4.9
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Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of $50 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 6h 18m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $50, while a bus costs an average of $55.
Distance: 187 miles (302 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$50 Average price Cheapest | $55 Average price | $53 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 18m Average total duration Fastest 5h 48m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 19m Average total duration 5h 49m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 46m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | 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 San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA:
A train is $5 (€4) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average $55 (€44).
A train is $144 (€116) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average $194 (€157).
Other travel options to Santa Barbara, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 18m.
Bus takes on average 6h 19m.
Travel optionsfrom San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
How to get from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- 765 Pacific Surfliner6:10 AM5h34Old Town Station, San Diego, CA11:44 AMSanta Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA$501One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- 765 Pacific Surfliner6:10 AM5h34Old Town Station, San Diego, CA11:44 AMSanta Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA$501One-way0 transfers
Fastest
AS31121:30 PM1h17San Diego International Airport2:47 PMSanta Barbara Airport$1851One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 777 Pacific Surfliner12:10 PM5h35Old Town Station, San Diego, CA5:45 PMSanta Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA$501One-way0 transfers
- 769 Pacific Surfliner8:10 AM5h36Old Town Station, San Diego, CA1:46 PMSanta Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA$501One-way0 transfers
- 765 Pacific Surfliner6:01 AM5h43Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA11:44 AMSanta Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA$501One-way0 transfers
- AS311310:30 PM1h20San Diego International Airport11:50 PMSanta Barbara Airport$1851One-way0 transfers
UA2234 · UA47965:00 PM2h54San Diego International Airport7:54 PMSanta Barbara Airport$2301One-way1 transfer- UA2309 · UA546411:17 AM4h03San Diego International Airport3:20 PMSanta Barbara Airport$2301One-way1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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FAQs: Travel from San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA.
This is compared to other travel options from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA:
A train is $5 (€4) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average $55 (€44).
A train is $144 (€116) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average $194 (€157).
Other travel options to Santa Barbara, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 18m.
Bus takes on average 6h 19m.
- Around 30 flights per day.
- Around 18 trains per day.
- Around 3 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between San Diego, CA and Santa Barbara, CA as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from San Diego International Airport and arrive in Santa Barbara Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA and arrive in Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA.
- Buses mostly depart from San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA and arrive in Santa Barbara, Bus station.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to Santa Barbara, CA by train.
- Travel with Greyhound, FlixBus to go to Santa Barbara, CA by bus.
- 14 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
- 0 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA: related information
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