How to travel from Philadelphia to San Francisco, United States of America

The distance between Philadelphia and San Francisco is around 2,703 miles (4,350km) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 8h 60m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Philadelphia to San Francisco by train, plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out San FranciscoPhiladelphia if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station then fly from New York JFK (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO).

  • Duration8h 60m
  • Flight time6h 40m
  • Typical cost
    $410
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Las Vegas and then to San Francisco.

  • Duration2 days 21h
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    $370
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
3 x train
+

Train

Take the train to NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station then Chicago Union Station and then to Richmond.

  • Duration3 days 1h
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    $450

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to San Francisco.

  • Duration1 day 20h
  • Distance2,874 miles (4,626km)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Philadelphia and San Francisco

There are several options for getting from Philadelphia to San Francisco by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around $370 and will take around 2 days 21h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 8h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately $410.

The distance between Philadelphia and San Francisco is around 2,703 miles (4,350km). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 2,517 miles (4,050km)

It takes around 8h 60m to get from Philadelphia and San Francisco by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1 day 20h to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Philadelphia to San Francisco is to take the train and then fly which takes around 8h 60m and will set you back approx $410.

The cheapest way to travel between Philadelphia and San Francisco, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around $370 for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Philadelphia and San Francisco. It typically takes around 3 days 1h and departs twice daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Philadelphia to San Francisco. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, Chicago Union Station and Richmond. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 3 days 1h.

Amtrak Acela Express, Amtrak Northeast Regional and Amtrak run train services between Philadelphia and San Francisco. Trains depart twice daily and will take around 3 days 1h, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Philadelphia and San Francisco. It typically takes around 2 days 21h and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Philadelphia to San Francisco. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Las Vegas and EB Bonneville after 1st. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 2 days 21h.

Greyhound USA and Flixbus USA run regular bus services between Philadelphia and San Francisco. Buses run 6 times a week and take around 2 days 21h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Philadelphia to San Francisco. We recommend that you take the train to NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station then fly from New York JFK (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO). instead which will take 8h 60m.

The closest major airport to San Francisco is San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (SFO) which is approximately 18km (11 miles) from San Francisco. Oakland International Airport (OAK) (OAK) and Buchanan Field (CCR) (CCR) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Philadelphia and San Francisco. The distance is around 2,874 miles (4,626km) by road and it will take around 1 day 20h in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Philadelphia to San Francisco is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 8h 60m and will usually cost around $410.

How do I get from Philadelphia to San Francisco

Compare travel optionsbetween Philadelphia and San Francisco

Transport options from Philadelphia to San Francisco
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
8h 60m
$410
hourly4,350km (2,703 miles)
Bus
2 days 21h
$370
6 times a week5,077km (3,155 miles)
Train + 1 similar
3 days 1h
$450
twice daily5,570km (3,461 miles)
Train via Chicago Union Station3 days 7h
$395
6 times a week5,570km (3,461 miles)
Drive
1 day 20h
$285
on demand4,626km (2,874 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Philadelphia and San Francisco

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near San Francisco

The following major airports near San Francisco offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United States of America and internationally.

SFO
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
International Airport
Distance
11 miles (18km) from San Francisco
OAK
Oakland International Airport (OAK)
International Airport
Distance
12 miles (20km) from San Francisco
CCR
Buchanan Field (CCR)
Domestic Airport
Distance
25 miles (40km) from San Francisco