Hi, planning a trip. are there other intra-california bus companies other than greyhound?specifically looking out of san diego. thanks

It is possible to get around some of Calif on buses or the train. But, I would not recommend it. Especially for two or more.

The added convenience is well worth paying a little more to rent a car. If it would even cost more to rent--rental is pretty cheap here if you avoid the add-on "insurance" scams at the counter. Or, try Priceline.

How many are you and where and when do you want to go?

If you are looking state or regional (rather than local transit) bus services, they are pretty rare...

Of course, chaining together local transit can be quite the adventure....


Since MegaBus's west coast operations went bust, the only non-Greyhound ("they don't call it 'floggging the dog' for nothing...") bus service in CA I'm aware of is Amtrak, California Shuttle Bus's service from LAX - SFO, The Chinatown bus service from Monteray Park to SFO Chinatown, and the hippie special Green Tortoise Express.

If you are looking for a non-auto/non-air way from San Diego to Los Angeles that isn't Greyhound....your real answer if probably Amtrak, or the rail commuter equivalent of the Coaster north to Oceanside, and change to Metrolink.

OP needs to provide more details or any suggestions will be a wild guess. One comment is there's a lot of airline competition between SAN, the LA area, Bay Area, and Sacto. You will be hard-pressed to get between these areas cheaper than flying after considering all costs.

As recent as last week, AA and VX were both offering $29 OW fares between SAN-SFO.

thanks. there's 2 adults. we would like to get from san diego to smurf area (specifically Davis and Roseville). It may be cheaper and easier just to fly to smurf and rent a car. Hotwire has some 12 dollar midsize cars at smurf. ANy other ideas would be appreciated. we live in the midwest and love megabus; I wish it was still in Cali

What does smurf mean in this context?

smf aka sacramento airport

Are you going from SAN-SMF one way or round trip? The one way drop fee on a rental car will be substantial. Also be sure the cheap car deals include unlimited miles.

I recommend checking Southwest, Alaska, Virgin America, and Jet Blue. Also check flying out of SNA or LGB, or into SJC or OAK as alternates and closing the smaller distance by rental car. I think you will be hard pressed to save money by driving when you account for fuel, meals, etc. Of course if you plan to sightsee enroute that's good reason to drive.

FYI, the first 50 miles are along the coast, the next 70 miles are through the LA urban jungle, the next 50 over the mountains and the remaining 250 through flat, boring farmland.

^ ditto, definitely look at flying vs driving.

There's also Amtrak, which runs more buses than trains in the state...all offered as timed connections to the various corridor trains. These go as far as Las Vegas, Eureka, and Medford OR. There's an Amtrak pass for unlimited rides, as well. See Amtrak.com.

These buses tend to be nicer rides....many times less crowded...than GH.

I've done LAX-SMF on Amtrak, and it's actually a decent way to travel. The first part of the ride, L.A. Union Station to Bakersfield, is on a bus (a relatively nice motorcoach--and there were only 3 people on it), and then you transfer to the San Joaquins train (VERY comfortable--probably at least 38" pitch seats) from Bakersfield direct to Sacramento. (Some trains go from Stockton to the Bay Area, and so a trip to Sacramento on those trains requires a transfer to a motorcoach for the last leg from Stockton to Sacramento, but it's not a long ride.)

Coming from SAN, you'd end up on the Pacific Surfliner for the first segment from SAN-LAX [Amtrak's code for Union Station], at which point you'd transfer to the bus to Bakersfield and continue north as I described.