Is there a way to reach Santa Barbara from Los Angeles without a car?

Both buses and trains are available for traveling between these two cities. The two options are convenient and eco-friendly ways to reach Santa Barbara. You can also use carpool services and share a car ride with other travelers.

How long is the bus ride from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

Traveling from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara takes about 2h 30m on average, but you can get there in as little as 1h 40m with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 87 miles (141 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara?

Los Angeles and Santa Barbara are 87 miles (141 km) apart.

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

If you're headed to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles, chances are that your bus will depart from UCLA and arrive at Train Station. These are the most popular departure and arrival locations on this route, but you could find others that could be a better fit for your travel plans.

What is the cheapest way to travel from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

If you want the cheapest way to travel this route, take the bus. The lowest tickets for this trip cost as little as $15.

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

The bus ticket costs $46 on average. In the past 30 days, prices have fluctuated between $15 and $68, so it's best to compare them to make sure you get the best deal.

Can you do a day trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

Yes, a day trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara is definitely doable. The round-trip travel time is around 3h 20m. This allows for plenty of time to explore the sights in Santa Barbara before returning to Los Angeles in the evening.

Los Angeles, US to Santa Barbara Bus Tickets

TodayApr 30

TomorrowMay 1

from $20

FriMay 2

from $17

SatMay 3

from $18

SunMay 4

from $17

MonMay 5

TueMay 6

WedMay 7

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 1 at 11:30am
Departure city: Los Angeles
Departure location: Los Angeles Union Station
Arrival time: May 1 at 1:50pm
Destination city: Santa Barbara
Destination location: Santa Barbara Station
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2h 20m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 1 at 5:45am
Departure city: Los Angeles
Departure location: UCLA
Arrival time: May 1 at 7:45am
Destination city: Santa Barbara
Destination location: Train Station
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2h
Departure time: May 1 at 9:30am
Departure city: Los Angeles
Departure location: Los Angeles Union Station
Arrival time: May 1 at 11:55am
Destination city: Santa Barbara
Destination location: Santa Barbara Station
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2h 25m
Departure time: May 1 at 5:45am
Departure city: Los Angeles
Departure location: UCLA
Arrival time: May 1 at 8:00am
Destination city: Santa Barbara
Destination location: UC Santa Barbara
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2h 15m
Departure time: May 1 at 8:00am
Departure city: Los Angeles
Departure location: LAX Los Angeles International Airport
Arrival time: May 1 at 10:30am
Destination city: Santa Barbara
Destination location: Santa Barbara
Operated by: Santa Barbara Airbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2h 30m

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$15 - $68	Average Duration2h 30m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$26 - $176	Average Duration2h 23m	CO₂ emissions 14kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars	Fastest

Busbud recommends taking the train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 2 hours 23 minutes and with fares starting at just $26, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2train per day

2h 23mAverage Duration

$26Cheapest ticket

14kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Los Angeles to Santa Barbara: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$46

Average bus trip duration2h 30m

Number of daily buses16

Earliest bus departure5:00am

Distance84 miles (135 km)

Latest bus departure10:00pm

Compare bus companies

Santa Barbara Airbus

FlixBus

3.5/58,447 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.

Amtrak

4/55,086 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Passengers express dissatisfaction with the service, mentioning significant delays and lack of compensation for the inconvenience caused. They suggest providing alternative transportation options or compensating passengers in situations like these to avoid disrupting their schedules. Additionally, it is recommended to implement safety measures such as an emergency brake system to prevent accidents on tracks.

Amtrak Los Angeles Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

The bus to train station never arrived, I spent money for a Uber to catch the train

Ruixia B.

March 8, 2023

We were delayed over 4 hours . Which I understand that the circumstances were serious . However, the passengers should have been compensated either their cost of tickets or gotten another transportation mode. Either Uber or another Amtrak bus to pick us up so we didn’t get our schedules all fuxked up, after two hours of waiting . We all missed a 1/3rd of our day bc somebody wanted to kill themselves. And also they should put an emergency brake for that situation like if someone is standing in the track there should be an emergency suicide prevention brake.

Paul B.

October 12, 2022

The train 777 its so late

Nico G.

May 8, 2023

Greyhound

3.5/586,953 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.

Greyhound Los Angeles Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

Bus kind of smelled, pleasant ride, kind of rude staff at actual station, kind bus driver

Callista G.

March 26, 2019

I am very satisfied with my Greyhound bus trip, clean, safe, pleasant. I rekommend.

Marie Anne B.

February 26, 2019

Awful service. We missed the bus because it left 10 minutes early from LA even though it was the first stop on the route. The staff was unhelpful and did not attempt to help us.

Kellen M.

November 16, 2018

US bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Los Limousines, Tornado Bus, Valley Transit, New York Trailways, Wanda Coach

Los Angeles to Santa Barbara Bus

Busbud shows you the best bus ticket fares and bus schedules so you can easily plan and book a trip by bus from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.

Bus service from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

From cheap bus tickets to more luxurious buses traveling from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, we offer a wide range of bus services to best suit your needs depending on how much your budget is.

Where are the popular stops in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara?

Stops in Los Angeles

A - Los Angeles International Airport

B - UCLA

C - Ramirez Street bus stop

D - East LA I-5 & I-710

E - 613 Maple Ave

F - LAX Airport Holiday Inn

Stops in Santa Barbara

A - Train Station

Frequently asked questions for your trip Los Angeles - Santa Barbara

Is there a way to reach Santa Barbara from Los Angeles without a car?
How long is the bus ride from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?
What is the distance between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?
What is the cheapest way to travel from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?
Can you do a day trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

04/28

$18

04/29

$33

Today

$33

05/01

$20

05/02

$17

05/03

$18

05/04

$17

05/05

$15

The cheapest trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara was searched and found on May 5, 2025 with a price of $15

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

You can expect to pay from $15 to $203 for a bus ticket from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $15 which is on 2025-05-05.

Usually Amtrak, Santa Barbara Airbus 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.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

If you're abroad, study some local language. Not only could it get you out of a pickle during your bus trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Taking the bus creates the smallest carbon footprint compared to other modes of transport. Not to mention that buses will allow you to discover scenic gems from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara that are otherwise impossible to come by with a plane.

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

Did you know?

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

The word 'bus' is an abbreviation of 'omnibus" which means 'for all' in Latin as buses were meant to be transportation for everybody.

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

Will you be returning to Los Angeles by bus?

Bus from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara

You can also go to Santa Barbara by train

Train from Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Compare 2 ways to go from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.

Bus Los Angeles to Santa Barbara: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Amtrak Los Angeles Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

Greyhound Los Angeles Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

Los Angeles to Santa Barbara Bus

Where are the popular stops in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Los Angeles - Santa Barbara

Is there a way to reach Santa Barbara from Los Angeles without a car?

How long is the bus ride from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

What is the distance between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara?

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

What is the cheapest way to travel from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

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

Can you do a day trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Los Angeles by bus?

You can also go to Santa Barbara by train

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

Popular Buses Connecting Los Angeles

Buses Leaving from Los Angeles

Buses Going to Los Angeles

Popular Buses Connecting Santa Barbara

Buses Leaving from Santa Barbara

Buses Going to Santa Barbara

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers