How much is the train ticket from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

The cheapest train tickets from San Diego to Santa Barbara start at $66. The average price for this train route is around $66. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance to increase your chances of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the train ride from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

The average train trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara takes 5h 49m and covers 296 km. The quickest train gets you there in 4h 36m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the San Diego to Santa Barbara route?

Several major train operators serve this route, with 11 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

The earliest train from San Diego to Santa Barbara departs at 4:01am. The latest train departs at 4:10pm.

Train San Diego to Santa Barbara from $62 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 27
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:10am	Old Town San Diego	5h 45m	9:55am	Train Station	Cheapest
12:10pm	Old Town San Diego	5h 35m	5:45pm	Train Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 14m	2:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 28
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:10am	Old Town San Diego	5h 45m	9:55am	Train Station	Cheapest
12:10pm	Old Town San Diego	5h 35m	5:45pm	Train Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 14m	2:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 29
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:10am	Old Town San Diego	5h 45m	9:55am	Train Station	Cheapest
12:10pm	Old Town San Diego	5h 35m	5:45pm	Train Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 14m	2:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 30
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:10am	Old Town San Diego	5h 45m	9:55am	Train Station	Cheapest
12:10pm	Old Town San Diego	5h 35m	5:45pm	Train Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 14m	2:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on January 31
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:10am	Old Town San Diego	5h 45m	9:55am	Train Station	Cheapest
12:10pm	Old Town San Diego	5h 35m	5:45pm	Train Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 14m	2:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on February 1
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:10am	Old Town San Diego	5h 45m	9:55am	Train Station	Cheapest
12:10pm	Old Town San Diego	5h 35m	5:45pm	Train Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 14m	2:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on February 2
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:10am	Old Town San Diego	5h 45m	9:55am	Train Station	Cheapest
12:10pm	Old Town San Diego	5h 35m	5:45pm	Train Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 14m	2:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Santa Barbara on February 3
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:10am	Old Town San Diego	5h 45m	9:55am	Train Station	Cheapest
12:10pm	Old Town San Diego	5h 35m	5:45pm	Train Station	Fastest
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
4:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 19m	10:20am	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
8:01am	Santa Fe Depot	6h 14m	2:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Last Friday at 2:13 AM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from San Diego to Santa Barbara

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the Train stands out as a good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 5 hours 49 minutes, and with fares starting at just $66, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

11train per day

5h 49mAverage Duration

296 kmDistance

27kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$76 - $186	Average Duration9h 40m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$66 - $130	Average Duration5h 49m	CO₂ emissions 27kg CO₂e

Train companies

Amtrak

4/55,751 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wi‑Fi3.6

Based on 5751 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the Wi‑Fi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at $66

Amtrak San Diego Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

Averting perfect

Rossella A.

April 4, 2023

US train companies:Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about travelling from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara by train

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 train ticket from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
The cheapest train tickets from San Diego to Santa Barbara start at $66. The average price for this train route is around $66. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance to increase your chances of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the train ride from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
The average train trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara takes 5h 49m and covers 296 km. The quickest train gets you there in 4h 36m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the San Diego to Santa Barbara route?
Several major train operators serve this route, with 11 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
The earliest train from San Diego to Santa Barbara departs at 4:01am. The latest train departs at 4:10pm.

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found

01-24

$62

01-25

$72

Today

$62

01-27

$62

01-28

$62

01-29

$62

01-30

$62

01-31

$62

The cheapest trip from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara was searched and found on Jan 24, 2026 with a price of $62

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

You can expect to pay from $62 to $410 for a train ticket from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $62 which is on 2026-01-27.

What's the cheapest way to go from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara?

The Train is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel time9h 40m	Avg Price$76	Daily Departures2
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel time5h 49m	Avg Price$66	Daily Departures11

The best way to travel between San Diego, CA, US and Santa Barbara is by train. By choosing the train, you'll get to save some money as you travel to your destination, as ticket prices cost $66 on average. If you're on a budget, you'll find cheap tickets from $66. If you're looking for the fastest way to get to Santa Barbara, choose the train, as it will take you from San Diego, CA, US to Santa Barbara in about 5h 49m —that's the fastest way to get there!