How much is the bus ticket from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

The cheapest bus tickets from San Diego to Santa Barbara start from $36. The average price for this route is around $54. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

The average bus trip duration from San Diego to Santa Barbara is 9h 40m, covering a distance of 187 miles (301 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 4h 15m and is operated by FlixBus .

Which bus companies service the San Diego to Santa Barbara route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak , FlixBus , Greyhound .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

The earliest bus departs from San Diego to Santa Barbara at 6:45am. And the latest bus departs at 10:10pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

A bus trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara generates an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5696 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.

Which bus company has the most timely service from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak , with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Bus San Diego to Santa Barbara from $44 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 8
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	7:35am	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 9
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 50m	8:00am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	6:45am	Greyhound Bus Stop	6h 50m	1:35pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	Fastest
	10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 35m	7:45am	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 10
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	5:30am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 20m	11:50am	Train Station	Cheapest
	7:30am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	1:49pm	Train Station	Fastest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	6:45am	Greyhound Bus Stop	6h 50m	1:35pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	No tags
	10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 50m	8:00am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
	5:30am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 40m	12:10pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 12
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	7:35am	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 13
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	7:35am	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 14
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	7:35am	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 15
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
		10:10pm	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	7:35am	Train Station	Fastest

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 8:02 AM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from San Diego to Santa Barbara

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the Train stands out as the good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 5 hours 49 minutes and with fares starting at just $47, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

11train per day

5h 49mAverage Duration

187 milesDistance

27kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$36 - $128	Average Duration9h 40m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$47 - $93	Average Duration5h 49m	CO₂ emissions 27kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in San Diego and Santa Barbara?

Stops in San Diego

A
Mission Valley Sheraton
1433 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108, USA
B
Old Town Courtyard Marriot
2435 Jefferson St, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
C
Downtown Holiday Inn
1617 1st Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
D
Greyhound Station
1313 National Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
E
Market St. & Park Blvd
601 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
F
San Ysidro McDonald's
727 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92173, USA

Stops in Santa Barbara

A
Train Station
224 Chapala St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Visit page

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,715 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,964 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Greyhound

3.5/587,492 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.4

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

Greyhound San Diego Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

I missed a very important meeting and the bus was delayed by 4hrs. I will never use this service again and I will never recommend it to anyone

Prabhu Y.

August 26, 2018

Wasn't able to turn reading light on at all during trip. Only complaint from me, otherwise smooth ride

Dale C.

March 10, 2018

US bus companies:FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Greyhound, ALSA, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about traveling from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
The cheapest bus tickets from San Diego to Santa Barbara start from $36. The average price for this route is around $54. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
The average bus trip duration from San Diego to Santa Barbara is 9h 40m, covering a distance of 187 miles (301 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 4h 15m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the San Diego to Santa Barbara route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak, FlixBus, Greyhound.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
The earliest bus departs from San Diego to Santa Barbara at 6:45am. And the latest bus departs at 10:10pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
A bus trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara generates an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5696 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company has the most timely service from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak, with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

01/06

$51

01/07

$51

Today

$51

01/09

$51

01/10

$44

01/11

$51

01/12

$51

01/13

$51

The cheapest trip from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara was searched and found on Jan 10, 2026 with a price of $44

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $44 to $92 for a bus ticket from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $44 which is on 2026-01-10.