How long is the commute from San Luis Obispo, CA?

Name: Commute and cars in San Luis Obispo, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in San Luis Obispo, CA take an average of 16.1 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

63.8% of workers drive alone to work.

1.0% take public transportation.

6.1% of workers walk to work.

17.1% work from home.

6.8% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 16.1 minutes (±1.0)
Public transportation: 1.0%
Work from home: 17.1%
Households without a car: 6.8%

How people in San Luis Obispo get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo County	California	United States
Drove alone	63.8% (±2.9 points)	70.5%	65.7%	68.8%
Carpooled	6.8% (±1.3 points)	7.7%	9.5%	8.5%
Public transportation	1.0% (±0.6 points)	0.6%	2.9%	3.2%
Walked	6.1% (±1.4 points)	3.8%	2.4%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	5.1% (±0.9 points)	2.2%	2.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	17.1% (±2.1 points)	15.2%	17.2%	15.1%

In San Luis Obispo, the average commute is lower than in San Luis Obispo County (22.3 minutes).

It is also lower than in California (28.7 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In San Luis Obispo, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from San Luis Obispo County (0.6%).

It is also lower than in California (2.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).

In San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo ranks 22 of 22 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 1030 of 1,076.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in San Luis Obispo

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo County	California	United States
No vehicle	6.8% (±1.4 points)	3.8%	7.1%	8.4%
1 vehicle	32.5% (±2.5 points)	28.8%	30.7%	33.1%
2 vehicles	35.4% (±2.2 points)	37.0%	36.3%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	25.2% (±2.2 points)	30.4%	25.8%	21.9%

In San Luis Obispo, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in San Luis Obispo County (3.8%).

It is not measurably different from California (7.1%).

It is lower than the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in San Luis Obispo

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo County	California	United States
Workers working from home	17.1% (±2.1 points)	15.2% (±0.9 points)	17.2% (±0.1 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	97.0% (±1.0 points)	97.0% (±0.5 points)	96.9% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	92.7% (±1.5 points)	93.1% (±0.7 points)	93.5% (±0.1 points)	91.0%

In San Luis Obispo, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from San Luis Obispo County (93.1%).

It is not measurably different from California (93.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near San Luis Obispo

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with San Luis Obispo
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
San Luis Obispo	—	16.1 minutes (±1.0)	—
California Polytechnic State University	2.8 mi	16.8 minutes (±4.8)	Not measurably different
Los Ranchos	4.3 mi	17.6 minutes (±5.3)	Not measurably different
Avila Beach	5.5 mi	21.2 minutes (±14.2)	Not measurably different
Pismo Beach	7.8 mi	23.0 minutes (±3.8)	Higher
Santa Margarita	9.2 mi	21.3 minutes (±5.3)	Not measurably different
Los Osos	9.2 mi	19.3 minutes (±1.6)	Higher
Grover Beach	10 mi	20.2 minutes (±2.0)	Higher
Arroyo Grande	11 mi	23.8 minutes (±3.3)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Pismo Beach, CA (23.0 minutes), Los Osos, CA (19.3 minutes), Grover Beach, CA (20.2 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across San Luis Obispo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
16	Callender	20.5 minutes (±2.1)
17	Grover Beach	20.2 minutes (±2.0)
18	Morro Bay	19.7 minutes (±1.7)
19	Los Osos	19.3 minutes (±1.6)
20	Los Ranchos	17.6 minutes (±5.3)
21	California Polytechnic State University	16.8 minutes (±4.8)
22	San Luis Obispo	16.1 minutes (±1.0)

Showing 7 of 22 places in San Luis Obispo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about San Luis Obispo

How long is the average commute in San Luis Obispo?

Workers who live in San Luis Obispo, CA take an average of 16.1 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in San Luis Obispo without a car?

6.8% of households in San Luis Obispo have no vehicle, and 1.0% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in San Luis Obispo?

17.1% (±2.1 points) of workers who live in San Luis Obispo worked from home, and 92.7% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for San Luis Obispo city, California (place:68154, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.