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

The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to San Jose start from $45. 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 Jose?

The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to San Jose is 6h 25m, covering a distance of 236 miles (381 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 5h 15m and is operated by FlixBus .

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

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 3 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 Jose?

The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Jose at 7:35am. And the latest bus departs at 6:45pm.

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

A bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Jose generates an estimated 10 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 Jose?

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 Jose?

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 Jose?

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 Jose?

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 Jose from $41 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Jose 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.	Bus	6:45pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	10h 40m	5:25am	Diridon Station	CheapestFastest

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Jose on November 29
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	6:45pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	9h 45m	4:30am	Diridon Station	CheapestFastest

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Jose on December 1
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 25m	2:15pm	Diridon Station	Cheapest
	Bus	11:45am	Santa Barbara Station	5h 15m	5:00pm	Diridon Station	Fastest

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Jose on December 2
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	6h 40m	2:15pm	Diridon Station	Cheapest
Bus	11:45am	Santa Barbara Station	5h 15m	5:00pm	Diridon Station	Fastest
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 25m	2:15pm	Diridon Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Jose on December 3
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	11:45am	Santa Barbara Station	5h 15m	5:00pm	Diridon Station	CheapestFastest
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	6h 40m	2:15pm	Diridon Station	No tags
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 25m	2:15pm	Diridon Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Jose on December 4
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	Bus	7:35am	Train Station	6h 40m	2:15pm	Diridon Station	Cheapest
	Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 25m	2:15pm	Diridon Station	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	14h 40m	5:25am	Diridon Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 10:50 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Santa Barbara to San Jose

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach San Jose. The journey takes about 6 hours 25 minutes and with fares starting at just $45, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

3bus per day

6h 25mAverage Duration

236 milesDistance

10kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$45 - $205	Average Duration6h 25m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$58 - $131	Average Duration7h 25m	CO₂ emissions 35kg CO₂e

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

Stops in Santa Barbara

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

Stops in San Jose

A
Diridon Station
65 Cahill St., San Jose, CA 95110
Visit page
B
Santiago Express San Jose
440 S King rd , an Jose CA 95116
Visit page
C
1118 E William St
1118 E William St, San Jose, CA 95116, USA
D
San Jose Bus Stop
100 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
E
Tamien Station
Guadalupe Fwy, San Jose, CA 95110, USA
F
Diridon Station
65 Cahill St, San Jose, CA 95110, USA

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,608 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,458 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.

FlixBus Santa Barbara San Jose recent customer reviews

it was awful your bus was 3 hours late

Sophie N.

November 3, 2023

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

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Santa Barbara to San Jose, 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 Jose?
The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to San Jose start from $45. 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 Jose?
The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to San Jose is 6h 25m, covering a distance of 236 miles (381 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 5h 15m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to San Jose route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 3 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 Jose?
The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Jose at 7:35am. And the latest bus departs at 6:45pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Jose?
A bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Jose generates an estimated 10 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 Jose?
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 Jose?
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 Jose?
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 Jose?
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

11/25

$143

11/26

$143

Today

$73

11/28

$75

11/29

$69

11/30

$69

12/01

$69

12/02

$69

The cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to San Jose, US was searched and found on Nov 29, 2025 with a price of $69

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 Jose, US, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $69 to $143 for a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Jose, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $69 which is on 2025-11-29.

Usually FlixBus 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.