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

The bus ticket price from Santa Barbara to San Francisco starts at $45. The best way to find cheap bus tickets from Santa Barbara to San Francisco 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 Santa Barbara to San Francisco?

The average travel time between Santa Barbara and San Francisco is around 12h 15m, although the fastest bus will take about 6h 20m. This is the time it takes to travel the 277 miles that separates the two cities.

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

The number of buses from Santa Barbara to San Francisco can differ depending on the day of the week. On average, there are 2 on this route. Some buses run direct routes, while others have layovers. Simplify your bus trip from Santa Barbara to San Francisco by comparing and selecting the bus that fits you travel style and budget on Busbud.

What are the best sights and things to do in San Francisco?

Once in San Francisco, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Legion of Honor, Alcatraz, Walt Disney Family Museum, City Segway Tours of San Francisco, Chinatown.

Santa Barbara to San Francisco (CA), US Bus Tickets

TodayApr 30

TomorrowMay 1

FriMay 2

from $49

SatMay 3

SunMay 4

MonMay 5

TueMay 6

WedMay 7

Next departures to San Francisco

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest + Fastest
Departure time: May 2 at 12:00pm
Departure city: Santa Barbara
Departure location: Santa Barbara Station
Arrival time: May 2 at 6:20pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h 20m
Departure time: May 2 at 1:55pm
Departure city: Santa Barbara
Departure location: Santa Barbara Station
Arrival time: May 2 at 8:30pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h 35m
Departure time: May 2 at 8:00am
Departure city: Santa Barbara
Departure location: UC Santa Barbara
Arrival time: May 2 at 6:10pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 10h 10m
Departure time: May 2 at 6:25pm
Departure city: Santa Barbara
Departure location: Santa Barbara Station
Arrival time: May 3 at 6:40am
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 12h 15m
Departure time: May 2 at 11:25am
Departure city: Santa Barbara
Departure location: UC Santa Barbara
Arrival time: May 2 at 10:45pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 11h 20m

Accepted payments

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

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$45 - $130	Average Duration12h 15m	CO₂ emissions 11kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$51 - $51	Average Duration8h 2m	CO₂ emissions 41kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars	Fastest

Busbud recommends taking the train from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach San Francisco. The journey takes about 8 hours 2 minutes and with fares starting at just $51, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1train per day

8h 2mAverage Duration

$51Cheapest ticket

41kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Santa Barbara to San Francisco: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$61

Average bus trip duration12h 15m

Number of daily buses2

Earliest bus departure12:00pm

Distance277 miles (446 km)

Latest bus departure6:25pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,448 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

Based on 5086 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the wifi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at $23.00

Amtrak Santa Barbara San Francisco recent customer reviews

I love using Amtrak. Unfortunately today from SB to SF our bus had a blow out in San Jose. Two hour wait for new tire. We ended up switching to CalTrain and having buy another ticket. I will still use Amtrak!

Ellen U.

September 23, 2023

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

Santa Barbara to San Francisco Bus

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

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

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

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

Stops in Santa Barbara

A - Train Station

Stops in San Francisco

A - Hyde/Beach (Fisherman's Wharf)

B - Powell Station

C - Union Square Hilton

D - San Francisco Greyhound Station

E - 444 Townsend St.

Frequently asked questions for your trip Santa Barbara - San Francisco

How much does a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Francisco cost?
How long is the bus ride from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?
How many daily bus connections are there between Santa Barbara and San Francisco?
What are the best sights and things to do in San Francisco?

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

$42

04/29

$86

Today

$86

05/01

No data

05/02

$49

05/03

$46

05/04

No data

05/05

$40

The cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to San Francisco was searched and found on May 5, 2025 with a price of $40

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 Francisco, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $40 to $97 for a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Francisco based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $40 which is on 2025-05-05.

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 Santa Barbara to San Francisco but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

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

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 Santa Barbara to San Francisco.

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

Did you know?

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

Did you know there are on average 4,400 intercity bus departures every day in the US only? This number has been growing for 9 years in a row, yay!

Did you know some bus companies in Germany offer to their passenger low-costs snacks and regional beer based on their destination? Prosit!

Will you be returning to Santa Barbara by bus?

Bus from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

You can also go to San Francisco by train

Train from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

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. Busbud partners with safe and reliable bus companies throughout the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others so you can buy tickets without a worry.

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