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

The cheapest bus tickets from San Diego to Santa Barbara start at R 593. The average price for this route is around R 911. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.

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

The average bus journey time from San Diego to Santa Barbara is 9h 40m, covering a distance of 301 km. The fastest bus gets you there in 4h 15m and is operated by FlixBus .

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

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

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

The earliest bus departs from San Diego to Santa Barbara at 06:45. And the latest bus departs at 22:10.

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

A bus trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara produces an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and Busbud’s recommended way to travel.

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

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 5696 reviews.

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

Based on reviews on Busbud, 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara?

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 San Diego to Santa Barbara?

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 San Diego to Santa Barbara from R 743 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures from San Diego to Santa Barbara on 8 January
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	07:50	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	06:45	Greyhound Bus Stop	6h 50m	13:35	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	Fastest
	22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	07:35	Train Station	No tags

Next departures from San Diego to Santa Barbara on 9 January
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 50m	08:00	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	06:45	Greyhound Bus Stop	6h 50m	13:35	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	Fastest
	22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 35m	07:45	Train Station	No tags

Next departures from San Diego to Santa Barbara on 10 January
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	05:30	Santa Fe Depot	6h 20m	11:50	Train Station	Cheapest
	07:30	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	13:49	Train Station	Fastest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	06:45	Greyhound Bus Stop	6h 50m	13:35	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	No tags
	22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 50m	08:00	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
	05:30	Santa Fe Depot	6h 40m	12:10	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures from San Diego to Santa Barbara on 12 January
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	07:50	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
		22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	07:35	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures from San Diego to Santa Barbara on 13 January
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	07:50	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
		22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	07:35	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures from San Diego to Santa Barbara on 14 January
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	07:50	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
		22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	07:35	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures from San Diego to Santa Barbara on 15 January
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 40m	07:50	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
		22:10	Santa Fe Depot	9h 25m	07:35	Train Station	Fastest

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 8:02 AM PST.

Compare 2 ways to travel from San Diego to Santa Barbara

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as a good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 5 hours 49 minutes and with fares starting at just R 789, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

11train per day

5h 49mAverage duration

301 kmDistance

27kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 593 - R 2 145	Average duration9h 40m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 789 - R 1 557	Average duration5h 49m	CO₂ emissions 27kg CO₂e

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

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

Stops in Santa Barbara

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

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55 715 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511 957 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

Greyhound

3.5/587 490 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

WiFi2.4

Based on 87490 reviews, the company was rated 3.5 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the temperature but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Greyhound ticket prices on this trip start at R 492

Greyhound San Diego Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

I missed a very important meeting and the bus was delayed by 4hrs. I will never use this service again and I will never recommend it to anyone

Prabhu Y.

26 August 2018

Wasn't able to turn reading light on at all during trip. Only complaint from me, otherwise smooth ride

Dale C.

10 March 2018

US bus companies:FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Greyhound, ALSA, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about travelling from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara by bus

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

How much is the bus ticket from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
The cheapest bus tickets from San Diego to Santa Barbara start at R 593. The average price for this route is around R 911. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
The average bus journey time from San Diego to Santa Barbara is 9h 40m, covering a distance of 301 km. The fastest bus gets you there in 4h 15m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the San Diego to Santa Barbara route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak, FlixBus, Greyhound.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
The earliest bus departs from San Diego to Santa Barbara at 06:45. And the latest bus departs at 22:10.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
A bus trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara produces an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and Busbud’s recommended way to travel.
What is the best bus company from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
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 5696 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
Based on reviews on Busbud, 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara?
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 San Diego to Santa Barbara?
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

05/01

R 861

06/01

R 861

Today

R 861

08/01

R 861

09/01

R 861

10/01

R 743

11/01

R 861

12/01

R 861

The cheapest trip from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara was searched and found on 10 Jan 2026 with a price of R 743

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

You can expect to pay from R 743 to R 1 552 for a bus ticket from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 743, which is on 2026-01-10.