San Diego to LAX (via Union Station) travel guide

January 3, 2023 Aaron Shafer

If you are looking to travel between San Diego and LAX for a flight, it may seem like there are no easy and direct routes between the two SoCal points.

A common ground transportation option from San Diego to LAX is to take a bus or train to Union Station, followed by another bus or Uber/Lyft. In this article, we breakdown the travel time and costs for traveling between San Diego and LAX via Union Station.

Looking for a fast and affordable way to get directly to LAX from San Diego? Checkout reLAXsan – Direct shuttle service between San Diego and LAX.

How to get from Union Station to LAX?

1. Amtrak to Union Station + FlyAway® Bus to LAX

This ground transportation bus to LAX runs most of the day, every half hour. But depending on when your train arrives, you may wait up to a half hour to board the bus. This is a great budget friendly option for going between LAX and Union Station.

Time – FlyAway bus to LAX from Union Station

How long does the LAX FlyAway take?

The travel time from Union Station to LAX is between 45 minutes to 1 hour, or longer on weekends and peak travel days (source).

This includes walking + ride time to the bus and airport. But just to be safe, allow at least 60-90+ minutes to get from your Amtrak train to the FlyAway bus and to LAX.

The total travel time from San Diego to LAX (via Amtrak - Union Station - FlyAway - LAX) is around 4 hours (or more depending on travel conditions).

Cost – FlyAway Bus from Union Station to LAX

How much is FlyAway from LAX to Union Station?

The price for a one-way fare from Union Station to LAX is $9.75, but be cautious – all sales are final! Tickets are non-refundable and are only valid for 30 days from sale date (source: FlyLAX). They also offer a FlyAway bus from LAX to Van Nuys for Los Angeles residents or LA tourists.

If you’re planning on taking the bus to LAX, you can search online for “FlyAway LAX to Union Station schedule” (Note for LA travelers: If you are taking the Metrolink train to Union Station followed by the FlyAway to LAX, your FlyAway Bus ticket price is included free of charge.

Currently, the total cost from San Diego to LAX (via Amtrak - Union Station - FlyAway - LAX) is around $48 one-way.

2. Amtrak to Union Station + rideshare to LAX

Another option for how to get from Union Station to LAX is with a rideshare. Lyft or Uber from Union Station to LAX is a common option travelers may choose.

But be warned, the price for an Uber from Union Station to LAX may cost you close to the amount of your airline ticket during peak times.

Time – Uber to LAX from Union Station

How long is an Uber from Union Station to LAX?

The trip length between LAX and Union Station will take on average 34 minutes (according to Uber data), peak times being 5-8pm.

Keep in mind these are averages, and if you know anything about Los Angeles, you know LA traffic can be expectedly hectic. We recommend allowing at least 60 minutes to get to LAX from Union Station, especially during peak travel times, weekends and holidays.

The total travel time from San Diego to LAX (via Amtrak - Union Station - rideshare - LAX) is around 4 hours (or more depending on travel conditions).

Cost – Uber from LAX to Union Station

How much does Uber cost from LAX to Union Station?

The average price of an Uber from LAX to Union Station is around $45 - $103 (source: Uber).

As a reminder, the Uber price from Union Station to LAX may vary drastically based on a number of factors like time of day, how many others are requesting that route (surge pricing), events, weather and more.

If you choose to go with this route, please plan ahead or consider alternative travel options. The total estimated cost from San Diego to LAX (via Amtrak - Union Station - rideshare - LAX) is around $110 one-way (cost will vary) for one person.

3. reLAXsan® – Direct shuttle between San Diego & LAX

While taking Amtrak up to LA, followed by the FlyAway Bus or rideshare are available options, there is one remaining, alternative option if you are traveling between San Diego and LAX, and it takes the dreaded Union Station connection and fees completely out of the picture.

What is the best way to travel between San Diego and LAX? reLAXsan is the easiest way to travel from San Diego to LAX at an affordable price.

What is the reLAXsan shuttle bus?

reLAXsan is a direct shuttle service between San Diego and LAX, offering travelers a fast and affordable ground transportation route between LAX and San Diego.

reLAXsan has 3 convenient pickup and drop-off locations right along the I-5 freeway for quick and easy access. You can grab the shuttle from Old Town San Diego, Sorrento Valley/Del Mar or Oceanside/Carlsbad to LAX. Learn more about reLAXsan’s LAX shuttle, stops, pricing, pickup times and more

Time – reLAXsan shuttle between San Diego and LAX

How long does it take to drive to LAX from San Diego?

The average reLAXsan shuttle drive from San Diego to LAX is around 2 hours and 30 minutes (or more depending on traffic).

We recommend allowing 3+ hours especially during peak travel times. Picking up the shuttle from the other two quick (northern San Diego County) stops means an even shorter drive time.

The total travel time from Old Town San Diego to LAX (via reLAXsan’s direct shuttle between LAX and San Diego) is around 2 hours 30 minutes or more depending on travel conditions.

Cost – reLAXsan shuttle from San Diego to LAX

How much does a shuttle between San Diego and LAX cost?

reLAXsan offers a great deal for those who book two weeks or more before their shuttle.

At just $68 one-way, you can travel affordably between San Diego and Los Angeles International Airport. And the best part? No more long connections or variables in going from transferring from Union Station to LAX.

The total shuttle cost from San Diego to LAX (direct via reLAXsan) is only $68 one-way when you book 2-weeks or more before departure. reLAXsan pricing

Conclusion

While there are options for getting to LAX from San Diego by way of Amtrak plus Union Station, this route requires two modes of ground transportation, added travel time and purchasing multiple tickets (not to mention unnecessary stress)!

If you need to travel between LAX and San Diego, we recommend checking out reLAXsan for an easy and affordable way to travel to Los Angeles International Airport from San Diego.

Avoid the hassle of Amtrak and FlyAway, or Amtrak and rideshare. Instead, why not make your travel day easy! reLAXsan offers daily routes to and from LAX and San Diego.

With 3 quick and convenient San Diego stops to choose from, reLAXsan is the best way to get to LAX from San Diego. Learn more and book today at https://www.gorelaxsan.com/.

Looking for a simple way to go between San Diego and LAX?

Book with reLAXsan for an easy and affordable, direct shuttle to and from LAX. Learn how reLAXsan can help make your travel day easier at https://gorelaxsan.com.