How much is the bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to San Diego start from $30. The average price for this route is around $54. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to San Diego is 7h 45m, covering a distance of 187 miles (301 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 6h 53m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to San Diego route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 4 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak , FlixBus .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Diego at 2:45pm. And the latest bus departs at 9:55pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

A bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego generates an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.

Which bus company has the most timely service from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak , with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Bus Santa Barbara to San Diego from $35 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Diego on December 1
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53pm	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	7h	9:45pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	9h 5m	11:50pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Diego on December 2
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53pm	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	7h	9:45pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	9h 5m	11:50pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Diego on December 3
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	7h	9:45pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	Cheapest
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53pm	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	9h 5m	11:50pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	7h 30m	10:15pm	Downtown SD (Seaport)	No tags
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Diego on December 4
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53pm	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	7h	9:45pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	9h 5m	11:50pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Diego on December 5
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53pm	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
12:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	8:04pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
12:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	8:04pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Diego on December 6
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53pm	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
12:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	8:04pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
12:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	8:04pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Diego on December 7
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53pm	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
12:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	8:04pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags
12:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	7h 24m	8:04pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Diego on December 8
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	Cheapest
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	6h 53m	12:53pm	Old Town San Diego	Fastest
	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	7h	9:45pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	2:45pm	Santa Barbara Station	9h 5m	11:50pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
	6:00am	UC Santa Barbara	7h 7m	1:07pm	Santa Fe Depot	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 12:51 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Santa Barbara to San Diego

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach San Diego. The journey takes about 6 hours 15 minutes and with fares starting at just $47, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

13train per day

6h 15mAverage Duration

184 milesDistance

27kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$30 - $96	Average Duration7h 45m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$47 - $124	Average Duration6h 15m	CO₂ emissions 27kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Santa Barbara and San Diego?

Stops in Santa Barbara

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

Stops in San Diego

A
Mission Valley Sheraton
1433 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108, USA
B
Old Town Courtyard Marriot
2435 Jefferson St, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
C
Downtown Holiday Inn
1617 1st Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
D
Greyhound Station
1313 National Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
E
Market St. & Park Blvd
601 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
F
San Ysidro McDonald's
727 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92173, USA

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,618 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,484 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

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.

US bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Sindbad

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Santa Barbara to San Diego, CA, US by bus

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 bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
The cheapest bus tickets from Santa Barbara to San Diego start from $30. The average price for this route is around $54. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
The average bus trip duration from Santa Barbara to San Diego is 7h 45m, covering a distance of 187 miles (301 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 6h 53m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which bus companies service the Santa Barbara to San Diego route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 4 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak, FlixBus.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
The earliest bus departs from Santa Barbara to San Diego at 2:45pm. And the latest bus departs at 9:55pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
A bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego generates an estimated 8 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company has the most timely service from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak, with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

11/28

$51

11/29

$51

Today

$51

12/01

$51

12/02

$51

12/03

$42

12/04

$51

12/05

$51

The cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego, CA, US was searched and found on Dec 3, 2025 with a price of $42

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

You can expect to pay from $42 to $102 for a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego, CA, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $42 which is on 2025-12-03.

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.