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

The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to San Francisco start from $23. The average price for this route is around $73. 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 San Francisco?

The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to San Francisco is 6h 25m, covering a distance of 277 miles (446 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 6h 20m and is operated by FlixBus .

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

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 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 Francisco?

The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Francisco at 11:45am. And the latest bus departs at 10:20pm.

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

A bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Francisco 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 San Francisco?

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 San Francisco?

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 San Francisco?

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 San Francisco?

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 Francisco from $41 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Francisco 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	12h 30m	7:15am	San Francisco Bus Station	CheapestFastest

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Francisco on November 29
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	11:25am	UC Santa Barbara	11h 20m	10:45pm	Mission St & Fremont St	Cheapest
	1:40pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	6h 25m	8:05pm	409 Townsend St, SF	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	6:45pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	11h 55m	6:40am	San Francisco Bus Station	No tags
	11:55am	Train Station	10h 50m	10:45pm	Mission St & Fremont St	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Francisco 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 40m	12:25pm	San Francisco Bus Station	CheapestFastest

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Francisco on December 2
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
11:45am	Santa Barbara Station	6h 20m	6:05pm	409 Townsend St, SF	CheapestFastest
7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	10h 20m	6:10pm	Mission St & Fremont St	No tags
11:25am	UC Santa Barbara	11h 20m	10:45pm	Mission St & Fremont St	No tags
7:35am	Train Station	10h 35m	6:10pm	Mission St & Fremont St	No tags
11:55am	Train Station	10h 50m	10:45pm	Mission St & Fremont St	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Last Wednesday at 7:24 PM PST.

Get from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

This route is served by bus only

The journey takes about 6 hours 25 minutes and with fares starting at just $23, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2bus per day

6h 25mAverage Duration

277 milesDistance

11kgCO₂ emissions

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

Stops in Santa Barbara

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

Stops in San Francisco

A
Hyde/Beach (Fisherman's Wharf)
700 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA
Visit page
B
Powell Station
25 Cyril Magnin St , San Francisco, CA 94102-2812
C
Union Square Hilton
255 Mason St,, San Francisco, CA 94102-2114
D
San Francisco Greyhound Station
200 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94105
E
444 Townsend St.
444 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,610 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Based on 5610 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 $23

Amtrak Santa Barbara San Francisco recent customer reviews

I love using Amtrak. Unfortunately today from SB to SF our bus had a blow out in San Jose. Two hour wait for new tire. We ended up switching to CalTrain and having buy another ticket. I will still use Amtrak!

Ellen U.

September 23, 2023

FlixBus

3.5/511,465 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 San Francisco, US 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 San Francisco?
The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to San Francisco start from $23. The average price for this route is around $73. 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 San Francisco?
The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to San Francisco is 6h 25m, covering a distance of 277 miles (446 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 6h 20m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to San Francisco route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 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 Francisco?
The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Francisco at 11:45am. And the latest bus departs at 10:20pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?
A bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco?
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

$95

11/27

$69

Today

$103

11/29

$103

11/30

$95

12/01

No data

12/02

$88

12/03

$44

The cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, US 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 San Francisco, US, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $44 to $139 for a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, US 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 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.