Do you need to become from Sacramento to San Francisco without a car? With heavy traffic and expensive parking fees, it's understandable why y'all would rather take public transportation.

Luckily, there are multiple options to choose from to get to the city. To save y'all some time, here are the best ways to get from Sacramento to SF.

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All-time Ways To Get From Sacramento to San Francisco

In that location'due south a multitude of means to get from Sacramento to San Francisco. It all depends on how long or short you want your travel time to be and how much you're willing to spend.

Likewise driving to San Francisco, you have the choice of riding a bus, train (Amtrak), BART, ferry, plane, or a combination of some of them.

This commodity will help you decide for yourself which i is the best way to go from Sacramento to SF. Use the links below to encounter the individual options.

Length of Time Cost
Autobus 2:10 hrs –  2:50 hrs $xiv-$31
Train (Amtrak) 2 hrs –  ii:30 hrs $33
Railroad train (Amtrak) + BART 3 hrs $27-$33
Drive + BART 1:30 hrs – 2 hrs Gas + $v.85
Bulldoze + Ferry ii hrs Gas + $9
Drive i:xv hrs – 1:xl hrs Toll of Gas
Plane 00:59 mins – 1:14 hrs $204+ (one-manner)

Bus from Sacramento to San Francisco

  • Best For: Those who are traveling on a upkeep
  • Time/Toll: 2 hrs –  ii:50 hrs / $14-$27

For those who are traveling on a budget, taking the bus is the perfect option for you. Not only is it the cheapest way to get from Sacramento to San Francisco, but there are also two autobus companies you can choose from.

Nowadays, buses have upgraded services so you don't accept to worry most feeling uncomfortable throughout your trip. 1 con, however, is your omnibus could arrive later than scheduled due to traffic.

Although not the norm, you also have to prepare in case the bus breaks downward and gets you stranded for hours.

FlixBus

  • Estimated Cost: $16-$26
  • Pick-up Locations: Old Sacramento (2nd St/J St) and Midtown Sacramento (29th St/Thousand St)
  • Drop-off Locations: San Francisco (fifth/Townsend), Hyde/Beach (SF Fisherman's Wharf), and Daly Urban center BART
  • Services Onboard: Wi-Fi, restroom, power outlets, luggage compartments, entertainment portal, actress legroom, reclining seats

FlixBus is one of the virtually affordable bus services that you tin have to go to San Francisco from Sacramento.

It has multiple trips throughout the day with the earliest departure time from midtown Sac at 5:45 am during the week and 7 am on weekends, while the last passenger vehicle leaves at 1:45 pm on weekdays and iv pm on weekends.

The multiple drop-off points make information technology convenient based on which part of the city you desire to get to.

You tin choose to reserve your seat at an additional cost. Even improve, you have the pick to travel neighbour-gratuitous and reserve a seat beside yours.

You tin also purchase additional storage if you're bringing a lot of luggage. Make certain to arrive 30 minutes before your trip so you don't miss your bus.

Book your coach ticket here
downtown san francisco

Greyhound

  • Estimated Cost: $14-$31
  • Pick-upwards Locations: 420 Richards Blvd, Old Sac (2d & J)
  • Drop-off Locations: 425 Mission St, STE 206
  • Services Onboard: Wi-Fi, power outlets, reclining leather seats, extra legroom, no middle seats, overhead storage, restroom

Greyhound is another bus service that provides affordable prices for those traveling to San Francisco. It has v trips to SF during the week and 3 on weekends.

Like FlixBus, you have the option of booking and reserving your seats on their website. Y'all can choose betwixt three fare types: Economy, Economy Actress, or Flexible.

For those traveling at nighttime, it might be better to choose another bus service as Greyhound's bus station in Sacramento is in a sketchy neighborhood.

This is our least favorite option out of the 2 bus companies on this list.

