The Pacific Surfliner connects San Luis Obispo, CA and San Diego, CA over a 351-mile route operated by Amtrak (LOSSAN), calling at 17 stations across 1 state.
Quick Facts
- Operator
- Amtrak (LOSSAN)
- Service type
- State-Supported Corridor
- Endpoints
- San Luis Obispo ↔ San Diego
- Distance
- 351 mi
- Frequency
- Up to 13 daily round trips on segments
- Stations
- 17
- States served
- 1 (CA)
- Typical fare range
- $15 – $55
Route guide
The Pacific Surfliner is a state-supported corridor service operated by Amtrak (LOSSAN). Trains run Up to 13 daily round trips on segments over 351 miles of mainline track between San Luis Obispo and San Diego Santa Fe Depot, calling at 17 intermediate and terminal stations across 1 state. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.
What to watch for: Open Pacific coast between San Clemente and San Diego; Santa Barbara Channel; Vandenberg coast.
History & service notes
The third busiest passenger rail corridor in the United States, managed by the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency on behalf of Caltrans. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.
Equipment
Typical consist on the Pacific Surfliner includes surfliner bi-level cars, Charger SC-44 locomotives, business class. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.
Stops along the route
Stations are listed in geographical order from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.
- San Luis Obispo — San Luis Obispo, CA
- Paso Robles — Paso Robles, CA
- Salinas — Salinas, CA
- Santa Barbara — Santa Barbara, CA
- Oxnard — Oxnard, CA
- Simi Valley — Simi Valley, CA
- Van Nuys — Van Nuys, CA
- Hollywood Burbank Airport — Burbank, CA
- Glendale — Glendale, CA
- Los Angeles Union Station — Los Angeles, CA
- Fullerton — Fullerton, CA
- Anaheim — Anaheim, CA
- Santa Ana — Santa Ana, CA
- Irvine — Irvine, CA
- Oceanside — Oceanside, CA
- Solana Beach — Solana Beach, CA
- San Diego Santa Fe Depot — San Diego, CA
Sample fares & travel times
Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.
| From | To | Distance | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | Paso Robles | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Paso Robles | Salinas | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Salinas | Santa Barbara | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Santa Barbara | Oxnard | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Oxnard | Simi Valley | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Simi Valley | Van Nuys | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Van Nuys | Burbank | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Burbank | Glendale | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Glendale | Los Angeles | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Los Angeles | Fullerton | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Fullerton | Anaheim | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Anaheim | Santa Ana | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Santa Ana | Irvine | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Irvine | Oceanside | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Oceanside | Solana Beach | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Solana Beach | San Diego | 22 mi | 36m | $8 – $24 |
| Paso Robles | San Diego | 329 mi | 6h 45m | $14 – $53 |
| San Luis Obispo | Salinas | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $8 – $26 |
Connections & transfers
Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From San Luis Obispo, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at San Diego. The corridor passes through cities including San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, and San Diego, each with its own onward service map. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.
Further Reading on the Pacific Surfliner
- Riding the Pacific Surfliner: a first-timer's full-route diary
- Best window seats and viewing tips along the line