Getting There from Manila in La Union
Part of the La Union travel guide — see every topic in All La Union Guides.
La Union is about 270 kilometres north of Manila. There is no train, so almost everyone travels by road. The TPLEX expressway, fully open since 2020, cut a lot of time from the trip. Today the drive usually takes about four to six hours, depending on traffic in Manila. Buses run day and night and drop you on the main road in San Juan or San Fernando.
By bus
Many bus companies run from Manila to La Union and further north to Ilocos. Main terminals are in Cubao and Pasay, and some lines also leave from other parts of Metro Manila. Choose a bus marked for La Union, Vigan or Laoag, and tell the conductor you want to get off in San Juan. Some buses are non-stop deluxe services with reclining seats and a toilet, and they take about five hours. Regular buses make more stops and take longer. On weekends and holidays, book seats in advance online or at the terminal. Night buses are popular because the roads are quieter.
By car and the TPLEX
If you drive, take the North Luzon Expressway out of Manila, then the SCTEX and the TPLEX. TPLEX means Tarlac to Pangasinan to La Union Expressway. It is about 89 kilometres long and ends in Rosario, at the southern edge of La Union. From Rosario, the old national road runs north along the coast through Agoo, Bauang and San Fernando to San Juan. This last part has many towns and can be slow. All expressways use electronic toll tags, so check that your car or rental has the right tags and enough credit before you go.
Flying
La Union has a small airport in San Fernando, but it does not have regular passenger flights at the time of writing, so check locally. Most visitors fly into Manila. Another option is Clark International Airport in Pampanga, north of Manila, which has domestic and some international flights. From Clark, the drive to La Union is about three hours, and some buses connect the airport with the north. For a trip to both La Union and Ilocos, you can fly into Laoag in the far north and travel south by bus. Baguio, up in the mountains, is about two hours away by road.
Tips for the trip
Leave Manila very early in the morning or late at night to avoid the worst traffic. Friday evenings and the start of long weekends are the slowest times. Bring a jacket, because air-conditioned buses can be very cold. Buses usually stop once or twice at rest areas, where you can buy food and use the toilet. When you get off in San Juan, tricycles wait on the main road to take you to your hostel. If you arrive at night, ask your hotel in advance about pickup.
Getting There from Manila at a glance
| Distance | About 270 km north of Manila |
|---|---|
| Bus time | About 5 hours on a deluxe bus, longer on regular buses |
| Road | NLEX, SCTEX and TPLEX to Rosario, then the coast road |
| Airports | Manila or Clark; Laoag for a trip that includes Ilocos |
| Hours | Buses run day and night |
| Cost | Regular and deluxe bus fares; book ahead on weekends |