Traveling between San Francisco to Los Angeles is a 381.1 mile trek that hundreds of folks do on the weekly. While regular commuters have their preferred methods of transportation down pat, those of us who hit the road for the holidays have more than just airlines to chose between. Here are the best alternatives to flying:
Zim Ride
Zim Ride is a ridesharing service where you can sign up as a driver or select to be a passenger. Payment is done in the form of donations, but the average price for a one-way trip starts at $40 per person. Signups go through Facebook, which allows people to check out the legitimacy of someone’s profile who'll be carpooling with them. The site also has a section for user-generated reviews for each driver. For passengers, it’s an inexpensive way to travel. For drivers, it’s a great way to save on gas money and earn a couple of extra bucks. How it works: Plug in your itinerary, rate, and contact your passenger or driver of choice. Payouts are doled out via PayPal one day after the ride is complete.
Megabus
The bus ride from NorCal to SoCal is eight hours long but Megabus is a sensible option if you’re not into ridesharing and don’t want to pay for a flight. In Los Angeles, the starting and end point is at downtown at Union Station, and in San Francisco, it’s at the Caltrain station. Legroom is sufficient, buses have bathrooms in the back, and there are power plugs for all your electronics. The price is about $23 to $37 for a one-way trip. Busy weeks are considerably more expensive.
Amtrak Train
You can train it up or down the state via Amtrak. The ride time adds up to five and a half hours and prices start at $59 for a one-way ticket. If you’re feeling more inclined toward a scenic route, you can board on the Coast Starlight, which is a 12-hour ride up the coast with beautiful views of the shoreline and mountain ranges, completely with cushy accommodations, drink service, and a mini-bar. If you pay for a cabin ticket, you’ll be treated to wine and cheese, complementary meals, and access to a full-fledged movie theatre. Prices for the Starlight start at $77 each way.
Drive yourself
This one doesn't require owning a car. You can pick up rental cars for about $30 a day. Remember, you still have to front the cost of gas, though. For first time drivers: the trek up can be accomplished via the 101 (which is scenic but takes much more time) or the I-5.
Coming in 2029: California High-Speed Rail
It’s the most expensive and ambitious infrastructure proposal in America today: a high-speed rail system between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Travel time is estimated to be less than three hours, you just have to wait 15 years for it to be built.
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