California can lay claim as one of the nation’s top rail passenger capitals. Amtrak is a key player in the Golden State, with three state-supported regional trains connecting multiple metropolitan areas. From the capital city of Sacramento to the beaches in San Diego, here are some great Amtrak day trips you can take in California.
Capitol Corridor
Auburn – Sacramento – San Jose: The Capitol Corridor provides a 169-mile connection between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Region. Twelve weekday trains – 11 on weekends – zip between Sacramento and Oakland’s Jack London Square Station daily. Extension services are scheduled to and from San Jose six times a day with an extra train on weekends, while one round trip is provided for Auburn. Day-trip opportunities are endless. Multiple trains connect major destinations along the route, including Santa Clara’s Great America and San Francisco by way of Emeryville Station.
Quick Notes: Amtrak’s long-distance Chicago-Emeryville California Zephyr and Seattle-Los Angeles Coast Starlight both provide additional station stops along the Capitol Corridor‘s route. Commuter rail connections can be made with San Francisco’s BART, San Francisco-San Jose’s Caltrain, and Stockton’s Altamont Commuter Express (ACE).
San Joaquin
Oakland/Sacramento – Stockton – Bakersfield: The 315-mile San Joaquin traverses its namesake valley with six daily round trips traveling through the state’s agricultural region. Bakersfield serves as the southern terminus, from which one train heads to and from Sacramento; the remainder serve the San Francisco Bay Area at Oakland’s Jack London Square Station. Key station stops include the diverse city of Fresno, the town of Merced – where passengers can hop on a quick shuttle to Yosemite National Park – and Stockton, where the service diverges to either Sacramento or Oakland.
Quick Notes: The San Joaquin makes commuter rail connections with BART at Richmond and ACE at Stockton’s Robert J. Cabral Station for the San Joaquin’s Sacramento service only (Bakersfield-Oakland trains use Stockton’s San Joaquin Street Station).
Pacific Surfliner
San Luis Obispo – Los Angeles – San Diego: The Pacific Sufliner is the longest of the three state-supported Amtrak routes in California. It hugs the Pacific coastline, linking the metropolis of Los Angeles with San Luis Obispo and San Diego. Each terminus offers multiple daily departures and connects major points in between – including the coastal cities of Santa Barbara and Oceanside. The 350-mile scenic route makes it a perfect day trip with far less hassle compared to driving or flying. Views of the Pacific Ocean are usually guaranteed along the way.
Quick Notes: Additional station stops along the Pacific Surfliner’s route are provided by the following long-distance trains: the Coast Starlight at San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, and Van Nuys; and the Chicago-Los Angeles Southwest Chief at Fullerton. Commuter rail connections are made with Los Angeles’ Metrolink, San Diego’s Coaster, and Oceanside’s Sprinter light rail.
Please be aware of schedule changes and service disruptions by visiting Amtrak’s website for the latest updates.
