4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest trains from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Cheapest price
$104
Average price
$108
Fastest journey
10 h 35 m
Average duration
10 h 50 m
Trains per day
3
Distance
446 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, 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 Barbara, CA will cost around $108 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $104.
It's difficult to get from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA without transferring at least once.
6612 AMTRAK · 712 Gold Runner · 5612 AMTRAK6624 AMTRAK · 11 Coast Starlight6610 AMTRAK · 11 Coast Starlight6612 AMTRAK · 712 Gold Runner · 5612 AMTRAK6610 AMTRAK · 11 Coast Starlight6624 AMTRAK · 11 Coast Starlight
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €32. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 12m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €32, and a flight costs an average of €68.
Distance: 277 miles (446 km)
Compare train with
| Train | Most popular Bus | Flight |
|---|---|---|
€66 Average price | €53 Average price Cheapest | €228 Average price |
10h 15m Average total duration 9h 45m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 9m Average total duration 7h 39m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 12m Average total duration Fastest 1h 12m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 1.3 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions |
Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA train times
The table below shows live departures for San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA trains for tomorrow, Friday, January 9. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6624 AMTRAK · 11 Coast Starlight | 3:00 PM San Francisco, CA | 11h12 | 2:12 AM Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA | 1 transfer | |
| 6610 AMTRAK · 11 Coast Starlight | 3:30 PM San Francisco, CA | 10h42 | 2:12 AM Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA | 1 transfer | |
| 6612 AMTRAK · 712 Gold Runner · 5612 AMTRAK | 5:40 PM San Francisco, CA | 10h35 | 4:15 AM Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA | 2 transfers | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA by train, bus, or flight
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.
Jan 09
Jan 10
Jan 11
Jan 12
Jan 13
Jan 14
Jan 15
Why should you book San Francisco to Santa Barbara trains with Omio?
Amtrak as well as Caltrain offer trains services from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. Omio is an official ticket reseller for all your travel options from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
Why book with Omio vs Amtrak?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Amtrak, but also compare tickets for the likes of Caltrain to find the best option for your trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
- 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 Amtrak with all available travel options, which are train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
Why book with Omio over Trainline and Rail Europe?
- Multiple travel company options: While Amtrak tickets can be bought on Amtrak's website or third party sellers, Omio allows you to compare with the likes of Caltrain to help you choose the right option for your journey from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
Journey information
Overview: Train from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
USAUSA
Trains from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA run on average 4 times per day, taking around 9h 45m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $61 (€49) but you can travel from only $40 (€32) by bus.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 06:49, the last at 22:05. The fastest train covers the 277 miles (446 km) distance in 9h 33m.
Distance 277 miles (446 km) |
Average train duration 9h 45m |
Cheapest ticket price $61 (€49) |
Trains per day 4 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 9h 33m |
First train 06:49 |
Last train 22:05 |
Train companies: Amtrak, Caltrain from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA trainsAmtrak, Caltrain trains will get you between San Francisco, CA and Santa Barbara, CA from $40 (€32). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
Caltrain
FAQs: Trains from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Santa Barbara, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
popular train stations
Popular train stations from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Lockers
Parking
Dining
Taxis
Accessibility
WC
Hotel
Lost and Found Office
Ticket Office
Bike Parking
Bike Rental
Information Desk
Luggage Carts
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Parking is available at the station.
- The Lark
- Santo Mezcal
- Outside the main entrance.
- Ramps, restrooms.
- $1
- Hotel Californian
- Harbor View Inn
- Hotel Milo Santa Barbara
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- The station has a main hall with ticketing and waiting areas.
- Bus: Several lines available
- Trolley: Downtown Waterfront Shuttle
ParkingDiningTaxisAccessibilityWCHotelTicket OfficeBike ParkingInformation DeskLuggage Carts- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Parking is available adjacent to the station, with spaces for both short-term and long-term parking.
- The Habit Burger Grill
- Pepe's Mexican Restaurant
- Outside the main entrance.
- Ramps.
- Free for passengers
- Hampton Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta
- Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta
- Located near the platform
- Free
- The station consists of a single platform with a waiting area and parking facilities nearby.
- Bus: Santa Barbara MTD Line 6, Line 11
Most popular train connections from San Francisco, CA
More options for your journey from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular trains to and from Santa Barbara, CA and San Francisco, CA
Most popular train connections to Santa Barbara, CA
The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy
We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.
