San Francisco, the largest city in Northern California, is some 500 miles away from the state’s southernmost city, San Diego. The area between the two cities is where the most of California’s population resides. On the way from one city to the other, you have to go past several large settlements, most notably, the second-largest city in the United States, Los Angeles. CDC information for travelers. Hours/availability may have changed.
1.Getting from San Diego to San Francisco (and Vice Versa)
Elon Musk plans to construct the so-called Hyperloop, a transportation system that would enable the passengers to get from one city to the other in just over half an hour. But, before that happens, you will have to use more-conventional means of transport to get from San Diego to San Francisco and vice versa. Here are some of them:
2.By Plane
Flying is the quickest way to travel between these two cities. The flight time is about an hour and a half, and even when you count in the time needed for check-in, this is still the fastest method. Another good thing about it is that there are dozens of flights every day. In fact, there’s a flight on every hour or so, which isn’t a surprise considering that several airlines operate that route. Of course, different companies have different prices.
If you want to save some money, Southwest Airlines is the right airline for you. A one-way ticket costs about $100, but this airline does not charge any additional fees, not even the baggage fee. In order to book a ticket, you will have to go to their official website, which is southwest.com. This is because Southwest Airlines usually does not take part in fare searches of other websites.
Surely, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t compare it with other airlines on sites like TripAdvisor, SkyScanner, CheapFlights, and so on. The airlines that operate between these two cities include the aforementioned Southwest Airlines, as well as many other companies, like Virgin America, Alaska Airlines, and United.
The code for the San Francisco International airport is SFO, while SAN stands for the San Diego International airport. Sometimes, a much more affordable option is not to use SFO and SAN, but airports nearby. There are 7 airports in the San Diego area, so it might be wise to check whether some of them have direct flights to one of the airports in the San Francisco Bay Area.
3.By Car
If you decide to go from San Diego to San Francisco by car, you will have to drive accords two-thirds of the whole state. If you take the US Interstate 5 highway, you’ll have to go through Los Angeles, passing a number of famous sights along the way, like the LA Zoo and Dodger Stadium, for instance.
Surely, it might seem like an interesting adventure, but if you’re in a hurry, flying is a much better option. According to Google Maps, you would need almost 8 hours to reach your destination. The speed limit on California highways is 70 mph, so Google’s estimates seem correct.
Flying is a much faster method to travel between these two cities, but driving is cheaper. Considering that the average consumption of US cars is about 25 mpg, it means that you would need to spend less than $70 to cover the 500-mile distance.
Of course, this is only true if you’re going with your own car. If you decide to rent a car, your expenses will get much, much higher. If you take a look at the offer or rent-a-car companies like Hertz, Thrifty, or Budget, you will see that a two-week rental period costs about $1,200. Surely, you can find some places that charge less, like Fox Rent a Car, for example. The problem is that such companies have very bad reviews on sites like TripAdvisor.
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4.By Bus
If you believe Google, it will take you about 11h 30m to get from Santa Fe Depot (or America Plaza Station) in San Diego to San Francisco Bus Station on Folsom Street. However, it seems that Google’s estimates are not 100% correct. If you take a look at the official timetable of Greyhound, or any other bus company as a matter of fact, you will see that the trips between these two cities usually last over 12 hours.
On the bright side, going by bus costs much less than going by car of flying. In fact, a one-way ticket costs about 80 dollars on average. Some companies, like Greyhound, for example, offer better deals for those who decide to book a return ticket. The price for it can be as low as $100. Other bus companies worth checking out include MTS (Metropolitan Transit System) and GotoBus.
There are also some companies that use mini-buses or vans to take the passengers between these two destinations. Usually, the price is similar to the price of a regular bus ticket, but the advantage is that some of these services offer door-to-door transport. The bad news is that many of them don’t have a strict driving schedule. What this means is that they won’t go until there’s enough passengers.
