- Must visit
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
A renowned fusion of zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and natural history museum focused on the Sonoran Desert. It is one of Tucson’s signature attractions and excellent for understanding local desert
Cheapest price
$99
Average price
$99
Fastest journey
11 h 5 m
Average duration
11 h 5 m
Buses per day
1
Distance
669 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ will cost around $99 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $99.
It's difficult to get from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ without transferring at least 3 times.


Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $72. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 3h 40m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $72, and a flight costs an average of $194.
Distance: 415 miles (669 km)
Most popular Bus | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
$101 Average price | $85 Average price Cheapest | $317 Average price |
9h 35m Average total duration 9h 5m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 11h 1m Average total duration 10h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 40m Average total duration Fastest 3h 40m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ:
A train is $16 (€13) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ costing on average $101 (€82).
A train is $232 (€190) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ costing on average $317 (€259).
Other travel options to Tucson, AZ take longer:
Bus takes on average 9h 5m.
Train takes on average 10h 31m.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 04:20AM | Arrival Time 04:40PM | Duration 12h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $131 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:20AM | Arrival Time 05:40PM | Duration 12h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $93 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:40AM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 13h40 | Departure days Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $64 |
Operator Greyhound USA | Departure Time 08:05AM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 11h05 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $69 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 11:35AM | Arrival Time 04:35AM | Duration 17h00 | Departure days Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $64 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 03:05PM | Arrival Time 02:10AM | Duration 11h05 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $99 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:35PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 21h35 | Departure days Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $64 |
The table below shows live departures for Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ 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 · FlixBus | 7:40 AM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 14h20 | 10:00 PM Tucson, E Broadway Blvd (Dave's Hot Chicken Parking Lot), AZ | 2 transfers | |
+ FlixBus · FlixBus | 7:40 AM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 13h40 | 9:20 PM Tucson, Downtown, AZ | 2 transfers | |
· + FlixBus | 8:05 AM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 11h05 | 7:10 PM Tuscon, University of Arizona Transportation Office, AZ | 2 transfers | |
· | 8:05 AM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 12h10 | 8:15 PM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 1 transfer | |
· | 11:35 AM Santa Ana, E Santa Ana Blvd (Train Station) | 17h00 | 4:35 AM Tucson, E 12th St (Bus Station) | 1 transfer |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, and flight 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.
Buses from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ run on average 7 times per day, taking around 9h 5m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $63 (€52) if you book in advance.
The earliest bus runs at 00:09, the last at 23:20. The fastest bus covers the 415 miles (669 km) distance in 11h 5m.
Distance 415 miles (669 km) |
Average bus duration 9h 5m |
Cheapest ticket price $63 (€52) |
Buses per day 7 |
Fastest bus 11h 5m |
First bus 12:09 AM |
Last bus 11:20 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Fri |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Discover the best of Tucson — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Tucson trip today.
A renowned fusion of zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and natural history museum focused on the Sonoran Desert. It is one of Tucson’s signature attractions and excellent for understanding local desert
One of the largest non-government aviation museums in the world, displaying hundreds of aircraft indoors and outdoors. It is especially popular with aviation enthusiasts and families visiting Tucson.
The city’s leading art museum, with collections spanning Latin American, Western, Indigenous, and contemporary art in the historic El Presidio area. A strong choice for both major exhibitions and a
A scenic desert canyon area with paved and unpaved trails, mountain views, and classic Sonoran scenery. It is one of Tucson’s top outdoor destinations and especially popular for walking and photograp
A spectacular desert landscape filled with iconic saguaro cacti, scenic drives, and hiking trails. It is one of the defining Tucson experiences and a priority for first-time visitors.
Known for dense saguaro forests and excellent sunset views, this section of the park is especially photogenic and widely featured on social media. It is a top outdoor stop near the Arizona-Sonora Dese
A bacon-wrapped hot dog in a bolillo roll, typically topped with beans, onions, tomatoes, mustard, mayo, and jalapeo salsa. It is one of Tucsons signature borderlands street foods.
Air-dried beef, often shredded and served with eggs, chiltepin, or in burritos and plates. It is a hallmark of Sonoran cooking and strongly associated with Tucson.
An open-faced flour tortilla baked until crisp and topped with melted cheese, sometimes with green chiles. This simple dish is a long-standing Tucson and Arizona favorite.
Upscale dining with desert views, known for Southwestern ingredients, polished service, and a romantic hacienda setting. Good choice for a fine dining meal in Tucson.
Well-known downtown spot celebrated for refined Mexican cooking, colorful presentations, and an intimate atmosphere. A long-time favorite for distinctive regional flavors.
Popular casual venue serving regional Mexican dishes with Sonoran influences, including tacos, bowls, and breakfast. Relaxed atmosphere and consistently well-liked food.
Tucson is generally affordable by U.S. city standards, with reasonable food costs and many mid-priced hotels.
Tip 15-20% in restaurants; 20% for great service. Tip bartenders USD 1-2 per drink, taxi and rideshare drivers 10-15%, and round up for cafes.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson, AZ, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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