- Must visit
Bowers Museum
Major Orange County museum campus with art exhibitions, family programs, and rotating contemporary and historical shows.
Cheapest price on Sep 20
$44
Average ticket price on Sep 20
$44
Fastest journey on Sep 20
4 h 34 m
Average journey duration on Sep 20
4 h 34 m
Trains on Sep 20
1
Distance
185 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Santa Barbara, CA to Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, CA will cost around $44 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $44.
On Sun, Sep 20, we found 1 trains from Santa Barbara, CA to Santa Ana, CA, including 1 direct services.
On Sun, Sep 20 the direct trains cover the 185 km distance in an average of 4 h 34 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 34 m .
On Sun, Sep 20 the slowest trains will take 4 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.


Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Santa Barbara, CA to Santa Ana, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of $51 For those with little time, consider booking a bus, which has an average total journey time of 4h 34m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.2kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $51, while a bus costs an average of $58.
Distance: 114 miles (185 km)
Most popular Train | Bus |
|---|---|
$51 Average price Cheapest | $58 Average price |
5h 8m Average total duration 4h 38m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 34m Average total duration Fastest 4h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Barbara, CA to Santa Ana, CA:
A train is $7 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Santa Barbara, CA to Santa Ana, CA costing on average $58.
Other travel options to Santa Ana, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 38m.
The table below shows live departures for Santa Barbara, CA to Santa Ana, CA trains for today, Saturday, September 19. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 7:26 PM Santa Barbara, CA | 4h34 | 12:00 AM Santa Ana, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 7:40 PM Santa Barbara, CA | 4h20 | 12:00 AM Santa Ana, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
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.
Trains from Santa Barbara, CA to Santa Ana, CA run on average 12 times per day, taking around 4h 38m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $42 if you book in advance.
There are 10 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 06:00, the last at 19:00. The fastest train covers the 114 miles (185 km) distance in 3h 42m.
Distance 114 miles (185 km) |
Average train duration 4h 38m |
Cheapest ticket price $42 |
Trains per day 12 |
Direct trains 10 |
Fastest train 3h 42m |
First train 6:00 AM |
Last train 7:00 PM |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 42 days |
Discover the best of Santa Ana, CA — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Santa Ana, CA trip today.
Major Orange County museum campus with art exhibitions, family programs, and rotating contemporary and historical shows.
Hands-on science museum with interactive exhibits, a Discovery Cube, and family-friendly learning in downtown Santa Ana.
Small local museum preserving Orange County aviation and aerospace history with artifacts, photos, and volunteer-led interpretation.
Walkable downtown district with historic buildings, murals, shops, galleries, and regular arts and community events.
Lively pedestrian-friendly arts corridor known for galleries, murals, boutiques, and monthly art-focused street activity.
Historic neighborhood of preserved early 20th-century homes, ideal for architecture walks and seasonal house tours.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Santa Barbara, CA to Santa Ana, 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 Ana, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Santa Barbara, CA to Santa Ana, CA trains use the Santa Barbara Station to Santa Ana Station station pair. Use this guide to compare Santa Barbara, CA and Santa Ana, CA train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Santa Barbara Station has practical services for this route, including Lockers, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: The Lark, Santo Mezcal
Ticket office support is available at Santa Barbara Station. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Santa Barbara Station. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Santa Barbara Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Santa Barbara Station: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Santa Barbara Station: Ramps, restrooms.
Nearby hotels include Hotel Californian, Harbor View Inn, Hotel Milo Santa Barbara.
Goleta Station is 1 km from Santa Barbara city centre. Public transport options include:
Goleta Station has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: The Habit Burger Grill, Pepe's Mexican Restaurant
Ticket office support is available at Goleta Station. Information desks are located near the platform.
Available at Goleta Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Goleta Station: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Goleta Station: Ramps.
Nearby hotels include Hampton Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta, Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta.
Santa Ana Station is 1 km from Santa Ana city centre. Public transport options include:
Santa Ana Station has practical services for this route, including Lockers, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: The Olde Ship British Pub & Restaurant, Chapter One: the modern local
Ticket office support is available at Santa Ana Station. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Santa Ana Station. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Santa Ana Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Santa Ana Station: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Santa Ana Station: Ramps.
Nearby hotels include DoubleTree by Hilton Santa Ana, Courtyard by Marriott Santa Ana, Holiday Inn Santa Ana-Orange County Airport.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need