Traveling with Amtrak San Joaquins Made Easy with Thruway Bus Routes

California has much to offer with its mountains, giant trees, deserts, valleys, breathtaking beaches, vibrant cities, and unique small towns. With Amtrak San Joaquins thruway buses, California explorers can safely travel and enjoy a scenic view with all the amenities you need to travel in comfort. Thruway buses offer riders free Wi-Fi, allowing you to browse the internet, stream movies and music, or even work remotely during your travel; spacious interiors allow for more room to stretch out and for riders to socially distance; reclining seats, individual lighting, and outlets help keep you comfortable and keep your tech fully charged; clean bathrooms mean no need to make a pitstop; and you can take what you need with free baggage and carry-on luggage (this includes bicycles)! To ensure the continued health of our travelers and Amtrak San Joaquins staff, masks are required while instead stations, on the platforms, and aboard the trains and Thruway buses. In addition, Amtrak San Joaquins routinely disinfects all high touch surfaces such as doors, seats, ticket kiosks at all stations, and trains and Thruway buses. 

So whenever you are ready to travel, Amtrak San Joaquins will be waiting for you to climb onboard and start your adventure! 

Route 10  -- Santa Barbara ➝ Bakersfield ➝ Barstow ➝ Las Vegas 

Santa Barbara is home to beautiful landscapes, great year-round weather, award winning wineries, and sandy beaches. Whether you want to soak in some vitamin D on the beach, take a hike in the mountains, walk State Street viewing the art galleries and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, visit Old Mission Santa Barbara, explore 78 acres of botanic gardens and Lotusland in downtown, or unleash your inner foodie by enjoying fresh seafood, Santa Barbara has so much to offer!

Bakersfield's nickname is the "country music capital of the West Coast" and was made popular by Buck Ownes, Merle Haggard, Billy Mize, and others. Downtown Bakersfield offers a number of antique stores with unique items and collectibles. You can get active and explore the outdoors on Bakersfield's kid friendly trails such as Hart Memorial Park, Kern River Parkway Trail, Wind Wolves Preserve, and Kern Canyon Trail. 

Barstow is a small town located in the Mojave Desert and is famously known for the discovery of gold and silver in the Owens Valley. It is also home to Historic Landmark, Calico Ghost Town, a 1880s Old West mining town. The California Welcome Center in Barstow is a great place to learn more about the local area and set off for hikes and nearby exploration. The Desert Discovery Center in the heart of Barstow fosters learning about the natural world while inspiring environmental stewardship - it also houses the "Old Woman Meteorite", the second largest meteorite found in the United States which weighed 6,070 pounds when discovered in 1975.

Las Vegas, also known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, the City of Lights, the City that Never Sleeps, and the Oasis of Nevada, has so much offer you will want to plan a second trip! Las Vegas' attractions are some of the best in the world such as exotic car racing, blackout dining in the dark, walking the strip and watching the fountains at the Bellagio, taking a ride on the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort, and so much more! 

Route 18  -- Hanford ➝ Lemoore ➝ SLO➝ Santa Maria

Hanford and Lemoore are at the heart of California's agriculture culture. Hanford is home to the Taoist Temple, a U.S. National Register of Historic Places. While visiting Hanford, we recommend visiting the iconically Superior Dairy ice cream shop -- it may be the best ice cream  you ever have! The Kings Art Center provides hands-on art education coupled with high quality exhibitions of artwork from throughout California as well as from local artists. Lemoore offers visitors the opportunity to have paintball matches on fields with different themes. 

San Luis Obispo (SLO) is nestled between the coast and inland hills, creating a mediterranean climate year-round. The city offers a laid-back and relaxed vibe where visitors can walk the charming downtown, explore its local boutiques and restaurants, and check out the preserved Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the fifth of California's 21 Spanish missions. San Luis Obispois famously known for its farmers' markets, wine, and hiking and mountain biking trails. Santa Margarita Lake is a great spot to enjoy the outdoors, or even take a horseback ride. And did we mention SLO has mineral-rich natural hot springs? 

Santa Maria is famously known for their Santa Maria-style barbecue, a local speciality everyone must try, and locally grown wine. Plan a day of outdoor recreation with cycling the hillsides, exploring Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve along the coast, hiking the ranch and indulging in world-class wines and the best BBQ in California.