The car-free life in LA doesn't have to stop at the city limits. The Pacific Surfliner — Amtrak's coastal rail service connecting San Diego to San Luis Obispo — turns Union Station into a launchpad. San Diego is 2 hours and 40 minutes away. Santa Barbara is 2.5 hours north. Anaheim (Disneyland) is less than an hour. All of it departs from the same magnificent building you've been using to catch the B and D lines.
The Surfliner is Amtrak's third-busiest route in the entire country — behind only the Northeast Regional and Acela — and the busiest outside the Northeast Corridor. There's a reason: it's genuinely great. Here's how to use it.
The basics: The Pacific Surfliner runs 13 daily round trips between San Diego and Los Angeles (as of early 2026, when the 13th round trip resumed). Tickets from Union Station to San Diego start around $35-39 booked in advance, rarely above $65. Travel time: 2 hours 39 minutes to 3 hours depending on the specific train. Departs from Los Angeles Union Station — accessible via the B, D, or A Metro lines.
Getting to Union Station
Union Station is the hub of the Metro system, making it the natural departure point for a car-free Surfliner trip. The B and D Lines connect directly — Hollywood, Koreatown, DTLA are all a single ride away. The A Line (Long Beach) terminates there. The Gold Line (L Line) to Pasadena departs from there. It's also walkable from the Civic Center area and Little Tokyo.
Union Station itself is worth arriving early for. The main hall is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in Los Angeles — 1939 Mission Moderne, with soaring ceilings, leather chairs, and a patio garden. Get a coffee from one of the vendors inside and walk through the building before boarding. This is the right way to start a train trip.
Union Station Practical Notes
- Amtrak trains depart from the lower level of the station — follow signs for Amtrak, not Metro
- Arrive at least 20-30 minutes before departure — trains board 15-20 minutes before departure and don't wait
- The station has restrooms, a full-service restaurant (Traxx Bar), a café, and luggage storage at the Bike Center
- Bike storage is available at the station if you're bringing a bike on board (bike reservations required)
The Ride: What to Expect
The Pacific Surfliner uses bi-level trains with large picture windows, reclining seats, power outlets at every seat, and free Wi-Fi. There's a Market Café car serving food, drinks, California wines, and local craft beer. The seats are significantly more comfortable than anything you'll find in coach on a plane for the same distance.
The coastal stretch — roughly from San Clemente south through Del Mar into San Diego — is genuinely spectacular. The tracks run right along the bluffs and then the beach itself, closer to the water than any road. Sit on the right (west) side of the train heading southbound to maximize ocean views.
💡 Seating tip: The Pacific Surfliner is unreserved coach on most trains — first come, first seated. Arrive at the platform early and board at the front of the train where the upper deck seats have the best views. Business class is reserved and worth the modest upgrade for the extra legroom and complimentary drinks.
Tickets: How to Book and When
Pricing breakdown
- Coach (unreserved): $35-45 booked in advance, $50-65 at the last minute. Weekend trains sell out, especially afternoon southbound.
- Business class: Modest upgrade — reserved seating, more legroom, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, 25% bonus on Amtrak Guest Rewards points.
- Unreserved Coach tickets: Valid for 1 year from purchase and can be used on any train — good for flexible travel if your plans are uncertain.
- Ten-Ride pass: 10 one-way trips within 60 days at a discount — worth it if you're doing multiple trips (weekend visits to San Diego, Santa Barbara, etc.).
- Discounts: Seniors (62+), students, kids (2-12 half price), military, disabilities. Check the "Everyday Discounts" section on pacificsurfliner.com.
💡 Cancellation policy: Pacific Surfliner tickets are fully refundable with no fees if cancelled before departure. This makes booking early essentially risk-free — grab a cheap fare and cancel if plans change.
The San Diego Day Trip
San Diego is the ideal Pacific Surfliner destination. The Santa Fe Depot (San Diego's main train station) is in the heart of Downtown San Diego, walkable or a short trolley ride from nearly everything worth seeing.