5.By Train
Going by an Amtrak train takes a little bit longer than going by bus, but it does come with a few advantages. First of all, you must agree that train is much more comfortable than a bus, something that can be mean a lot when traveling for more than 12 hours. You can walk around the train, sit in the restaurant, etc. When it comes to the price, a one-way ticket from San Diego to San Francisco costs just over 70 dollars.
The problem is that you will have to switch through several trains to reach your destination. If your starting location is San Diego, you will first have to get to LA. To get there, you might go with the Pacific Surfliner, the line that goes along the Pacific coast. Coast Starlight is Amtrak’s train service that will then take you from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
How Far is San Diego from San Francisco: Driving, By Plane, Train or Bus
- Getting from San Diego to San Francisco (and Vice Versa), Photo: hit1912/stock.adobe.com
- By Plane, Photo: f11photo/stock.adobe.com
- By Car, Photo: giumas/stock.adobe.com
- By Bus, Photo: Gloria Moeller /stock.adobe.com
- By Train, Photo: daniel/stock.adobe.com
- Cover Photo: Courtesy of Noel - Fotolia.com
Attraction Spotlight: Palace of the Fine Arts
The Palace of the Fine Arts, situated in the Marina District of San Francisco, has to be one of the most beautiful exhibition spaces in the world. The monument and the adjoining theatre are a vibrant cultural hub, offering visitors and local San Franciscans a vibrant and varied schedule of talented musicians, players, film, art, and theatre. It has built upon the heritage and prestige of the original site and has defied its original plan, which was for it to be merely a temporary structure.
The original construction was undertaken in 1915 and the theatre was to be part of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. This was a way for San Francisco to show the rest of the world a brighter future by championing beautiful architecture, culture, and the arts in all their various forms. The world at the time was in a period of uncertainty, with Europe on the brink of World War 1, and San Francisco itself was recovering from the great fire and earthquake of 1906. Architect Bernard R. Maybeck headed up this particular project and the design for the Palace of the Fine Arts is primarily of Roman influence. Drawing on the grand pillars, rotunda, and beautifully serene pond, it was designed to elicit a sense of spectacle and somber solemnity that could open the heart of the visitor to whatever exhibition was taking place within its confines. Maybeck drew inspiration from Hungarian artist István Csók and Arnold Böcklin, two painters who created works of art that also instill a great sense of sadness in the viewer.
The monument, as with the others built as part of the exposition, was not intended to be a permanent fixture and was actually intentionally designed to gradually fall into disrepair. In the end, this was not to be its fate, however, and it is one of the few objects still standing from the exposition. It had found a home in the hearts of the local citizenry and was deemed too beautiful to be demolished or left to rot, and so rebuilding and preservation work began and by 1959 it had been completely restored. It has had a number of different roles in the interim years, from military storage depot to telephone book distribution centre, and it has now returned to its role within the arts and, together with the adjoining theatre, which opened in 1970, hosts artists from across all disciplines all year round.
The site itself is open for visitation throughout the year and is also available for rental and has become a popular spot for weddings and wedding photography due to its distinct and breathtaking appeal.
Theatre Program
Whilst the Palace of the Fine Arts is a draw by itself, the theatre on the grounds has become a venue with a long list of accolades and heritage in its own right. The events schedule is available to browse on the website and, offering anything from plays to prose, classical opera to comedy, there is sure to be something to take your fancy and you could not ask for a more picturesque setting or venue to soak in the creativity of the beautifully talented world we live in.
Address
3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA 94123, Phone: 415-563-6504
More Things to Do in San Francisco
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Hotel Spotlight: Kimpton Buchanan Hotel in San Francisco
Set at the intersection of Pacific Heights, Japantown, and The Fillmore in San Francisco, The Kimpton Buchanan is a luxurious boutique hotel that combines the legacy of the Barbary Coast with the locale’s rich heritage. The sultry diva of a hotel enjoys a central location in the heart of one of San Francisco’s most vibrant neighborhoods and is surrounded by some of the city’s best dining, shopping, cultural and entertainment experiences. More Things to Do in California
The glamorous hotel features oversized airy rooms with ‘zen-meets-boutique-chic’ décor, king, queen or double beds, private bathrooms with walk-in showers and soaking tubs, and gorgeous skyline views of the city. Upscale guest services include in-room Keurig coffee brewers and yoga mats, a hosted evening wine and sake hour, and complimentary wireless Internet.
