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Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €24 For those with little time, consider booking a bus, which has an average total journey time of 2h 43m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €24, while a train costs an average of €35.
Distance: 86 miles (140 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
€35 Average price | €24 Average price Cheapest | €17 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 55m Average total duration 3h 25m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 43m Average total duration Fastest 2h 13m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 54m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.3kg 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.
Compare ways to travel from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Compare the available ways to get from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA:
A bus is €12 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA costing on average €35.
Other travel options to Los Angeles, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 55m.
Tickets start at around €35 compared to roughly €17 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about -€17. The journey takes 3h 25m versus 1h 54m 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 optionsfrom Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA
How to get from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus
1:50 PM 2h25 Santa Barbara, Bus station 4:15 PM Los Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA €22 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
- FlixBus
1:50 PM 2h25 Santa Barbara, Bus station 4:15 PM Los Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA €22 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
- FlixBus
1:50 PM 2h25 Santa Barbara, Bus station 4:15 PM Los Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA €22 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
- 794 Pacific Surfliner
7:00 PM 2h46 Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA 9:46 PM Union Station, Los Angeles, CA €30 1 One-way 0 transfers - 786 Pacific Surfliner
3:04 PM 2h46 Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA 5:50 PM Union Station, Los Angeles, CA €30 1 One-way 0 transfers - 770 Pacific Surfliner
6:53 AM 2h53 Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA 9:46 AM Union Station, Los Angeles, CA €30 1 One-way 0 transfers
- 11 Coast Starlight · 6241 Connecting Bus
6:19 PM 6h01 Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA 12:20 AM Union Station, Los Angeles, CA €64 1 One-way 1 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 Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Travel to Los Angeles, 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 Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA.
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA:
A bus is €12 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA costing on average €35.
Other travel options to Los Angeles, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 55m.
- Around 13 trains per day.
- Around 1 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Santa Barbara, CA and Los Angeles, CA as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA and arrive in Union Station, Los Angeles, CA.
- Buses mostly depart from Santa Barbara, Bus station and arrive in Los Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to Los Angeles, CA by train.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Los Angeles, CA by bus.
- 12 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
- 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA: related information
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