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How to get fromSanta Monica to San Rafaelby bus, plane, subway, train (Amtrak), car, tram, bus (Flixbus), or bus (Greyhound)

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There are 12 ways to get from Santa Monica to San Rafael by bus, plane, subway, train (Amtrak), car, tram, 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. Line 3 bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly to San Francisco International Airport, bus

    best
    1. Take the bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Centerbus bus
    2. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane plane LAX - SFO
    3. Take the bus from San Francisco Airport to Larkspur - dropoffbus bus
    4h 52m
    $63–235

  2. Bus (Flixbus)

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from Los Angeles to San Franciscobus bus FlixBus N2002 / ...
    11h 4m
    $59–97

  3. Bus, BART

    1. Take the bus from Los Angeles, CA - Chinatown Station to San Jose, CA - Huong Lan Sandwichbus bus Westminster
    2. Take the subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to El Cerrito Del Nortesubway subway Orange-N
    10h 51m
    $62–86

  4. Train (Amtrak)

    1. Take the train from Van Nuys to Oaklandtrain train Coast Starlight
    15h 15m
    $140–296

  5. Drive 389.5 mi

    1. Drive from Santa Monica to San Rafaelcar car 389.5 mi
    6h 32m
    $72–103

  6. Line 3 bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly to Oakland International Airport, bus

    1. Take the bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Centerbus bus
    2. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane plane LAX - OAK
    3. Take the bus from Oakland International Airport to San Rafaelbus bus
    5h 6m
    $81–428

  7. Tram, subway to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to San Francisco International Airport, bus

    1. Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Linestram tram
    2. Take the subway from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines to North Hollywood Stationsubway subway
    3. Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane plane BUR - SFO
    4. Take the bus from San Francisco Airport to Larkspur - dropoffbus bus
    5h 53m
    $306–1,136

  8. Line 3 bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, BART, line 580 bus

    1. Take the bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Centerbus bus
    2. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane plane LAX - SJC
    3. Take the subway from Milpitas to El Cerrito Del Nortesubway subway
    4. Take the bus from El Cerrito del Norte BART Station to Andersen Dr & Du Bois Stbus bus
    6h 17m
    $76–415

  9. Tram, subway to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to Oakland International Airport, bus

    1. Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Linestram tram
    2. Take the subway from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines to North Hollywood Stationsubway subway
    3. Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane plane BUR - OAK
    4. Take the bus from Oakland International Airport to San Rafaelbus bus
    6h 2m
    $104–559

  10. Tram, subway to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, BART, line 580 bus

    1. Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Linestram tram
    2. Take the subway from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines to North Hollywood Stationsubway subway
    3. Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane plane BUR - SJC
    4. Take the subway from Milpitas to El Cerrito Del Nortesubway subway
    5. Take the bus from El Cerrito del Norte BART Station to Andersen Dr & Du Bois Stbus bus
    7h 17m
    $99–576

  11. Tram, line 191 bus to Long Beach Airport, fly to Oakland International Airport, bus

    1. Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to Pico Stationtram tram
    2. Take the tram from Pico Station to Del Amo Stationtram tram
    3. Take the bus from Del Amo Station Bay 2 to Del Amo & Lakewood SEbus bus
    4. Fly from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane plane LGB - OAK
    5. Take the bus from Oakland International Airport to San Rafaelbus bus
    6h 57m
    $91–461

  12. Bus via Los Angeles Union Station (Greyhound)

    1. Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to San Francisco Bus Stationbus bus Greyhound US0831 / ...
    11h 43m
    $63–131

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

Calendar7Weekly Services
Duration10h 51mAverage Duration
Ticket$62Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Santa Monica to San Rafael.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 380 mi
  • Duration: 4h 52m

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

Amtrak operates a train from Van Nuys to Oakland once daily. Tickets cost $130–280 and the journey takes 10h 48m. Alternatively, Flixbus USA operates a bus from Los Angeles to San Francisco twice daily. Tickets cost $50–85 and the journey takes 7h 25m.

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