Rome2Rio

How to get fromSan Rafael to Santa Monicaby bus, plane, subway, train (Amtrak), car, tram, train, bus (Flixbus) or bus (Greyhound)

Find Transport to Santa Monica

See all options

There are 12 ways to get from San Rafael to Santa Monica by bus, plane, subway, train (Amtrak), car, tram, train, bus (Flixbus), or bus (Greyhound)

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Bus to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport

    best
    1. Take the bus from Larkspur - pickup to San Francisco Airportbus bus
    2. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane plane SFO - LAX
    4h 48m
    $65–238

  2. Bus via San Francisco (Flixbus)

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles Union Stationbus bus FlixBus 2005
    12h 46m
    $59–108

  3. BART, bus

    1. Take the subway from El Cerrito Del Norte to Berryessa / North San Josesubway subway Orange-S
    2. Take the bus from San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwich to Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Stationbus bus San Jose
    10h 19m
    $63–86

  4. Train (Amtrak)

    1. Take the train from Oakland to Van Nuystrain train Coast Starlight
    15h 39m
    $130–286

  5. Drive 389.5 mi

    1. Drive from San Rafael to Santa Monicacar car 389.5 mi
    6h 29m
    $72–103

  6. Bus to Oakland International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport

    1. Take the bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airportbus bus
    2. Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane plane OAK - LAX
    4h 43m
    $60–318

  7. Bus to Oakland International Airport, fly to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, tram

    1. Take the bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airportbus bus
    2. Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane plane OAK - BUR
    3. Take the tram from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    5h 12m
    $85–476

  8. Bus to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, subway, tram

    1. Take the bus from Larkspur - pickup to San Francisco Airportbus bus
    2. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane plane SFO - BUR
    3. Take the subway from North Hollywood Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Linessubway subway
    4. Take the tram from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    5h 20m
    $286–636

  9. Line 580 bus, BART to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, fly to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, subway, tram

    1. Take the bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform B to El Cerrito del Norte BART Stationbus bus
    2. Take the subway from El Cerrito Del Norte to Milpitassubway subway
    3. Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane plane SJC - BUR
    4. Take the subway from North Hollywood Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Linessubway subway
    5. Take the tram from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    6h 45m
    $90–506

  10. Bus to Oakland International Airport, fly to Long Beach Airport, line 191 bus, tram

    1. Take the bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airportbus bus
    2. Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Long Beach Airport (LGB)plane plane OAK - LGB
    3. Take the bus from Del Amo & Lakewood NW to Del Amo Station Bay 3bus bus
    4. Take the tram from Del Amo Station to Pico Stationtram tram
    5. Take the tram from Pico Station to Downtown Santa Monica Stationtram tram
    6h 30m
    $77–388

  11. Bus to Oakland International Airport, fly to Ontario International Airport, train

    1. Take the bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airportbus bus
    2. Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Ontario International Airport (ONT)plane plane OAK - ONT
    3. Take the train from Rancho Cucamonga to L.A. Union Stationtrain train
    7h 14m
    $105–540

  12. Bus (Greyhound)

    1. Take the bus from San Francisco Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Stationbus bus Greyhound US0831 / ...
    13h 8m
    $67–141

San Rafael to Santa Monica by bus, subway, and tram

Calendar7Weekly Services
Duration10h 19mAverage Duration
Ticket$63Cheapest Price
See schedules

Questions & Answers

What companies run services between San Rafael, CA, USA and Santa Monica, CA, USA?

Amtrak operates a train from Oakland to Van Nuys once daily. Tickets cost $120–270 and the journey takes 11h 27m. Alternatively, Flixbus USA operates a bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles Union Station 4 times a week. Tickets cost $50–95 and the journey takes 8h 45m.

Airlines
Train operators
Bus operators

Want to know more about travelling around United States

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Related travel guides

Need to know: Greyhound

Read the travel guideNeed to know: Greyhound

More Questions & Answers

Trips from San Rafael

Trips to Santa Monica

Popular routes