The cheapest and fastest buses from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Cheapest price
$67
Average price
$67
Fastest journey
3 h 50 m
Average duration
3 h 53 m
Buses per day
3
Distance
221 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA will cost around $67 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $67.
Of the 3 buses that leave Salinas, CA for Santa Maria, CA on Sat, Jun 20, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sat, Jun 20 the direct buses cover the 221 km distance in an average of 3 h 53 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h 50 m .
On Sat, Jun 20 the slowest buses will take 3 h 55 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
12:45 AM3h55Salinas, CA4:40 AMSanta Maria, CA$671One-way0 transfers
7:25 AM3h50Salinas, CA11:15 AMSanta Maria, CA$671One-way0 transfers
10:25 AM3h55Salinas, CA2:20 PMSanta Maria, CA$671One-way0 transfers
7:25 AM3h50Salinas, CA11:15 AMSanta Maria, CA$671One-way0 transfers
12:45 AM3h55Salinas, CA4:40 AMSanta Maria, CA$671One-way0 transfers
10:25 AM3h55Salinas, CA2:20 PMSanta Maria, CA$671One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus and train for Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $40. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 3h 45m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $40, and a train costs an average of $82.
Distance: 137 miles (221 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$40 Average price Cheapest | $91 Average price | $32 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 15m Average total duration Fastest 3h 45m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 49m Average total duration 8h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 21m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA:
A bus is $51 (€42) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA costing on average $91 (€75).
Other travel options to Santa Maria, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 8h 19m.
You'll arrive about {timeSavings} sooner ({durationInMinutes} by bus vs {drivingDurationInMinutes} by car) and save roughly {savingsAmount} compared to fuel and tolls ({cheapestPrice} vs {drivingPriceInCents}). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by {directProviders}.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 12:45AM | Arrival Time 04:40AM | Duration 3h55 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $67 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 07:25AM | Arrival Time 11:15AM | Duration 3h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $67 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 10:25AM | Arrival Time 02:20PM | Duration 3h55 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $67 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:20PM | Arrival Time 11:20PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $40 |
Live departures
Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA bus times
The table below shows live departures for Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA buses for tomorrow, Saturday, June 20. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 12:45 AM Salinas, CA | 3h55 | 4:40 AM Santa Maria, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 7:25 AM Salinas, CA | 3h50 | 11:15 AM Santa Maria, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 10:25 AM Salinas, CA | 3h55 | 2:20 PM Santa Maria, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA by bus or train
Compare bus and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Jun 20
Jun 21
Jun 22
Jun 23
Jun 24
Jun 25
Jun 26
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Buses from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA run on average 1 times per day, taking around 3h 45m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $40 (€32) if you book in advance.
There are 1 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 09:15, the last at 15:30. The fastest bus covers the 137 miles (221 km) distance in 3h 0m.
Distance 137 miles (221 km) |
Average bus duration 3h 45m |
Cheapest ticket price $40 (€32) |
Buses per day 1 |
Direct buses 1 |
Fastest bus 3h 0m |
First bus 9:15 AM |
Last bus 3:30 PM |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
FAQs: Bus from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Santa Maria, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Most Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA buses use the Salinas, Greyhound to Santa Maria, Nicholson Avenue / Cypress Street station pair. Use this guide to compare Salinas, CA and Santa Maria, CA bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Getting to Salinas, Greyhound from Salinas city centre
Getting to Santa Maria, Nicholson Avenue / Cypress Street from Santa Maria city centre
Most popular bus connections from Salinas, CA
More options for your journey from Salinas, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
