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

The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo start from $25. The average price for this route is around $36. 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 Luis Obispo?

The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo is 2h 25m, covering a distance of 81 miles (131 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 1h 40m and is operated by FlixBus .

Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 5 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 Luis Obispo?

The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo at 7:35am. And the latest bus departs at 1:40pm.

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

A bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo generates an estimated 3 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 Luis Obispo?

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 Luis Obispo?

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 Luis Obispo?

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 Luis Obispo?

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 Luis Obispo from $18 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on November 28
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	1:40pm	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	2h 10m	3:50pm	San Luis Obispo	CheapestFastest

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on November 29
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	7:45am	Train Station	2h 40m	10:25am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	Cheapest
Bus	8:00am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 15m	10:15am	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
Bus	7:45am	Train Station	2h 30m	10:15am	AMTRAK Station	No tags
Bus	8:00am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 25m	10:25am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 1
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 25m	10:15am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	Cheapest
Bus	11:45am	Santa Barbara Station	1h 40m	1:25pm	San Luis Obispo	Fastest
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 15m	10:05am	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 2
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	2h 40m	10:15am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	Cheapest
Bus	11:45am	Santa Barbara Station	1h 40m	1:25pm	San Luis Obispo	Fastest
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	2h 30m	10:05am	AMTRAK Station	No tags
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 25m	10:15am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 15m	10:05am	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 3
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	11:45am	Santa Barbara Station	1h 40m	1:25pm	San Luis Obispo	CheapestFastest
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	2h 40m	10:15am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	2h 30m	10:05am	AMTRAK Station	No tags
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 25m	10:15am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 15m	10:05am	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 4
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	2h 40m	10:15am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	Cheapest
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 15m	10:05am	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	2h 30m	10:05am	AMTRAK Station	No tags
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 25m	10:15am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 5
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	2h 40m	10:15am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	Cheapest
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 15m	10:05am	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
Bus	7:35am	Train Station	2h 30m	10:05am	AMTRAK Station	No tags
Bus	7:50am	UC Santa Barbara	2h 25m	10:15am	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 9:22 AM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach San Luis Obispo. The journey takes about 2 hours 25 minutes and with fares starting at just $25, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5bus per day

2h 25mAverage Duration

81 milesDistance

3kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$25 - $65	Average Duration2h 25m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$28 - $61	Average Duration2h 41m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo?

Stops in Santa Barbara

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

Stops in San Luis Obispo

A
AMTRAK Station
1730 Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, USA
Visit page
B
San Luis Obispo Bus Stop
1460 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405, USA

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,609 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,464 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 Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo?
The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo start from $25. The average price for this route is around $36. 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 Luis Obispo?
The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo is 2h 25m, covering a distance of 81 miles (131 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 1h 40m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 5 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 Luis Obispo?
The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo at 7:35am. And the latest bus departs at 1:40pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo?
A bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo generates an estimated 3 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 Luis Obispo?
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 Luis Obispo?
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 Luis Obispo?
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 Luis Obispo?
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

$49

11/26

$33

Today

$26

11/28

$27

11/29

$33

11/30

$33

12/01

$33

12/02

$33

The cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo was searched and found on Nov 27, 2025 with a price of $26

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 Luis Obispo, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $26 to $49 for a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $27 which is on 2025-11-28.

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.