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

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There are 11 ways to get from Santa Monica to San Rafael by bus, plane, subway, train (Amtrak), car, tram, bus (Greyhound), or bus (Flixbus)

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
    2. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)planeLAX - SFO
    3. Take the bus from San Francisco Airport to Larkspur - dropoffbus
    4h 57m
    $50–213

  2. Bus (Greyhound)

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to San Francisco Bus StationbusGreyhound US0831 / ...
    11h 51m
    $48–191

  3. Bus, BART

    1. Take the bus from Chinatown Station to San Jose - Huong Lan SandwichbusSan Fran
    2. Take the subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to El Cerrito Del NortesubwayOrange-N
    10h 20m
    $67–76

  4. Train (Amtrak)

    1. Take the train from Van Nuys to OaklandtrainCoast Starlight
    15h 10m
    $80–166

  5. Drive 389.5 mi

    1. Drive from Santa Monica to San Rafaelcar389.5 mi
    6h 28m
    $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
    2. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)planeLAX - OAK
    3. Take the bus from Oakland International Airport to San Rafaelbus
    5h 6m
    $102–808

  7. 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
    2. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)planeLAX - SJC
    3. Take the subway from Milpitas to El Cerrito Del Nortesubway
    4. Take the bus from El Cerrito del Norte BART Station to Andersen Dr & Du Bois Stbus
    6h 28m
    $96–355

  8. Fly Burbank Bob Hope Airport to San Francisco International Airport, bus

    1. Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)planeBUR - SFO
    2. Take the bus from San Francisco Airport to Larkspur - dropoffbus
    6h 30m
    $249–291

  9. Tram 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
    2. Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)planeBUR - OAK
    3. Take the bus from Oakland International Airport to San Rafaelbus
    6h 34m
    $80–396

  10. 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
    2. Take the tram from Pico Station to Del Amo Stationtram
    3. Take the bus from Del Amo Station Bay 2 to Del Amo & Lakewood SEbus
    4. Fly from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)planeLGB - OAK
    5. Take the bus from Oakland International Airport to San Rafaelbus
    7h 3m
    $87–451

  11. Bus via San Francisco (Flixbus)

    1. Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to San FranciscobusFlixBus 2005
    12h 31m
    $50–153

Santa Monica to San Rafael by bus, train, foot, and subway (Amtrak)

Calendar7Weekly Services
Duration15h 10mAverage Duration
Ticket$80Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

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 $70–150 and the journey takes 10h 48m. Alternatively, Greyhound USA operates a bus from Los Angeles Union Station to San Francisco Bus Station once daily. Tickets cost $40–180 and the journey takes 8h 10m.

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