What is the travel distance from Irvine to Santa Barbara?

Irvine and Santa Barbara are 118 miles (190 km) apart.

Bus Irvine to Santa Barbara from $39 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Irvine to Santa Barbara on November 22
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	11:10pm	Irvine Station	8h 50m	8:00am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
	Bus	11:10pm	Irvine Station	8h 35m	7:45am	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures for Irvine to Santa Barbara on November 23
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	11:10pm	Irvine Station	8h 40m	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
	Bus	11:10pm	Irvine Station	8h 25m	7:35am	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures for Irvine to Santa Barbara on November 24
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	11:10pm	Irvine Station	8h 25m	7:35am	Train Station	CheapestFastest

Next departures for Irvine to Santa Barbara on November 28
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	11:10pm	Irvine Station	8h 50m	8:00am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
	Bus	11:10pm	Irvine Station	8h 35m	7:45am	Train Station	Fastest

Next departures for Irvine to Santa Barbara on November 29
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	11:10pm	Irvine Station	8h 50m	8:00am	UC Santa Barbara	Cheapest
	Bus	11:10pm	Irvine Station	8h 35m	7:45am	Train Station	Fastest

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 7:38 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Irvine to Santa Barbara

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 4 hours 7 minutes and with fares starting at just $42, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5train per day

4h 7mAverage Duration

124 milesDistance

18kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$42 - $46	Average Duration8h 40m	CO₂ emissions 5kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$42 - $75	Average Duration4h 7m	CO₂ emissions 18kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,598 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Based on 5598 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the wifi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at $42

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

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Irvine, US to Santa Barbara by bus

What is the travel distance from Irvine to Santa Barbara?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

11/20

$39

11/21

$39

Today

$39

11/23

$39

11/24

$41

11/25

$43

11/26

No data

11/27

No data

The cheapest trip from Irvine, US to Santa Barbara was searched and found on Nov 20, 2025 with a price of $39

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

You can expect to pay from $39 to $43 for a bus ticket from Irvine, US to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $39 which is on 2025-11-23.