San Diego Santa Fe Depot
The depot connects directly to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) trolley network — the city's light rail system. From the depot you can reach the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, Old Town, Mission Valley, and (with a transfer) Mission Beach and Pacific Beach — all without a car.
A Car-Free Day in San Diego from the Depot
Morning: Balboa Park
Balboa Park is one of the best urban parks in America — 1,200 acres with 17 museums, the San Diego Zoo, gardens, and the ornate 1915 Spanish Colonial architecture of the El Prado corridor. A full morning here barely scratches the surface. The Natural History Museum, Museum of Art, and Timken Museum of Art (free admission always) are all worth time. The Zoo is a full half-day on its own.
Lunch: Little Italy
San Diego's Little Italy is one of the best walkable lunch neighborhoods in Southern California. The Saturday farmers market (Mercato) is exceptional. For lunch: Ironside Fish & Oyster for seafood, Born & Raised for a splurge, or any number of the Italian and Latin spots lining India Street.
Afternoon: Gaslamp Quarter or Embarcadero
The Gaslamp is immediately north of the depot and home to San Diego's Victorian commercial district — good for afternoon wandering, coffee, and independent shops. The Embarcadero waterfront runs along the bay and is a flat, easy walk — the USS Midway Museum is docked there. Seaport Village is touristy but the waterfront views are worth a walk through.
Getting to the Beach (Mission Beach / Pacific Beach)
San Diego's beaches require a little more transit work but are absolutely doable car-free. Take the trolley Blue Line to Old Town, then bus 30 or 8 westbound to Mission Beach or Pacific Beach. The boardwalk runs between both neighborhoods and is one of the most pleasant beachfront walks in California.
The Evening Return
The last northbound Surfliner from San Diego to Los Angeles currently departs around 9:57 PM, arriving Union Station around 12:53 AM. For a day trip, a practical return is the 7 or 8pm train, getting you back to Union Station by 9:30-11pm — in time to catch the Metro home.
Check the schedule at pacificsurfliner.com and build your day around a specific return train — it removes the stress of timing.
Beyond San Diego: Other Surfliner Destinations
Santa Barbara — 2.5 hours north
The "American Riviera." The Amtrak station deposits you a few blocks from State Street and the downtown. Stearns Wharf, the Mission, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and excellent restaurants along State Street are all walkable. Rent a bike from the station for the beach path. This is the best overnight train destination from LA — stay Friday night, return Sunday afternoon.
Anaheim — 50 minutes south
The Pacific Surfliner stops at Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) — a $185 million transit hub right next to the Honda Center and a short bus ride from Disneyland. The ART bus (Anaheim Resort Transportation) shuttles directly from ARTIC to the Disneyland Resort entrance. A car-free Disneyland trip via Amtrak is genuinely easy, faster than driving from most of LA, and eliminates the $35 Disneyland parking fee.
San Juan Capistrano — 80 minutes south
One of the most underrated train stops on the Surfliner. The 1776 Mission San Juan Capistrano is a 5-minute walk from the depot. The historic Los Rios District — one of California's oldest neighborhoods — is right there too. Gem of a half-day trip.
Practical Tips for the Surfliner
What to know before you board
- Download your ticket to your phone before boarding — conductors scan your Amtrak app or PDF
- Bikes allowed with a reservation — great for coastal rides at the destination end
- Small dogs and cats allowed on trips under 7 hours (combined weight under 20 lbs with carrier)
- No checked baggage on this route — carry-on only, two bags per person
- Del Mar advisory: Ongoing cliff stabilization work at Del Mar may cause periodic schedule changes on Sunday night–Tuesday morning southbound trains. Check alerts before booking weekend returns.
- Amtrak Guest Rewards: Free to join, earns points toward future travel. Worth signing up before your first trip.
The bigger picture: The Pacific Surfliner is the busiest state-supported passenger rail corridor in the US. As of January 2026, the 13th daily round trip between San Diego and LA resumed, continuing a post-pandemic service restoration. The route is publicly funded and rider-supported — every ticket helps make the case for more service. Going car-free in LA and taking the Surfliner to San Diego instead of driving is one of the most tangible ways to vote with your feet for a more transit-connected Southern California.