Is there a way to reach Santa Barbara from Chicago without flying?

You can travel between these two cities by bus or train. Either way you choose, you'll be sure to reach your destination in the most easy and sustainable way. Another option you should consider is using carpooling services, which allow you to share a car ride with other travelers.

How long does it take to get to Santa Barbara from Chicago by bus?

The average travel time from Chicago to Santa Barbara is about 2d 4h, although the minimum time it takes to get there is 2d 4h with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 1802 miles (2907 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Chicago and Santa Barbara?

The distance between the two cities is 1802 miles (2907 km).

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

If you're headed to Santa Barbara from Chicago, chances are that your bus will depart from Downtown Greyhound Station and arrive at Train Station. These are the main pick-up and drop-off locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

What is the most affordable way to go from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

Go for the bus if you want the most affordable way to travel this route. $272 is the starting point for the cost-effective bus ride to Santa Barbara from Chicago.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

The average bus ticket price from Chicago to Santa Barbara is $305. Over the last 30 days, the prices ranged between $272 and $378, so make sure to compare them to get the best option.

Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

Yes, it is possible to take an overnight bus from Chicago to Santa Barbara. Don't forget to bring a snack and a blanket to help you stay comfortable through the night.

Chicago to Santa Barbara Bus Tickets

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to Santa Barbara.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$272 - $378	Average Duration2d 4h	CO₂ emissions 73kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestFastestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$342 - $624	Average Duration3d	CO₂ emissions 264kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars

Busbud recommends taking the bus from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 2 days, 4 hours 40 minutes and with fares starting at just $272, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

4bus per day

2d 4hAverage Duration

$272Cheapest ticket

73kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Chicago to Santa Barbara: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$305

Average bus trip duration2d 4h

Number of daily buses4

Earliest bus departure9:15am

Distance1801 miles (2904 km)

Latest bus departure11:50pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,841 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

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.

Greyhound

3.5/587,016 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.8

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.3

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

US bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Tornado Bus, Los Limousines, Valley Transit, Tufesa, Wanda Coach

Chicago to Santa Barbara Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Chicago to Santa Barbara. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

We make sure you can find a bus service from Chicago to Santa Barbara from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.

Discover how much the bus trip from Chicago to Santa Barbara will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.

Where are the popular stops in Chicago and Santa Barbara?

Stops in Chicago

A - Downtown Greyhound Station

B - Chicago O'Hare International Airport

C - Polk St & Canal St

D - Tornado Bus S Kedzie Ave

E - Cumberland CTA

F - Turimex California Ave

Stops in Santa Barbara

A - Train Station

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - Santa Barbara

Is there a way to reach Santa Barbara from Chicago without flying?
How long does it take to get to Santa Barbara from Chicago by bus?
What is the distance between Chicago and Santa Barbara?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to Santa Barbara?
What is the most affordable way to go from Chicago to Santa Barbara?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to Santa Barbara?
Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Chicago and Santa Barbara!

Start sightseeing the minute your bus leaves the station. If you're on the night bus from Chicago to Santa Barbara, get comfy and count the stars.

Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from Chicago to Santa Barbara will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized bus travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from Chicago to Santa Barbara.

Did you know?

It takes 27 hours to go by bus from Lima to Cusco, one of the craziest bus trips on the world. This route is used daily by locals and backpackers.

Did you know that 80% of the buses in North America are equipped with WiFi and power outlets ? And 60% of bus travelers have used their electronic device on board during 2014.

One of the longest bus route in the world goes all the way from Ontario to Alberta in Canada (with the same bus). This trip is 3,435 km or 2,135 miles long and the price is a bit under $100.

What's the cheapest way to go from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time2d 4h	Avg Price$305	Daily Departures4
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time3d	Avg Price$484	Daily Departures2

Will you be returning to Chicago by bus?

Bus from Chicago to Santa Barbara

You can also go to Santa Barbara by train

Train from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. With Busbud, wherever you go, you have a worldwide bus station within reach and available in your own language and currency. With Busbud, you can buy tickets with confidence. We ensure that you make the most out of your bus trip by partnering up with reliable bus companies from all around the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Chicago to Santa Barbara