Trains from Seattle, WA to San Diego, CA

Travel by train from Seattle, WA, to San Diego, CA

The train from Seattle, WA, to San Diego, CA, lasts on average 35h 26m. Around 5 trains depart a day from Seattle to California. The average price is ≈ $226.82 (€195.67), and the lowest ticket pricing starts at around ≈ $197.01 (€169.95).

Amtrak, the largest passenger railroad service in the US, operates the train from Seattle to San Diego. There is no direct service between the two west coast cities. You must take The Amtrak Coast Starlight in Seattle and transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at Los Angeles Union Station.

The Coast Starlight is one of the most stunning Amtrak services; it connects all the major cities, from Seattle to Los Angeles. Rainy Washington forests, Cascades, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific beaches, you can experience it all in the unique sightseeing cars. The Coast Starlight is one of the long-distance trains using the double-decker Superliner cars: dining cars, sleeping cars, and the particular observation lounge car. You can observe the dramatic scenery unfold while having a snack from the café on the lower deck.

The Pacific Surfliner train service directly connects Louis Obispo and San Diego. It serves Solana Beach, Oceanside, San Clemente Pier, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Fullerton before reaching Los Angeles. The average speed is 41.2 miles per hour (66 km/h), but it can reach speeds up to 90 miles per hour (145 km/h). Be prepared for stunning South Californian scenery. The train will take you along the coast, and some of the country's best surfing spots, and the trains feature enough racks to bring your surfing board or bicycle along. All trains also feature free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and a Market Cafe with snacks, beverages, and fresh food. All cats and dogs up to 20 pounds are welcome on board.

Amtrak offers four sleeping options on their trains.

1. The Roomette is, at first glance, a tiny room, but it is very well-used. Different innovative storage options will surprise you at every step. They start with two comfortable recliner seats, which turn into a bed, and a second bunk bed that you pull from the ceiling, making enough space for two people to sleep and have a great view. The older Viewliner cars have a toilet and a sink in the room (one of the surprises under the steps to the upper bunk), which can be tricky if there are two people. The newer cars have toilets and bathrooms in the hallway.
2. The Bedroom is twice as big, with a big comfy queen bed and a bathroom in the room (separated by a door). It has all the amenities of the Roomette with more space and a higher price. 
3. The Two-Room Suite on a train offers twice the space of a regular Bedroom accommodation. During the day, the suite features two sofas and separate chairs for seating; at night, these furnishings convert into upper and lower beds, providing comfortable sleeping arrangements. It includes two in-room sinks, restrooms, and showers.
4. The Family room is only available on the Superliner trains. It provides comfortable accommodations for up to four people, with full-sized beds and fold-down bunks. Passengers can access hot showers, extra storage space, a sink, and an enclosed lavatory. 

You will start your trip at Seattles King St Station - 303 S Jackson St. It was opened at the beginning of the 20th Century as a Union Station for the Great Northern Railway and the Pacific Northwest railway. It is still, to this day, an important hub. Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses, local commuter trains, and the Metro use it as a stop. Like many other train terminals in the United States, Seattle's station is a historical landmark. Still, unlike other stations, the clock tower on King Street Station is inspired by the clock tower on Piazza San Marco in Venice. How fancy is that?

In San Diego, you exit at two stations:

Old Town Station is an excellent place to arrive, as it is located close to the Old Town San Diego, a state historic park and one of the earliest settlements in the US, as well as to Presidio Palace, the site of the Old Spanish fort. San Diego Trolley, local buses, and the Coaster commuter rail that links northern San Diego County's oceanside communities also use Old Town as one of their stations. 

Sante Fe Depot is the city's main train terminal. Also built in a Spanish Colonial style, reflecting San Diego's turbulent past, it serves as a station of the Green Line of the San Diego Trolley light rail transit service and the COASTER commuter rail service. Located in the city center, it is a convenient place to start your San Diego adventure.

So if you plan to travel to San Diego from Seattle by train, let us help you plan it. We check thousands of rail, bus, and flight destinations to help you find the best price. Check out our handy price calendar below, where you can see the best prices across all modes of transport between Seattle and San Diego.