The cheapest and fastest trains from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA
Cheapest price
$42
Average price
$44
Fastest journey
4 h 47 m
Average duration
4 h 47 m
Trains per day
2
Distance
218 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA will cost around $44 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $42.
Of the 2 trains that leave Santa Barbara, CA for Riverside, CA on Tue, Jun 16, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Tue, Jun 16 the direct trains cover the 218 km distance in an average of 4 h 47 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 47 m .
On Tue, Jun 16 the slowest trains will take 4 h 47 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.
2:53 PM4h47Santa Barbara, CA7:40 PMRiverside, CA$421One-way0 transfers
1:53 PM4h47Santa Barbara, CA6:40 PMRiverside, CA$451One-way0 transfers
2:53 PM4h47Santa Barbara, CA7:40 PMRiverside, CA$421One-way0 transfers
1:53 PM4h47Santa Barbara, CA6:40 PMRiverside, CA$451One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, 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 train which can get you there in 4h 34m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $32, and a flight costs an average of $236.
Distance: 135 miles (218 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$44 Average price | $365 Average price | $32 Average price Cheapest | $30 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 4m Average total duration Fastest 4h 34m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 3m Average total duration 5h 3m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 14h 1m Average total duration 13h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 43m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA:
A bus is $12 (€10) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA costing on average $44 (€36).
A bus is $333 (€270) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA costing on average $365 (€296).
Other travel options to Riverside, CA take longer:
Flight takes on average 5h 3m.
Bus takes on average 13h 31m.
Tickets start at around $44 (€36) compared to roughly $30 (€24) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $-13.82 (€-11.19). The journey takes 4h 34m versus 2h 43m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
Live departures
Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA train times
The table below shows live departures for Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA trains for today, Monday, June 15. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 1:53 PM Santa Barbara, CA | 4h47 | 6:40 PM Riverside, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 2:53 PM Santa Barbara, CA | 4h47 | 7:40 PM Riverside, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 4:49 PM Santa Barbara, CA | 9h47 | 2:36 AM Riverside, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA by bus, train, or flight
Compare bus, train, 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.
Jun 16
Jun 17
Jun 18
Jun 19
Jun 20
Jun 21
Jun 22
Journey information
Overview: Train from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA
Trains from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA run on average 8 times per day, taking around 4h 34m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $42 (€34) but you can travel from only $32 (€26) by bus.
The earliest train runs at 06:00, the last at 15:35. The fastest train covers the 135 miles (218 km) distance in 4h 47m.
Distance 135 miles (218 km) |
Average train duration 4h 34m |
Cheapest ticket price $42 (€34) |
Trains per day 8 |
Fastest train 4h 47m |
First train 6:00 AM |
Last train 3:35 PM |
Cheapest Month Aug |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Best time to book 1 day |
Train companies: Amtrak from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA trainsAmtrak trains will get you between Santa Barbara, CA and Riverside, CA from $32 (€26). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
FAQs: Trains from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, 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 Riverside, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA
- 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
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- Parking is available 7 days a week with multiple entry and exit points.
- Mission Inn Restaurant
- The Salted Pig
- Outside the main entrance.
- Ramps, restrooms.
- $0.50
- Hyatt Place Riverside/Downtown
- The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
- Marriott Riverside at the Convention Center
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, ticket office, and waiting area
- Platform 1: Metrolink services
- Platform 2: Amtrak services
- Bus: Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) routes available
- Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Line, Inland Empire-Orange County Line, Riverside Line
More options for your journey from Santa Barbara, CA to Riverside, CA
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