How much is the bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

The cheapest coach tickets from Santa Barbara to San Diego start from £23. The average price for this route is around £42. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus journey from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

The average bus journey time from Santa Barbara to San Diego is 7h 45m, covering a distance of 187 miles. The fastest bus can take you there in 6h 53m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to San Diego route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 4 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak , FlixBus .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Diego at 14:45. And the latest bus departs at 21:55.

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

A bus journey from Santa Barbara to San Diego produces an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.

Which is the best bus company from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

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 company has the best Wi-Fi from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

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

Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

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 San Diego?

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 San Diego from £27 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures from Santa Barbara to San Diego on 29 November
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
06:00	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
12:40	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	20:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
15:35	UC Santa Barbara	7h 29m	23:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
15:35	UC Santa Barbara	7h 29m	23:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from Santa Barbara to San Diego on 30 November
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
06:00	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
12:40	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	20:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
14:35	UC Santa Barbara	8h 29m	23:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
14:35	UC Santa Barbara	8h 29m	23:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from Santa Barbara to San Diego on 1 December
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
	14:45	Santa Barbara Station	7h	21:45	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	14:45	Santa Barbara Station	9h 5m	23:50	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from Santa Barbara to San Diego on 2 December
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
	14:45	Santa Barbara Station	7h	21:45	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	14:45	Santa Barbara Station	9h 5m	23:50	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from Santa Barbara to San Diego on 3 December
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	14:45	Santa Barbara Station	7h	21:45	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	Cheapest
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	14:45	Santa Barbara Station	9h 5m	23:50	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
	14:45	Santa Barbara Station	7h 30m	22:15	Downtown SD (Seaport)	No tags
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from Santa Barbara to San Diego on 4 December
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
	14:45	Santa Barbara Station	7h	21:45	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	14:45	Santa Barbara Station	9h 5m	23:50	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
	06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures from Santa Barbara to San Diego on 5 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
06:00	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
06:00	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	13:07	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
12:40	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	20:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
12:40	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	20:04	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 12:28 PST.

Compare 2 ways to travel from Santa Barbara to San Diego

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as a good way to reach San Diego. The journey takes about 6 hours 15 minutes and with fares starting at just £37, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

13train per day

6h 15mAverage duration

184 milesDistance

27kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average price£23 - £74	Average duration7h 45m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e
Train	Average price£37 - £96	Average duration6h 15m	CO₂ emissions 27kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Santa Barbara and San Diego?

Stops in Santa Barbara

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

Stops in San Diego

A
Mission Valley Sheraton
1433 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108, USA
B
Old Town Courtyard Marriot
2435 Jefferson St, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
C
Downtown Holiday Inn
1617 1st Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
D
Greyhound Station
1313 National Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
E
Market St. & Park Blvd
601 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
F
San Ysidro McDonald's
727 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92173, USA

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,611 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,470 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 by bus from Santa Barbara to San Diego, CA, US

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

How much is the bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
The cheapest coach tickets from Santa Barbara to San Diego start from £23. The average price for this route is around £42. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
The average bus journey time from Santa Barbara to San Diego is 7h 45m, covering a distance of 187 miles. The fastest bus can take you there in 6h 53m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to San Diego route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 4 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak, FlixBus.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Diego at 14:45. And the latest bus departs at 21:55.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
A bus journey from Santa Barbara to San Diego produces an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.
Which is the best bus company from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
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 company has the best Wi-Fi from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
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 San Diego?
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

26/11

£40

27/11

£40

Today

£40

29/11

£40

30/11

£40

01/12

£40

02/12

£40

03/12

£33

The cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego, CA, US was searched and found on 3 Dec 2025 with a price of £33

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 San Diego, CA, US as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from £33 to £81 for a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego, CA, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at £33, which is on 2025-12-03.

Usually FlixBus 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.