There are 6 ways to get from San Rafael to Pismo Beach by train (Amtrak), bus (Amtrak), car, bus, plane, train, subway, or shuttle
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train (Amtrak)
best- Take the train from Oakland to San Luis Obispotrain Coast Starlight
8h 50m$99–162Drive 257.5 mi
cheapest- Drive from San Rafael to Pismo Beachcar 257.5 mi
4h 31m$47–68Bus (Amtrak)
- Take the bus from San Francisco to Santa Maria Amtrak Bus Stopbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
9h 32mBus, fly
- Take the bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Hwy 101 @ Seminary Dr Bus Padbus
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP)plane SFO - SBP
- Take the bus from Government Center to Pismo Beach Premium Outletsbus
6h 15m$62–296Bus, train
- Take the bus from San Francisco Bus Station to San Jose Diridon Stationbus Greyhound US0831
- Take the train from San Jose to San Luis Obispotrain Coast Starlight
12h 14m$60–118BART, shuttle
- Take the subway from Montgomery Street to Berryessa / North San Josesubway Green-N
- Take a shuttle bus from 1642 Story Rd - San Jose to Santa MariaSan Jose
9h 19m$58–88
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Rafael to Pismo Beach is to drive which costs $45 - $70 and takes 4h 31m.
The fastest way to get from San Rafael to Pismo Beach is to drive which takes 4h 31m and costs $45 - $70.
No, there is no direct bus from San Rafael to Pismo Beach. However, there are services departing from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A and arriving at James Way & Highland via San Francisco and Cypress & Nicholson. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 32m.
The distance between San Rafael and Pismo Beach is 277 miles. The road distance is 259 miles.
The best way to get from San Rafael to Pismo Beach without a car is to train which takes 8h 50m and costs $95 - $170.
It takes approximately 8h 50m to get from San Rafael to Pismo Beach, including transfers.
San Rafael to Pismo Beach bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from San Francisco station.
The best way to get from San Rafael to Pismo Beach is to train which takes 8h 50m and costs $95 - $170. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs and takes 9h 32m.
San Rafael to Pismo Beach bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Maria Amtrak Bus Stop station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Rafael to Pismo Beach is 259 miles. It takes approximately 4h 31m to drive from San Rafael to Pismo Beach.
What companies run services between San Rafael, CA, USA and Pismo Beach, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a train from Oakland to San Luis Obispo once daily. Tickets cost $50–100 and the journey takes 6h 15m. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a bus from San Francisco to Santa Maria Amtrak Bus Stop 3 times a day, and the journey takes 6h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–260
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Oakland to San Luis Obispo
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from San Jose to San Luis Obispo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 58m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Montgomery Street to Berryessa / North San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $8–11
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from San Francisco to Santa Maria Amtrak Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Website
- marintransit.gov
Bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Hwy 101 @ Seminary Dr Bus Pad
- Ave. Duration
- 11 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Schedules at
- marintransit.gov
- Phone
- +1 415-921-5858
- bridgecomments@goldengate.org
- Website
- goldengate.org
Bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Hwy 101 @ Seminary Dr Bus Pad
- Ave. Duration
- 10 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org/
- Adult
- $5–7
- Website
- slorta.org
Bus from Government Center to Pismo Beach Premium Outlets
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–3
- Website
- https://www.slorta.org
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from San Francisco Bus Station to San Jose Diridon Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–19
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Shuttle from 1642 Story Rd - San Jose to Santa Maria
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–60
- Schedules at
- crossborderxpress.com
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More Questions & Answers
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