Bus Tickets from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Find affordable bus tickets from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA with flexible options. Book your trip now

Join 75M+ travelers booking 2M+ routes across 85+ countries.
Enjoy our 24/7 customer service to assist you at every step.
Cancel anytime and receive a 100% refund, no reason needed.
TodayApr 30
TomorrowMay 1
from $51
FriMay 2
SatMay 3
SunMay 4
from $50
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
    Departure city: San Diego
    Departure location: Santa Fe Depot
    Arrival time: May 2 at
    Destination city: Santa Barbara
    Destination location: UC Santa Barbara
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
    Departure time: May 1 at
    Departure city: San Diego
    Departure location: Santa Fe Depot
    Arrival time: May 2 at
    Destination city: Santa Barbara
    Destination location: Train Station
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • Departure time: May 1 at
    Departure city: San Diego
    Departure location: Santa Fe Depot
    Arrival time: May 2 at
    Destination city: Santa Barbara
    Destination location: Train Station
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:

Accepted payments

  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • American Express
  • China Union Pay
  • Diners Club Canada
  • Discover Click to Pay
  • JCB payment
  • Klarna (Pay over time)
  • Google Pay

Compare 2 ways to go from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

Bus
Average Price$32 - $82Average Duration6h 35m
8kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars
CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train
Average Price$47 - $70Average Duration5h 48m
27kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars
Fastest
busbud logoBusbud recommends taking the train from San Diego to Santa Barbara

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 5 hours 48 minutes and with fares starting at just $47, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

9train per day
5h 48mAverage Duration
$47Cheapest ticket
27kgCO₂ emissions

Bus San Diego to Santa Barbara: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$49
Average bus trip duration6h 35m
Number of daily buses3
Earliest bus departure5:15am
Distance186 miles (300 km)
Latest bus departure9:25pm

San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara.

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

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to Santa Barbara from San Diego, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Frequently asked questions for your trip San Diego - 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
No data
04/29
No data
Today
$51
05/01
$51
05/02
No data
05/03
$38
05/04
$50
05/05
No data
busbud logoThe cheapest trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara was searched and found on May 3, 2025 with a price of $38

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

You can expect to pay from $38 to $54 for a bus ticket from San Diego to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $38 which is on 2025-05-03.

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.

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 San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

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.

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

Will you be returning to San Diego by bus?

Bus from San Diego to Santa Barbara

You can also go to Santa Barbara by train

Train from San Diego to Santa Barbara

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud helps you easily search, compare and book intercity bus tickets on a worldwide scale with our comprehensive list of bus routes and schedules. 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.

People from around the world trust Busbud

‌

Popular Buses Connecting San Diego

Buses Leaving from San Diego

Buses Going to San Diego

Popular Buses Connecting Santa Barbara

Buses Leaving from Santa Barbara

Buses Going to Santa Barbara