How far is Santa Maria from Santa Barbara?

About 56 miles (89 km) separate Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.

Bus Santa Maria to Santa Barbara from $14 | Refundable Tickets

Previously seen trips

Next departures for Santa Maria to Santa Barbara on November 11
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	8:05pm	Nicholson Ave	1h 25m	9:30pm	Train Station	No tags
Bus	8:05pm	Nicholson Ave	1h 10m	9:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags
Bus	5:05pm	Nicholson Ave	1h 15m	6:20pm	Santa Barbara Station	No tags
Bus	8:05pm	Nicholson Ave	1h 25m	9:30pm	Train Station	No tags
Bus	8:05pm	Nicholson Ave	1h 10m	9:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Get from Santa Maria to Santa Barbara

This route is served by bus only

The journey takes about 1 hour 20 minutes and with fares starting at just $20, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

3bus per day

1h 20mAverage Duration

50 milesDistance

2kgCO₂ emissions

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,578 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,280 reviews

Staff4.1

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 Maria, US to Santa Barbara by bus

How far is Santa Maria from 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

11/09

No data

11/10

No data

Today

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11/12

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11/13

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11/14

$14

11/15

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11/16

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The cheapest trip from Santa Maria, US to Santa Barbara was searched and found on Nov 14, 2025 with a price of $14

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

You can expect to pay from $14 to $14 for a bus ticket from Santa Maria, US to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $14 which is on 2025-11-14.