How to travel from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Fri, Oct 30
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Travel Information

Compare train, bus, and flight for Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €69 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 54m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.4kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €69, while a flight costs an average of €329.

Distance: 274 miles (441 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus
Flight
Driving

€116

Average price

€69

Average price

Cheapest

€329

Average price

€54

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

9h 33m

Average total duration

9h 3m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

9h 2m

Average total duration

8h 32m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

4h 54m

Average total duration

Fastest

2h 54m

Onboard

+

2h 0m

Additional time*

4h 58m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.4 - 1.1kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Amtrak

Most popular train company

FlixBus

Most popular bus company

Alaska Airlines

Most popular airline

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Compare ways to travel from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Compare the available ways to get from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.

The cheapest way to travel from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is a bus with an average price of €69.

This is compared to other travel options from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA:

A bus is €48 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average €116.

A bus is €260 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average €329.

The fastest way to travel from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is by flight with an average journey time of 4h 54m.

Other travel options to Santa Barbara, CA take longer:

Bus takes on average 9h 2m.

Train takes on average 9h 33m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Oakland, CA and Santa Barbara, CA including taking a train, bus, and flight.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA among Omio's users.
Take the train. It's the cheaper option, and the extra time on board is usually more relaxing than driving it.

Tickets start at around €116 compared to roughly €54 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about -€62. The journey takes 9h 3m versus 4h 58m 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.

Travel options
from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

How to get from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • Amtrak
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • Amtrak
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • FlixBus
    0 transfers

Other options

  • Amtrak
    0 transfers
  • Amtrak
    0 transfers

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

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FAQs: Travel from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Travel to Santa Barbara, CA easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Oakland, CA and Santa Barbara, CA including taking a train, bus, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is a bus with an average price of €69.

This is compared to other travel options from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA:

A bus is €48 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average €116.

A bus is €260 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average €329.

The fastest way to travel from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is by flight with an average journey time of 4h 54m.

Other travel options to Santa Barbara, CA take longer:

Bus takes on average 9h 2m.

Train takes on average 9h 33m.

The distance from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is approximately 274 miles (441 km).
The average frequency per day from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is:
  • Around 7 flights per day.
  • Around 1 trains per day.
  • Around 1 buses per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Oakland, CA and Santa Barbara, CA as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA:
  • Flights mostly depart from Oakland International Airport and arrive in Santa Barbara Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from Oakland – Jack London Square station, Oakland, CA and arrive in Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA.
  • Buses mostly depart from Oakland, West Oakland BART Station, CA and arrive in Santa Barbara, Bus station.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with FlixBus, Greyhound to go to Santa Barbara, CA by bus.
  • Travel with Amtrak to go to Santa Barbara, CA by train.
  • Travel with Alaska Airlines to go to Santa Barbara, CA by flight.
Yes, there are direct services available from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA with the following travel companies:
  • 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
  • 1 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
Omio customers who travel from Oakland, CA to Santa Barbara, CA often also extend their vacation to go to Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Denver, CO, Seattle, WA. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Santa Barbara, CA and these popular destinations at a great price.
Most travelers need at least three days in Santa Barbara, CA to see the main sights at a comfortable pace. If you want day trips or a slower itinerary, consider adding extra time.
In Santa Barbara, CA, visitors can explore State Street for shopping, dining, and entertainment, visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and take a wine tasting tour in the Santa Ynez Valley. For outdoor activities, enjoy a scenic hike in the Santa Ynez Mountains and visit the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Best sights include the historic Santa Barbara Mission, Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara Zoo, and the unique Lotusland botanical garden.
Typically, spending 2 to 3 days in Santa Barbara, CA is ideal to explore its beautiful beaches, vibrant downtown, and cultural attractions.
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