The hotel boasts a relaxed, laid-back ambiance with gracious hospitality and attentive staff and upscale amenities such as an indoor/outdoor fitness center, an outdoor courtyard with lawn bowling and corn hole, and custom designed PUBLIC bikes for exploring the town.
The Kimpton Buchanan in California features luxurious accommodations in the form of standard guest rooms and deluxe suites imbued with the vibrant colors and textures of the diverse surrounding neighborhood. Each room features comfortable beds with plush linens, private bathrooms with bath/shower combinations, and modern amenities, including flat panel televisions with cable channels and complimentary wireless Internet.
Standard King and City View King rooms are 325 square feet in size and feature one king-size bed with designer linens, and en-suite bathrooms with walk-in showers and soaking tubs. Spacious sitting areas have work desks and chairs, and modern amenities, including flat panel televisions with cable channels, in-room Keurig coffee makers, mini-refrigerators, in-room safes and complimentary wireless Internet.
Standard and City View Queen Queen rooms are 325 square feet in size and feature two queen-size beds in designer linens and en-suite bathrooms with walk-in showers and soaking tubs. Spacious sitting areas have work desks and chairs, and modern amenities, including flat panel televisions with cable channels, in-room Keurig coffee makers, mini-refrigerators, in-room safes and complimentary wireless Internet
Patio King rooms feature one king-size bed with designer linens, en-suite bathrooms with walk-in showers and soaking tubs, and spacious sitting areas with work desks and chairs, and modern amenities, including flat panel televisions with cable channels, in-room Keurig coffee makers, mini-refrigerators, in-room safes and complimentary wireless Internet. Patio King rooms have private outdoor patios with beautiful city views.
Balcony King and Balcony Queen Queen rooms are 325 square feet in size and feature one king or two queen-size beds with designer linens, and en-suite bathrooms with walk-in showers and soaking tubs. Spacious sitting areas have work desks and chairs, and modern amenities, including flat panel televisions with cable channels, in-room Keurig coffee makers, mini-refrigerators, in-room safes and complimentary wireless Internet. Balcony King and Balcony Queen Queen rooms have private balconies with beautiful city views.
Spa King rooms are 400 square foot corner rooms in size and feature one king -size bed in designer linens, and en-suite bathrooms with Japanese style deep spa bathtub and shower. Spacious sitting areas have work desks and chairs, and modern amenities, including flat panel televisions with cable channels, in-room Keurig coffee makers, mini-refrigerators, in-room safes and complimentary wireless Internet.
The Kimpton Buchanan has an on-site restaurant called Mum’s that serves an eclectic mix of Asian and contemporary California cuisine in an elegant environment accompanied by a selection of fine wines and craft beers. The hotel is within walking distance of several of San Francisco’s award-winning restaurants, and sophisticated bars and lounges, with options for ordering takeout meals.
The Kimpton Buchanan offers upscale facilities and amenities, ranging from an indoor/outdoor fitness center and an outdoor courtyard with lawn bowling and corn hole to custom designed PUBLIC bikes for exploring the town. Additional guest services include in-room Keurig coffee brewers and yoga mats, a hosted evening wine and sake hour, and complimentary wireless Internet.
The Kimpton Buchanan offers stylish and welcoming venues for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and other special occasions, as well as modern meeting spaces for business gatherings and corporate events. Spaces are fully equipped with audiovisual, including PowerPoint and complimentary wireless Internet and feature boardrooms and a private patio for meeting breaks.
Back to: Weekend Getaways from San Diego, Romantic Weekend Getaways in California
1800 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115, Phone: 855-454-4644
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