4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest buses from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Cheapest price
$100
Average price
$100
Fastest journey
7 h 14 m
Average duration
7 h 14 m
Buses per day
1
Distance
361 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA will cost around $100 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $100.
Of the 1 buses that leave San Francisco, CA for Santa Maria, CA on Mon, Jun 22, 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Mon, Jun 22 the direct buses cover the 361 km distance in an average of 7 h 14 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 7 h 14 m .
On Mon, Jun 22 the slowest buses will take 7 h 14 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.
2:06 PM7h14San Francisco, CA9:20 PMSanta Maria, CA$1001One-way0 transfers
- 2:06 PM7h14San Francisco, CA9:20 PMSanta Maria, CA$1001One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus and train for San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $87. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 5h 17m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $87, and a train costs an average of $92.
Distance: 224 miles (361 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$101 Average price Cheapest | $109 Average price | $53 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 47m Average total duration Fastest 5h 17m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 10h 38m Average total duration 10h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 0m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA:
A bus is $9 (€7) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA costing on average $109 (€90).
Other travel options to Santa Maria, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 10h 8m.
You'll arrive about -2h -17m sooner (5h 17m by bus vs 4h 0m by car) and save roughly $-47.65 (€-39.00) compared to fuel and tolls ($101 (€82) vs $53 (€43)). 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 FlixBus.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Flixbus USA | Departure Time 08:20AM | Arrival Time 02:20PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Tue, Thu | Cheapest price $100 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:15AM | Arrival Time 04:20PM | Duration 5h05 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 02:06PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 7h14 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $100 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 04:39PM | Arrival Time 04:25AM | Duration 11h46 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $87 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 08:36PM | Arrival Time 03:25AM | Duration 6h49 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $98 |
Live departures
San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA bus times
The table below shows live departures for San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA buses for today, Sunday, June 21. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 FlixBus | 11:15 AM San Francisco, Townsend Street / 5th Street, CA | 5h05 | 4:20 PM Santa Maria, Nicholson Avenue / Cypress Street, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets San Francisco, 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 22
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Jun 25
Jun 26
Jun 27
Jun 28
Why should you book San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs FlixBus?
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare FlixBus with all available travel options, which are bus and train to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu or Trainline?
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and train to find the ideal travel option from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA
USAUSA
Buses from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA run on average 6 times per day, taking around 5h 17m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $87 (€72) if you book in advance.
The earliest bus runs at 06:31, the last at 15:30. The fastest bus covers the 224 miles (361 km) distance in 6h 49m.
Distance 224 miles (361 km) |
Average bus duration 5h 17m |
Cheapest ticket price $87 (€72) |
Buses per day 6 |
Fastest bus 6h 49m |
First bus 6:31 AM |
Last bus 3:30 PM |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Bus providers: FlixBus from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CAYou can travel by bus between San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA with FlixBus for as low as $87 (€72). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
FAQs: Bus from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Francisco, 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.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- FlixBus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 15 minutes before departure and receive a voucher for future travel. Refund requests for delays over 120 minutes are possible.
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Most San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA buses use the San Francisco, Townsend Street / 5th Street to Santa Maria, Nicholson Avenue / Cypress Street station pair. Use this guide to compare San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, Townsend Street / 5th Street from San Francisco city centre
Getting to Santa Maria, Nicholson Avenue / Cypress Street from Santa Maria city centre
More options for your journey from San Francisco, CA to Santa Maria, CA
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular buses to and from Santa Maria, CA and San Francisco, CA
Most popular bus connections to Santa Maria, CA
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