The cheapest and fastest trains from San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Cheapest price
$38
Average price
$38
Fastest journey
2 h 34 m
Average duration
2 h 34 m
Trains per day
1
Distance
130 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from San Luis Obispo, 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 Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA will cost around $38 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $38.
Of the 1 trains that leave San Luis Obispo, CA for Santa Barbara, CA on Fri, Dec 05, 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Fri, Dec 05 the direct trains cover the 130 km distance in an average of 2 h 34 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 34 m .
On Fri, Dec 05 the slowest trains will take 2 h 34 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.


Travel Information
Compare train and bus for San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €16. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 2h 25m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €16, and a train costs an average of €25.
Distance: 80 miles (130 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus |
|---|---|
€31 Average price | €24 Average price Cheapest |
3h 2m Average total duration 2h 32m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 55m Average total duration Fastest 2h 25m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Live departures
San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA train times
The table below shows live departures for San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA trains for today, Thursday, December 4. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
774 Pacific Surfliner | 2:11 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 2h18 | 4:29 PM Goleta Station, Goleta, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
774 Pacific Surfliner | 2:11 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 2h35 | 4:46 PM Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
11 Coast Starlight | 11:37 PM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 2h35 | 2:12 AM Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
4794 AMTRAK · 794 Pacific Surfliner | 11:40 PM San Luis Obispo, CA | 3h14 | 2:54 AM Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA | 1 transfer | |
| Friday, December 5 | |||||
794 Pacific Surfliner | 12:20 AM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 2h16 | 2:36 AM Goleta Station, Goleta, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
794 Pacific Surfliner | 12:20 AM San Luis Obispo Station, San Luis Obispo, CA | 2h34 | 2:54 AM Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA by train or bus
Compare train and bus 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.
Dec 05
Dec 06
Dec 07
Dec 08
Dec 09
Dec 10
Dec 11
Why should you book San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara trains with Omio?
Amtrak operates all train services from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara. Omio is the only official third party seller for Amtrak tickets.
Why book with Omio vs Amtrak?
- 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 and bus to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara.
Why book with Omio over Trainline and Rail Europe?
- Official reseller: Amtrak tickets can only be bought on Omio or Amtrak's website as Omio is the only official third party seller for Amtrak tickets. Trainline, RailEurope, and Rail.Ninja do not sell Amtrak tickets as they are not official sellers.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and bus to find the ideal travel option from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara.
Journey information
Overview: Train from San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Trains from San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA run on average 6 times per day, taking around 2h 32m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $32 (€25) but you can travel from only $20 (€16) by bus.
There are 5 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 06:11, the last at 19:16. The fastest train covers the 80 miles (130 km) distance in 2h 34m.
Distance 80 miles (130 km) |
Average train duration 2h 32m |
Cheapest ticket price $32 (€25) |
Trains per day 6 |
Direct trains 5 |
Fastest train 2h 34m |
First train 06:11 |
Last train 19:16 |
Train companies: Amtrak from San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA trainsAmtrak trains will get you between San Luis Obispo, CA and Santa Barbara, CA from $20 (€16). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
FAQs: Trains from San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Luis Obispo, 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 Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- Parking is available on-site with both short-term and long-term options.
- Novo Restaurant & Lounge
- Firestone Grill
- Outside the main entrance.
- $1
- Apple Farm Inn
- Hotel San Luis Obispo
- Granada Hotel & Bistro
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- The station has a single platform with a waiting area and ticketing services.
- Bus: SLO Transit Route 1A, 1B, 3, 4, 5
- RTA Route 9
- 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
- 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
More options for your journey from San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
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