4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €52 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 55m. 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 bus costs an average of €52, while a flight costs an average of €449.
Distance: 187 miles (302 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€52 Average price | €52 Average price Cheapest | €449 Average price | €43 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
7h 10m Average total duration 6h 40m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 43m Average total duration 6h 13m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 55m Average total duration Fastest 3h 55m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 3h 44m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | 0.9 - 1.8kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  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 Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA
Compare the available ways to get from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA:
A bus is €1 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average €52.
A bus is €398 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average €449.
Other travel options to San Diego, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 6h 43m.
Train takes on average 7h 10m.
Tickets start at around €52 compared to roughly €43 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about -€9. The journey takes 6h 40m versus 3h 44m 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 San Diego, CA
How to get from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus · FlixBus
1:50 PM 8h55 Santa Barbara, Bus station 10:45 PM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center €44 1 One-way 1 transfer
Cheapest
- FlixBus · FlixBus
1:50 PM 8h55 Santa Barbara, Bus station 10:45 PM San Diego, San Ysidro Transit Center €44 1 One-way 1 transfer
Fastest
- UA2340 · UA444
6:20 AM 3h52 Santa Barbara Airport 10:12 AM San Diego International Airport €120 1 One-way 1 transfer
Other options
- FlixBus · FlixBus
1:50 PM 8h25 Santa Barbara, Bus station 10:15 PM San Diego, West Harbor Drive (The Headquarters at Seaport District), CA €58 1 One-way 1 transfer - FlixBus+
1:50 PM 10h00 Santa Barbara, Bus station 11:50 PM San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA €59 1 One-way 1 transfer - FlixBus · FlixBus
1:50 PM 7h55 Santa Barbara, Bus station 9:45 PM La Jolla, UCSD Health La Jolla Station, CA €59 1 One-way 1 transfer
- UA5256 · UA1577
4:10 PM 4h27 Santa Barbara Airport 8:37 PM San Diego International Airport €120 1 One-way 1 transfer - UA2305 · UA1561
2:05 PM 4h32 Santa Barbara Airport 6:37 PM San Diego International Airport €120 1 One-way 1 transfer - UA4649 · UA1068
6:00 AM 5h31 Santa Barbara Airport 11:31 AM San Diego International Airport €120 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
Compare train, bus, and flight 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.
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FAQs: Travel from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA
Travel to San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA.
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA:
A bus is €1 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average €52.
A bus is €398 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average €449.
Other travel options to San Diego, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 6h 43m.
Train takes on average 7h 10m.
- Around 31 flights per day.
- Around 19 trains per day.
- Around 3 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Santa Barbara, CA and San Diego, CA as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA and arrive in Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA.
- Flights mostly depart from Santa Barbara Airport and arrive in San Diego International Airport.
- Buses mostly depart from Santa Barbara, Bus station and arrive in San Diego, Congress Street (Old Town Park), CA.
- Travel with United, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines to go to San Diego, CA by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus, Greyhound to go to San Diego, CA by bus.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to San Diego, CA by train.
- 1 direct flights per day with Alaska Airlines.
- 16 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
Travelling from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA: related information
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