How much does a bus ticket from Oakland to Santa Barbara cost?

The bus ticket price from Oakland to Santa Barbara starts at R 457. The best way to find cheap bus tickets from Oakland to Santa Barbara is to book your tickets as early as possible. Prices tend to rise as your travel date approaches, so book in advance to secure the best prices!

How long is the bus ride from Oakland to Santa Barbara?

The average travel time between Oakland and Santa Barbara is around 11h 50m, although the fastest bus will take about 7h. This is the time it takes to travel the 442 km that separates the two cities.

How many daily bus connections are there between Oakland and Santa Barbara?

The number of buses from Oakland to Santa Barbara can differ depending on the day of the week. On average, there are 4 on this route. Some buses run direct routes, while others have layovers. Simplify your bus trip from Oakland to Santa Barbara by comparing and selecting the bus that fits your travel style and budget on Busbud.

Which bus companies travel from Oakland to Santa Barbara?

When taking the bus from Oakland to Santa Barbara, you can travel comfortably and safely with FlixBus, Amtrak, Greyhound.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Oakland to Santa Barbara?

Buses travelling between Oakland and Santa Barbara leave from Emeryville Station or West Oakland BART Station and arrive at Train Station.

Bus Oakland to Santa Barbara from R 684 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures from Oakland to Santa Barbara on 13 November
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
09:45	Jack London Square	9h 9m	18:54	Train Station	Cheapest
07:40	West Oakland BART	7h	14:40	Santa Barbara Station	Fastest
09:45	Jack London Square	9h 9m	18:54	Train Station	No tags
10:00	Emeryville Station	8h 54m	18:54	Train Station	No tags
10:00	Emeryville Station	8h 54m	18:54	Train Station	No tags

Next departures from Oakland to Santa Barbara on 14 November
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	09:45	Jack London Square	9h 9m	18:54	Train Station	Cheapest
	11:35	West Oakland BART	7h 5m	18:40	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	Fastest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	23:50	Oakland/Berkeley/East Bay	13h 45m	13:35	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	No tags
	09:45	Jack London Square	9h 9m	18:54	Train Station	No tags
	10:00	Emeryville Station	8h 54m	18:54	Train Station	No tags
	10:00	Emeryville Station	8h 54m	18:54	Train Station	No tags

Next departures from Oakland to Santa Barbara on 15 November
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	09:45	Jack London Square	9h 9m	18:54	Train Station	Cheapest
	11:35	West Oakland BART	7h 5m	18:40	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	Fastest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	23:20	West Oakland BART	12h 20m	11:40	Santa Barbara Station	No tags
	09:45	Jack London Square	9h 9m	18:54	Train Station	No tags
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	23:50	Oakland/Berkeley/East Bay	11h 50m	11:40	Santa Barbara Station	No tags
	10:00	Emeryville Station	8h 54m	18:54	Train Station	No tags
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	23:50	Oakland/Berkeley/East Bay	13h 45m	13:35	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	No tags
	10:00	Emeryville Station	8h 54m	18:54	Train Station	No tags

Next departures from Oakland to Santa Barbara on 16 November
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	09:45	Jack London Square	9h 9m	18:54	Train Station	Cheapest
	11:35	West Oakland BART	7h 5m	18:40	Santa Barbara (University of California), CA	Fastest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	23:20	West Oakland BART	12h 20m	11:40	Santa Barbara Station	No tags
	09:45	Jack London Square	9h 9m	18:54	Train Station	No tags
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	23:50	Oakland/Berkeley/East Bay	11h 50m	11:40	Santa Barbara Station	No tags
	10:00	Emeryville Station	8h 54m	18:54	Train Station	No tags
	10:00	Emeryville Station	8h 54m	18:54	Train Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 9:41 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to travel from Oakland 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 9 hours 3 minutes and with fares starting at just R 1 019, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2train per day

9h 3mAverage duration

447 kmDistance

41kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 457 - R 3 857	Average duration11h 50m	CO₂ emissions 11kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 1 019 - R 1 889	Average duration9h 3m	CO₂ emissions 41kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511 293 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

Amtrak

4/55 582 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

Greyhound

3.5/587 370 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

WiFi2.4

Based on 87370 reviews, the company was rated 3.5 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the temperature but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Greyhound ticket prices on this trip start at R 853

Greyhound Oakland Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

It was an 18-hour ride from Oakland to Santa Barbara because the bus broke down. Bathroom disgusting.

Cheryl N.

6 December 2019

US Bus Companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Sindbad

Where are the popular stops in Oakland and Santa Barbara?

Stops in Oakland

A - Emeryville Station

B - West Oakland BART Station

C - Oakland Bus Station

D - Greyhound Station

Stops in Santa Barbara

A - Train Station

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Oakland to Santa Barbara by bus

How much does a bus ticket from Oakland to Santa Barbara cost?
The bus ticket price from Oakland to Santa Barbara starts at R 457. The best way to find cheap bus tickets from Oakland to Santa Barbara is to book your tickets as early as possible. Prices tend to rise as your travel date approaches, so book in advance to secure the best prices!
How long is the bus ride from Oakland to Santa Barbara?
The average travel time between Oakland and Santa Barbara is around 11h 50m, although the fastest bus will take about 7h. This is the time it takes to travel the 442 km that separates the two cities.
How many daily bus connections are there between Oakland and Santa Barbara?
The number of buses from Oakland to Santa Barbara can differ depending on the day of the week. On average, there are 4 on this route. Some buses run direct routes, while others have layovers. Simplify your bus trip from Oakland to Santa Barbara by comparing and selecting the bus that fits your travel style and budget on Busbud.
Which bus companies travel from Oakland to Santa Barbara?
When taking the bus from Oakland to Santa Barbara, you can travel comfortably and safely with FlixBus, Amtrak, Greyhound.
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Oakland to Santa Barbara?
Buses travelling between Oakland and Santa Barbara leave from Emeryville Station or West Oakland BART Station and arrive at Train Station.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

10/11

R 789

11/11

R 789

Today

R 789

13/11

R 789

14/11

R 789

15/11

R 771

16/11

R 789

17/11

R 789

The cheapest trip from Oakland to Santa Barbara was searched and found on 15 Nov 2025 with a price of R 771

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

You can expect to pay from R 771 to R 2 190 for a bus ticket from Oakland to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 771, which is on 2025-11-15.

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.