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4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $44. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 9m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $44, and a flight costs an average of $110.
Distance: 277 miles (446 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
$79 Average price Cheapest | $94 Average price | $302 Average price |
8h 50m Average total duration 8h 20m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 10h 0m Average total duration 9h 30m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 9m Average total duration Fastest 1h 9m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.4 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.3 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions |
 Most popular bus company |  Most popular train company |  Most popular airline |
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 Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA:
A bus is $15 (€12) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA costing on average $94 (€75).
A bus is $223 (€177) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA costing on average $302 (€241).
Other travel options to San Francisco, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 8h 20m.
Train takes on average 9h 30m.
Travel optionsfrom Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA
How to get from Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- 765 Pacific Surfliner · 4765 AMTRAK11:47 AM8h13Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA8:00 PMSan Francisco, CA$551One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- 765 Pacific Surfliner · 4765 AMTRAK11:47 AM8h13Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA8:00 PMSan Francisco, CA$551One-way1 transfer
Fastest
- UA23052:17 PM1h17Santa Barbara Airport3:34 PMSan Francisco International Airport$4051One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 5619 AMTRAK · 719 Gold Runner · 6619 AMTRAK12:00 PM10h30Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA10:30 PMSan Francisco, CA$1171One-way2 transfers
- 14 Coast Starlight · 6014 AMTRAK12:21 PM10h09Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA10:30 PMSan Francisco, CA$1421One-way1 transfer
- 14 Coast Starlight · 6619 AMTRAK12:21 PM10h09Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA10:30 PMSan Francisco, CA$1421One-way1 transfer
- 6238 AMTRAK · 538 Capitol Corridor · 6645 AMTRAK7:35 AM10h35Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA6:10 PMSan Francisco, CA$1081One-way2 transfers
- UA47159:45 AM1h26Santa Barbara Airport11:11 AMSan Francisco International Airport$4051One-way0 transfers
- UA52564:15 PM1h26Santa Barbara Airport5:41 PMSan Francisco International Airport$4051One-way0 transfers
- UA20976:50 PM1h17Santa Barbara Airport8:07 PMSan Francisco International Airport$4051One-way0 transfers
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 San Francisco, CA
Travel to San Francisco, 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 Francisco, CA.
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA:
A bus is $15 (€12) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA costing on average $94 (€75).
A bus is $223 (€177) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA costing on average $302 (€241).
Other travel options to San Francisco, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 8h 20m.
Train takes on average 9h 30m.
- Around 36 flights per day.
- Around 6 trains per day.
- Around 6 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Santa Barbara, CA and San Francisco, CA as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Santa Barbara Airport and arrive in San Francisco International Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Santa Barbara Station, Santa Barbara, CA and arrive in Emeryville station, Emeryville, CA.
- Buses mostly depart from Santa Barbara, Bus station and arrive in San Francisco, Townsend Street / 5th Street, CA.
- Travel with FlixBus, Greyhound to go to San Francisco, CA by bus.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to San Francisco, CA by train.
- Travel with United to go to San Francisco, CA by flight.
- 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
- 1 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
- 4 direct flights per day with United.
Travelling from Santa Barbara, CA to San Francisco, CA: related information
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