Four days · Old friends · One coastline

The
Coastal Line

Atlanta out to Los Angeles, up the California coast by rail through Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, home from San Francisco. July 16–19.
ATL→ LAX→ SBA→ SLO→ EMY→ SFO
Scroll or swipe for the days →
The whole line, top to bottom

Route Map

Day 1 · LA → Santa Barbara Day 2 → San Luis Obispo Day 3 → Emeryville Flights
✈ ATL Thu 9:15a Los Angeles Union Station Santa Barbara overnight San Luis Obispo overnight Emeryville SFO ✈ ATL Sun 9:49p
Los Angeles Union Station Moorpark Camarillo Santa Barbara Goleta Lompoc–Surf Guadalupe Grover Beach San Luis Obispo Paso Robles Salinas San Jose Emeryville SFO ✈ to ATL N
Actual geography — same route, true to the map
01
Thursday · Jul 16

Atlanta → LA → Santa Barbara

You're here today
Los Angeles Glendale Burbank–DT Burbank Airport Van Nuys Northridge Chatsworth Simi Valley Moorpark Camarillo Santa Barbara
Getting there
Flight · ATL → LAX9:15a – 10:41a
Pacific Surfliner · LAX → SBA
Los Angeles Union Station3:13p
Glendale3:25p
Burbank – Downtown3:32p
Hollywood Burbank Airport3:38p
Van Nuys3:46p
Northridge3:55p
Chatsworth4:00p
Simi Valley4:12p
Moorpark4:31p
Camarillo4:45p
Santa Barbara5:45p
Nonstop flight, then a coastal train ride up to Santa Barbara for the evening.
Evening in Santa Barbara
  • See Stearns Wharf — walk it before dinner for sunset over the harbor
  • See The Funk Zone — wineries & murals a block from the beach
  • Eat Oku — sushi on the water near the wharf, good for sunset
  • Eat Secret Bao — Asian fusion, dumplings, fun cocktails
02
Friday · Jul 17

Santa Barbara → San Luis Obispo

You're here today
Santa Barbara Goleta Lompoc–Surf Guadalupe Grover Beach San Luis Obispo
Getting there
Santa Barbara5:48p
Goleta6:00p
Lompoc–Surf7:21p
Guadalupe7:57p
Grover Beach8:13p
San Luis Obispo8:52p
A free day in Santa Barbara until the evening train — the coastline north of here is worth lingering for.
Evening in SLO
  • See Bubblegum Alley — odd, quick, very SLO, worth 10 minutes
  • Eat Sushi Table — top-rated on the Central Coast, call ahead
  • Eat Novo — creekside patio, globally-inspired menu
Arriving close to 9p — confirm kitchens are still open before setting a plan.
03
Saturday · Jul 18

San Luis Obispo → Emeryville

You're here today
San Luis Obispo Paso Robles Salinas San Jose Oakland Emeryville
Coast Starlight · 6h26m
Depart SLO3:05p
Paso Robles4:13p
Salinas6:10p
San Jose7:46p
Oakland9:06p
Arrive Emeryville9:31p
The long haul
The scenic leg of the trip — hugging the coast past Vandenberg before cutting inland through the Salinas Valley. Bring something to read for the stretch between stops, and grab a seat on the ocean side if you can for the first hour out of SLO.
04
Sunday · Jul 19

San Francisco → Atlanta

You're here today
Heading home
Flight · SFO → ATL2:00p – 9:49p
Nonstop, just under 5 hours. Leaves the morning free in the Bay Area before heading to the airport.
Trip, complete
ATL→ LAX→ SBA→ SLO→ EMY→ SFO