How to travel from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Tue, Jun 09
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Travel Information

Compare train, bus, and flight for San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $40. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 7h 10m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $40, and a train costs an average of $61.

Distance: 236 miles (380 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus
Driving

$176

Average price

$84

Average price

Cheapest

$57

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

8h 15m

Average total duration

7h 45m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

7h 40m

Average total duration

Fastest

7h 10m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

4h 18m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.3kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.4 - 0.9kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Amtrak

Most popular train company

FlixBus

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.

The cheapest way to travel from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is a bus with an average price of $84 (€69).

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

A bus is $91 (€75) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average $176 (€143).

A bus is $868 (€708) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average $953 (€777).

The fastest way to travel from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is by bus with an average journey time of 7h 10m.

Other travel options to Santa Barbara, CA take longer:

Train takes on average 7h 45m.

Flight takes on average 11h 9m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between San Jose, 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 San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA among Omio's users.

Travel options
from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

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

Our recommendation

bus

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

  • FlixBus
    4:25 PM5h15
    San Jose, CA
    9:40 PMSanta Barbara, CA
    $401One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • FlixBus
    4:25 PM5h15
    San Jose, CA
    9:40 PMSanta Barbara, CA
    $401One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • FlixBus
    3:40 PM5h10
    San Jose, CA
    8:50 PMSanta Barbara, CA
    $521One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • FlixBus
    3:35 PM5h15
    San Jose, CA
    8:50 PMSanta Barbara, CA
    $611One-way
    0 transfers
  • FlixBus
    5:25 PM5h15
    San Jose, CA
    10:40 PMSanta Barbara, CA
    $671One-way
    0 transfers
  • Amtrak
    4:17 PM8h03
    San Jose, CA
    12:20 AMSanta Barbara, CA
    $811One-way
    0 transfers

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

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FAQs: Travel from San Jose, 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 Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between San Jose, CA and Santa Barbara, CA including taking a train, bus, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is a bus with an average price of $84 (€69).

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

A bus is $91 (€75) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average $176 (€143).

A bus is $868 (€708) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA costing on average $953 (€777).

The fastest way to travel from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is by bus with an average journey time of 7h 10m.

Other travel options to Santa Barbara, CA take longer:

Train takes on average 7h 45m.

Flight takes on average 11h 9m.

The distance from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is approximately 236 miles (380 km).
The average frequency per day from San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA is:
  • Around 9 flights per day.
  • Around 4 trains per day.
  • Around 3 buses per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between San Jose, 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 San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA:
  • Flights mostly depart from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport and arrive in Santa Barbara Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from San José Diridon Station, San Jose, CA and arrive in Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA.
  • Buses mostly depart from San José, Cahill Street (Diridon Station) and arrive in Santa Barbara, Bus station.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from San Jose, 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.
Yes, there are direct services available from San Jose, 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 San Jose, CA to Santa Barbara, CA often also extend their vacation to go to Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Ventura, CA, San Luis Obispo, CA. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Santa Barbara, CA and these popular destinations at a great price.
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