Book your bus ticket here

Sacramento to San Francisco by Train (Amtrak)

  • Best For: Those who desire a petty more than comfort
  • Fourth dimension/Cost: 2 hrs – 2.5 hours / $33
  • Departing from: Sacramento Valley Station
  • Drib-off Locations: Emeryville station with Amtrak Thruway Omnibus to 555 Mission St., San Francisco
  • Services Onboard: Private rooms, seating options, onboard dining, Wi-Fi, desk, power outlets, restrooms, pets and bicycles onboard

If yous want to travel comfortably and avoid traffic jams, this is the best option for you. Besides the breathtaking views y'all'll get from its big windows, information technology also has wide seats and enough space to get up and stretch your legs.

If you lot likewise need to get to San Francisco early, Amtrak has a trip leaving at 4:10 am and arriving at 6:20 am.

Make sure to give yourself enough time and make it at least 15 minutes before the departure time as there are no assigned seats.

Upon arriving at Emeryville station, Amtrak's Thruway Bus will have you lot directly to San Francisco.

Past Train (Amtrak) + BART

  • Best For: Those who are traveling to locations close to a BART station
  • Fourth dimension/Cost: one.5 hrs (Amtrak), ane.5 hrs (BART) = 3 hrs / ~$37
  • Departing from: Sacramento Valley Station
  • Drop-off Locations: Multiple BART stations
  • Services Onboard: Amtrak (onboard dining, Wi-Fi, desk-bound, power outlets, restrooms, and bicycles onboard); BART (bike area, wheelchair area)

If yous're traveling to locations shut to a BART station, a combination of taking the Amtrak and BART is the all-time selection for you.

From Sacramento Valley Station, take the Amtrak and become off at Richmond Station. From there, transfer to the BART and take the Ruby Line. It volition pass through Downtown San Francisco and directly to SFO.

If y'all're traveling by yourself at night, information technology is best to take the bus that goes straight to the metropolis. Transferring at Richmond station during the solar day is perfectly fine and safe only try to avoid information technology belatedly at night specially if traveling solo.

💡 Do yous need to get back to Sacramento? Here is a detailed post on how to get from San Francisco to Sacramento

Drive + BART

  • Best For: Those who accept a car but want to avoid paying for parking in the city
  • Time/Cost: 1.5 hrs – 2 hrs / Gas + $5.85
  • Suggested Route: Drive from Sacramento to Pleasant Hill BART station, then take the BART to the city

This option is bully if you still want to drive but desire to avert the steep parking fees in the urban center. What's not bad almost the station is information technology's correct off the motorway so it's piece of cake to get to.

This is also a good alternative if yous want a little more flexibility with your time every bit you only accept to business relationship for the BART schedule.

At that place's a covered parking structure with a $three fee per solar day. For Single or Multi-Day Reserved, it's $6 per day and free on the weekends.

But the Multi-Day tickets permit you lot to exit your machine for more than than 24 hours. You can also purchase your parking spot from the BART app.

san francisco ferry building

Drive + Ferry

  • Best For: Those who are traveling for leisure
  • Time/Cost: 55 mins (Drive) + ane hour (Ferry) = 2 hrs / Gas + $9
  • Suggested Route: Drive from Sacramento to Vallejo Ferry Concluding
  • Drop-off Locations: Downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal (Gate E)
  • Services Onboard: Gratuitous Wi-Fi, restrooms, snack bar, bike racks

If yous're traveling for leisure and you want to take public transportation that has the best views of the San Francisco skyline, consider taking the ferry from Vallejo Ferry Terminal. This is a great pick if you're traveling with family and friends.

From Sacramento, it'll take about an hour to get to Vallejo Ferry Terminal, and daily-paid parking is available across the terminal.

You can buy your tickets and top off Clipper cards at the ticket function, and the ferry volition take you to Downtown San Francisco Terminal (Gate Due east).

Here is the Ferry Schedule for your convenience.

Drive

  • Best For: Those who don't want to take public transportation
  • Time/Cost: i hr 15 mins – ane hr forty mins  / Cost of gas and toll

If taking public transportation doesn't entreatment to you, driving is something yous should consider. Traveling during rush hour (7-ix am and 4-vii pm) is best avoided unless you want to get stuck in traffic.

