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

The cheapest train tickets from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara start at $39. The average price for this train route is around $52. 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 Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara?

The average train trip from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara takes 2h 35m and covers 131 km. The quickest train gets you there in 2h 34m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara route?

Several major train operators serve this route, with 3 trains available per day.

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

The earliest train from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara departs at 6:11am. The latest train departs at 4:20pm.

Train San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara from $46 | Refundable Tickets

Next train departures

Next departures for San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara on December 11
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	Cheapest
Train	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 34m	6:54pm	Train Station	Fastest
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara on December 12
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	Cheapest
Train	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 34m	6:54pm	Train Station	Fastest
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara on December 13
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	Cheapest
Train	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 34m	6:54pm	Train Station	Fastest
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara on December 14
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	Cheapest
Train	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 34m	6:54pm	Train Station	Fastest
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara on December 15
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	Cheapest
Train	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 34m	6:54pm	Train Station	Fastest
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara on December 16
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	Cheapest
Train	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 34m	6:54pm	Train Station	Fastest
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara on December 17
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	Cheapest
Train	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 34m	6:54pm	Train Station	Fastest
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara on December 18
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	Cheapest
Train	4:20pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 34m	6:54pm	Train Station	Fastest
Train	6:11am	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	8:46am	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags
Train	3:37pm	AMTRAK Station	2h 35m	6:12pm	Train Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 10:55 AM PST.

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

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as a good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 2 hours 25 minutes, and with fares starting at just $30, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5bus per day

2h 25mAverage Duration

121 kmDistance

3kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$30 - $87	Average Duration2h 25m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$39 - $86	Average Duration2h 35m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e

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

San Luis Obispo

A
AMTRAK Station
1730 Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, USA
Visit page

Santa Barbara

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

Train companies

Amtrak

4/55,635 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Based on 5635 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 WiFi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at $39

Amtrak San Luis Obispo Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

Easy journey

Erin M.

July 10, 2023

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

Frequently asked questions about travelling from San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara?
The cheapest train tickets from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara start at $39. The average price for this train route is around $52. 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 Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara?
The average train trip from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara takes 2h 35m and covers 131 km. The quickest train gets you there in 2h 34m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara route?
Several major train operators serve this route, with 3 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara?
The earliest train from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara departs at 6:11am. The latest train departs at 4:20pm.

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found

12-08

$46

12-09

$36

Today

$49

12-11

$49

12-12

$49

12-13

$49

12-14

$49

12-15

$49

The cheapest trip from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara was searched and found on Dec 9, 2025 with a price of $36

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

You can expect to pay from $36 to $214 for a train ticket from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $49 which is on 2025-12-11.