How much is the train ticket from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

The cheapest train tickets from San Jose to Santa Barbara start from R 988. The average price for this train route is around R 1 382. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

The average train journey time from San Jose to Santa Barbara is 7h 46m, covering a distance of 381 km. The quickest train can get you there in 7h 46m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the San Jose to Santa Barbara route?

Several major train operators run on this route, with 1 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

The earliest train from San Jose to Santa Barbara departs at 10:26. And the latest train departs at 10:26.

Train San Jose to Santa Barbara from R 934 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures from San Jose to Santa Barbara on 13 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
10:26	Diridon Station	10h 49m	21:15	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	Fastest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	10h 49m	21:15	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to Santa Barbara on 14 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
10:26	Diridon Station	10h 49m	21:15	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	Fastest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	10h 49m	21:15	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to Santa Barbara on 15 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	Cheapest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	Fastest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 14m	21:40	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to Santa Barbara on 16 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	Cheapest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	Fastest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 14m	21:40	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to Santa Barbara on 17 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	Cheapest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	Fastest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 14m	21:40	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to Santa Barbara on 18 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	Cheapest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	Fastest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 14m	21:40	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures from San Jose to Santa Barbara on 19 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	Cheapest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	Fastest
10:26	Diridon Station	7h 46m	18:12	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 29m	21:55	Train Station	No tags
10:26	Diridon Station	11h 14m	21:40	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 7:51 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to travel from San Jose to Santa Barbara

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as a good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 6 hours 20 minutes and with fares starting at just R 634, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

3bus per day

6h 20mAverage duration

381 kmDistance

10kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 634 - R 3 289	Average duration6h 20m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 988 - R 2 259	Average duration7h 46m	CO₂ emissions 35kg CO₂e

Where are the popular train stations and stops in San Jose, US and Santa Barbara?

San Jose, US

A
Diridon Station
65 Cahill St., San Jose, CA 95110
Visit page

Santa Barbara

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

Train Companies

Amtrak

4/55 639 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

Based on 5639 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at R 988

US train companies: Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about travelling from San Jose, US to Santa Barbara by train

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 train ticket from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
The cheapest train tickets from San Jose to Santa Barbara start from R 988. The average price for this train route is around R 1 382. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
The average train journey time from San Jose to Santa Barbara is 7h 46m, covering a distance of 381 km. The quickest train can get you there in 7h 46m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the San Jose to Santa Barbara route?
Several major train operators run on this route, with 1 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
The earliest train from San Jose to Santa Barbara departs at 10:26. And the latest train departs at 10:26.

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found

10/12

R 1 643

11/12

R 1 643

Today

R 5 984

13/12

R 1 764

14/12

R 1 643

15/12

R 1 574

16/12

R 1 574

17/12

R 1 574

The cheapest trip from San Jose, US to Santa Barbara was searched and found on 15 Dec 2025 with a price of R 1 574

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

You can expect to pay from R 1 574 to R 5 984 for a train ticket from San Jose, US to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 1 574, which is on 2025-12-15.