.m. – Take 23 King City bus to King City. Fare: use Day Pass.Operator: MST. Schedule here.

12:18 p.m. - Arrive King City-Mee Memorial Hospital. Layover: 3 hours 57 minutes.

4:15 p.m. – Take 82 Fort Hunter Liggett Express. Fare: $2 with Day Pass. Inform the driver that you want to transfer to the 83.Operator: MST. Schedule here.

4:40 p.m. – Arrive outside of Fort Hunter Liggett gate. Layover: 35 minutes.

5:15 p.m. – Take 83 Paso Robles Express. Fare: $2 with Day Pass.Operator: MST. Schedule here.

6:12 p.m. – Arrive Paso Robles Transit Center. Layover: 8 minutes.

6:20 p.m. – Take 9 San Luis Obispo bus. Fare: $5 for Regional Day Pass.Operator: SLORTA. Schedule here.

7:27 p.m. – Arrive San Luis Obispo Transit Center. Layover: 1 hour 6 minutes.

8:33 p.m. – Take 10 Santa Maria bus. Fare: use Day Pass.Operator: SLORTA. Schedule here.

9:43 p.m. - Arrive Santa Maria Town Mall Transit Center. Layover: 8 hours 7 minutes. Find overnight accomodations in Santa Maria.

Tuesday – Depart Santa Maria Park & Ride at Hagerman Softball Complex

5:50 a.m. – Take Southbound Santa Barabara bus. Fare: $7.Operator: Clean Air Express. Schedule here.

7:09 a.m. – Arrive Anacapa at Anapamu in Santa Barbara. Layover: 9 minutes.

7:18 a.m. - Take Coastal Express bus. Fare: $3.Operator: VISTA. Schedule here.

8:00 a.m. – Arrive Pacific View Mall. Layover: 20 minutes.

8:20 a.m. – Take Highway 101 bus. Fare: $1.25.Operator: VISTA. Schedule here.

9:24 a.m. – Arrive Thousand Oaks Transit Center. Layover: 6 minutes.

9:30 a.m. - Take Metro Local 161 bus. Fare: $1.50.Operator: Metro. Schedule here.

10:45 a.m. – Arrive Warner Center. Layover: 14 minutes.

10:59 a.m. - Take Metro Orange Line bus. Fare: $1.50Operator: Metro. Schedule here.

11:42 a.m. – Arrive North Hollywood Station. Layover 7 minutes.

11:49 a.m. - Take Metro Red Line subway. Fare: $1.50Operator: Metro. Schedule here.

12:19 p.m. – Arrive Los Angeles Union Station.

Matt has actually done a similar journey in the past, and asks you to contact him if you are planning to try the run.

Photo Credit: SoCalMetro

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

LAPD Officers Watched a Nearly $1 Million Metro Bus Get Lit On Fire. Why Didn’t They Do Something?

On social media, people were quick to criticize fans that participated in the celebrations. But few people questioned why the LAPD, a public agency with an annual budget of over $3 billion, stood around and waited until the bus was on fire before they did something. Or why the city wasn’t better prepared to handle public celebrations considering the same exact thing happened three years ago when the Dodgers won the World Series (again).

November 15, 2024

This Weekend: Japanese-Creole Fusion, Lebanese Street Food, and a Pico Rivera Brewery Turns 5

Plus, a new Arcane-inspired boba event and a new taco spot to check out in Silver Lake, and more in this weekend's roundup!

November 15, 2024

A ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ Star Looks Back On Filming at Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights After 40 Years

“I remember driving early in the morning, in the dark, to get to the cemetery,” says Heather Langenkamp, who played Nancy. “I remember thinking to myself, 'I’ve never been over here, but I’ve heard that there’s really great tacos over here on Soto. Robert Englund was such a foodie. He probably told me that the best food in town was over there.”

November 14, 2024

Arlington Heights’s 11-Year-Old Salvadoran Panadería Serves Crispy Shrimp Pupusas, ‘Slutty’ Semitas, and Chocolate Rats

The couple credits their bakery’s success to high standards. Whereas many Central American bakeries may lean on more obtainable, cheaper cream cheese for their quesadillas, the family imports the unique type of hard cheese traditionally used in El Salvador.

November 14, 2024

The Evil Cooks Open Their First Brick-And-Mortar In ‘Hell Sereno’

After being a pop-up taquería since 2018, Evil Cooks' now has a brick and mortar business a few blocks away from their original front yard location, featuring their infamous taco creations like their 'McSatan' and 'Rock Lobster.'

November 13, 2024
See all posts