How much is the bus ticket from Santa Barbara to Salinas?

The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Salinas start from $58. The average price for this route is around $90. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from Santa Barbara to Salinas?

The average bus travel time from Santa Barbara to Salinas is 5h 10m, covering a distance of 301 km. The quickest bus can get you there in 4h 20m and is operated by FlixBus .

Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to Salinas route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak , FlixBus .

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the bus from Santa Barbara to Salinas?

The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to Salinas at 7:35am. And the latest bus departs at 1:40pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Santa Barbara to Salinas?

A bus trip from Santa Barbara to Salinas generates an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from Santa Barbara to Salinas?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Santa Barbara to Salinas?

Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company Amtrak has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.

Which bus company has the best on-time performance from Santa Barbara to Salinas?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Santa Barbara to Salinas?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak , with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Bus Santa Barbara to Salinas from $65 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Santa Barbara to Salinas on November 28
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	1:40pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	4h 20m	6:00pm	Amtrak	CheapestFastest

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 11:52 AM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Santa Barbara to Salinas

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as a good way to reach Salinas. The journey takes about 5 hours 10 minutes, and with fares starting at just $58, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2bus per day

5h 10mAverage Duration

301 kmDistance

8kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$58 - $180	Average Duration5h 10m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$63 - $459	Average Duration5h 49m	CO₂ emissions 28kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Santa Barbara and Salinas?

Stops in Santa Barbara

A
Train Station
224 Chapala St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Visit page

Stops in Salinas

A
Amtrak
3 STATION PLACE , 93901, California
Visit page
B
Alisal St & Pearl St
635 E Alisal St, Salinas, CA 93905, USA

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,609 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,464 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

US Bus Companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Sindbad

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Santa Barbara to Salinas, US by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from Santa Barbara to Salinas?
The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Salinas start from $58. The average price for this route is around $90. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from Santa Barbara to Salinas?
The average bus travel time from Santa Barbara to Salinas is 5h 10m, covering a distance of 301 km. The quickest bus can get you there in 4h 20m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to Salinas route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak, FlixBus.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the bus from Santa Barbara to Salinas?
The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to Salinas at 7:35am. And the latest bus departs at 1:40pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Santa Barbara to Salinas?
A bus trip from Santa Barbara to Salinas generates an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from Santa Barbara to Salinas?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Santa Barbara to Salinas?
Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company Amtrak has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company has the best on-time performance from Santa Barbara to Salinas?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Santa Barbara to Salinas?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak, with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

11-25

$85

11-26

$85

Today

$80

11-28

$101

11-29

$65

11-30

No data

12-01

No data

12-02

No data

The cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to Salinas, US was searched and found on Nov 29, 2025 with a price of $65

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Salinas, US, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $65 to $101 for a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to Salinas, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $65 which is on 2025-11-29.

Usually Amtrak will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.