Search

Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

The Californian

Independent 9-day California rail trip from San Francisco to San Diego

Illustration of The Californian

Railbookers operates this independent, self-guided 9-day, 8-night rail vacation across California, running from San Francisco to San Diego. After two days of San Francisco sightseeing, including a hop-on, hop-off city tour, the trip adds a fully guided day trip to Yosemite National Park along the Merced River, then a day of wine tours and tastings at up to three Napa and Sonoma vineyards. From San Francisco, the Coast Starlight carries travelers down the California coastline to Los Angeles for a narrated hop-on, hop-off tour past Hollywood landmarks, before the Pacific Surfliner continues along the Pacific coast to San Diego for a final two nights of sightseeing in the Gaslamp District and Balboa Park. Only the San Francisco to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to San Diego legs run by train; Yosemite and wine country are reached by guided coach. It suits travelers who want a mix of California cities, wine country and a national park in one trip.

What to know before you look closer

  • The operator lists 18 hotel options across San Francisco and Los Angeles at different tiers; which hotel you get depends on the tier and city option you choose.
  • Only two of the nine days, the Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner legs, are described as train travel; Yosemite and Napa Valley are visited by guided coach tour.
  • Only one meal, a single dinner, is listed as included; breakfast and other meals are not mentioned in the evidence.
  • The evidence for this trip does not include current departure dates; confirm availability and current pricing with Railbookers before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: San Francisco

    San Francisco, CA

    Welcome to San Francisco! Evening visit to Fisherman's Wharf.

  2. Day 2overnight: San Francisco

    San Francisco, CA

    Hop-on, hop-off tour of San Francisco, visiting Chinatown, North Beach, Union Square, the Civic Center. Dinner included.

  3. Day 3overnight: San Francisco

    Yosemite National Park

    Fully guided sightseeing tour to Yosemite National Park along the Merced River and into the Sierra Nevada foothills.

  4. Day 4overnight: San Francisco

    Napa Valley

    Ride across the Golden Gate Bridge through Sonoma Valley and into Napa Valley, with wine tours and tastings at up to three vineyards.

  5. Day 5overnight: Los Angeles

    San Francisco to Los Angeles

    Board the Coast Starlight to Los Angeles, along the California coastline.

  6. Day 6overnight: Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, CA

    Narrated hop-on, hop-off tour of L.A.: Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, Kodak Theatre, Paramount Studios, Hollywood & Vine, Santa Monica Pier, the Fashion District.

  7. Day 7overnight: San Diego

    Los Angeles to San Diego

    Board the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego along the Pacific coastline. Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour on arrival.

  8. Day 8overnight: San Diego

    San Diego, CA

    Continued sightseeing tour: the historic Gaslamp District, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Seaport Village, and Balboa Park.

  9. Day 9

    Your Journey Ends in San Diego

    Your journey ends in San Diego.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3A fully guided sightseeing tour reaches Yosemite National Park along the Merced River and into the Sierra Nevada foothills.
  • Day 4The route crosses the Golden Gate Bridge through Sonoma Valley into Napa Valley, with wine tours and tastings at up to three vineyards.
  • Day 5The Coast Starlight carries travelers from San Francisco to Los Angeles along the California coastline.
  • Day 7The Pacific Surfliner runs from Los Angeles to San Diego along the Pacific coastline.

Included

  • One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from San Francisco to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to San Diego on the Coast Starlight® and the Pacific Surfliner®
  • 8 nights hotel accommodations
  • 1 meal (1 dinner)

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, one-way Amtrak Coach travel on the Coast Starlight from San Francisco to Los Angeles and the Pacific Surfliner from Los Angeles to San Diego is included.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It combines an independent, self-guided rail vacation with select guided tours, including a fully guided Yosemite sightseeing tour and Napa and Sonoma wine tours.
Which trains does the itinerary use?
The Coast Starlight (Amtrak) from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and the Pacific Surfliner (Amtrak) from Los Angeles to San Diego, both in Coach class.
What meals are included?
One dinner is included; other meals, including breakfast, are not listed as included.
Where does the trip start and end?
It starts in San Francisco and ends in San Diego.

Similar journeys