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

The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Oakland start from $47. The average price for this route is around $63. 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 Oakland?

The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to Oakland is 11h 25m, covering a distance of 271 miles (437 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 6h 50m and is operated by FlixBus .

Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to Oakland 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 Oakland?

The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to Oakland at 11:45am. And the latest bus departs at 6:45pm.

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

A bus trip from Santa Barbara to Oakland generates an estimated 11 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

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

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 Oakland?

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

Which bus company has the most timely service from Santa Barbara to Oakland?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely 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 Oakland?

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 Oakland from $41 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for Santa Barbara to Oakland on November 28
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.		6:45pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	11h 50m	6:35am	West Oakland BART	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.		6:45pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	11h 25m	6:10am	Oakland/Berkeley/East Bay	Fastest

Next departures for Santa Barbara to Oakland on November 29
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	11:25am	UC Santa Barbara	11h 5m	10:30pm	Jack London Square	Cheapest
	11:55am	Train Station	10h 23m	10:18pm	Emeryville Station	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	6:45pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	17h	11:45am	West Oakland BART	No tags
	11:55am	Train Station	10h 35m	10:30pm	Jack London Square	No tags
	11:25am	UC Santa Barbara	10h 53m	10:18pm	Emeryville Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to Oakland on November 30
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.		6:45pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	17h	11:45am	West Oakland BART	CheapestFastest

Next departures for Santa Barbara to Oakland on December 1
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	8h	3:50pm	Coliseum/Airport	Cheapest
11:45am	Santa Barbara Station	6h 50m	6:35pm	West Oakland BART	Fastest
7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	8h 11m	4:01pm	Jack London Square	No tags
11:25am	UC Santa Barbara	11h 5m	10:30pm	Jack London Square	No tags
11:55am	Train Station	10h 35m	10:30pm	Jack London Square	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 6:23 AM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Santa Barbara to Oakland

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Oakland. The journey takes about 8 hours 45 minutes and with fares starting at just $59, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1train per day

8h 45mAverage Duration

278 milesDistance

41kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$47 - $231	Average Duration11h 25m	CO₂ emissions 11kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$59 - $108	Average Duration8h 45m	CO₂ emissions 41kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Santa Barbara and Oakland?

Stops in Santa Barbara

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

Stops in Oakland

A
Emeryville Station
5885 Horton St, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
Visit page
B
West Oakland BART Station
1401-1421 7th St, Oakland, CA 94607, USA
C
Oakland Bus Station
2103 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612
D
Greyhound Station
2103 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612, USA

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,610 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,470 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

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

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Santa Barbara to Oakland 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 Oakland?
The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Oakland start from $47. The average price for this route is around $63. 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 Oakland?
The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to Oakland is 11h 25m, covering a distance of 271 miles (437 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 6h 50m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to Oakland 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 Oakland?
The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to Oakland at 11:45am. And the latest bus departs at 6:45pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
A bus trip from Santa Barbara to Oakland generates an estimated 11 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
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 Oakland?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company has the most timely service from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely 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 Oakland?
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

11/26

$96

11/27

$84

Today

$84

11/29

$96

11/30

$84

12/01

$84

12/02

$49

12/03

$44

The cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to Oakland was searched and found on Dec 3, 2025 with a price of $44

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 Oakland, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $44 to $141 for a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to Oakland based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $44 which is on 2025-12-03.

Usually FlixBus, 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.