Depending on how heavy the traffic is, it volition take longer than taking the train, simply you don't have to go through the hassle of irresolute lines and waiting for the train to go far.

Driving to San Francisco is the most flexible choice among the others on this listing, but you take to take into consideration the cost of gas, toll, steep parking rates, and traffic congestion in the city.

💡 Local Tip: If traveling solo, you lot can use the carpool lane  from 10 am to 3 pm and seven pm onwards

Airplane

  • Best For: Those who want to avoid traffic or traveling for work
  • Time/Cost: 59 mins – 1 hour 14 mins, (starts at $200 one-way)
  • Airline: United Airlines

If you don't similar the idea of land or ocean travel, flying is the all-time pick for y'all.

Air travel might seem the fastest fashion to get to San Francisco, merely information technology actually takes longer because y'all have to bank check in. Information technology takes even longer if you brought a lot of baggage with you lot.

Air travel is ane of the most expensive modes of transportation on this list. Besides the expensive airfare, you also accept to consider the additional costs to travel to and from the drome.

Getting From Sacramento to SFO Airport

san francisco airport

Train (Amtrak) + BART

  • Travel Time: 1.5 hrs (Amtrak) + 2 hrs 19 mins (BART) = 3 hrs l mins
  • Toll: starts at $38
  • Earliest Train from Sac: iv:10 am (Weekday), 5:55 am (Sat/Sun)
  • Last Train from Sac: 7:55 pm (Weekday), 8:55 pm (Saturday/Sun)

From Sacramento Valley Station, ride the Amtrak and get off at Richmond Station. From in that location, transfer to the BART'due south Red Line, which volition accept you straight to SFO.

At that place'south another fashion to go there, and information technology'due south the just trip offered from nine:00 pm to midnight.

From Richmond Station, take the Orange Line to MacArthur Station. Then transfer to the Yellow Line which will have yous directly to SFO.

Airport Shuttle

  • Travel Time: 1 hr and fifty mins – ii hrs and fifty mins
  • Estimated Toll: $174-$842

If you don't similar the hassle of riding public transportation, you lot tin can take an airdrome shuttle to your destination. It's more expensive than taking the train, but you won't have to transfer lines and await for the railroad train to come.

You tin can book your shuttle in advance, and the option-up location and cost will depend on the shuttle service that yous'll volume. Y'all can pick whatever car you want, so this is perfect if you've got a lot of baggage.

Here are some shuttle services that you tin can choose from:

  • Sacramento Taxi Xanthous Cab
  • LAXRide
  • Elife

FAQs

How practice I go from Sacramento to San Francisco without a car?

The best fashion to travel from Sacramento to San Franciso without a car is by taking the bus which costs $14-$31 and takes 2:ten hours. Y'all tin likewise ride the train (Amtrak) for $33 or a combination of the Amtrak and the BART.

What is the cheapest way to go from Sacramento to San Francisco?

The cheapest way to go from Sacramento to San Francisco is by omnibus with the cost ranging from $14 to $31. The 2 bus companies available are Flixbus and Greyhound offering multiple trips throughout the mean solar day.

Does BART run from Sacramento to San Francisco?

No, it doesn't. However, you tin can ride the Amtrak from Sacramento Valley Station and get off at Richmond Station. From there you can ride BART'due south Red Line to get to San Francisco.

You lot tin can as well take the Orange Line at Richmond Station and get off at MacArthur Station. And then transfer to the Yellowish Line, which volition take you to San Francisco.

Wrap-Upward

Whether you're traveling from Sacramento to San Francisco without a automobile or you merely desire to avoid the heavy traffic and steep parking fees in the city, there are a lot of options you can cull from.

Traveling can be quite a hassle, but planning your trip carefully and doing ample research can make information technology a more enjoyable experience.

Related:

  • San Jose to SFO Airport
  • Sacramento to Lake Tahoe