Trains tickets from Santa Barbara to San Diego, CA, US

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TomorrowJun 26
from $47
FriJun 27
from $47
SatJun 28
from $47
SunJun 29
from $47
MonJun 30
from $47
TueJul 1
from $47
WedJul 2
from $47
ThuJul 3
from $47

Trains leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

  • This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
    Departure time: June 26 at
    Departure city: Santa Barbara
    Departure location: Train Station
    Arrival time: June 26 at
    Destination city: San Diego
    Destination location: Santa Fe Depot
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:
  • This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
    Departure time: June 26 at
    Departure city: Santa Barbara
    Departure location: Train Station
    Arrival time: June 27 at
    Destination city: San Diego
    Destination location: Old Town San Diego
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:
  • Departure time: June 26 at
    Departure city: Santa Barbara
    Departure location: Train Station
    Arrival time: June 26 at
    Destination city: San Diego
    Destination location: Santa Fe Depot
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:
  • Departure time: June 26 at
    Departure city: Santa Barbara
    Departure location: Train Station
    Arrival time: June 26 at
    Destination city: San Diego
    Destination location: Santa Fe Depot
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:
  • Departure time: June 26 at
    Departure city: Santa Barbara
    Departure location: Train Station
    Arrival time: June 26 at
    Destination city: San Diego
    Destination location: Santa Fe Depot
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:

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

Average Price$31 - $81Average Duration7h 30m
7kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars
CheapestMost eco-friendly
Average Price$47 - $93Average Duration6h 15m
27kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars
Fastest
busbud logoBusbud recommends taking the train from Santa Barbara to San Diego

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.

5train per day
6h 15mAverage Duration
$47Cheapest ticket
27kgCO₂ emissions

Train Santa Barbara to San Diego: Trip Overview

Please note, this information is subject to change.

Average ticket price$47
Average train trip duration6h 15m
Number of daily trains5
Earliest train departure4:33pm
Distance186 miles (300 km)
Latest train departure6:57pm

Santa Barbara to San Diego Train

With Busbud, comparing and booking tickets for a train from Santa Barbara to San Diego is a breeze. Browse through an extensive selection of train fares and train schedules to find the best deals.

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

Discover how much the train trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest train tickets or high-end trains.

Frequently asked questions for your trip Santa Barbara - San Diego, CA, US

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found
06/23
$44
06/24
$44
Today
$44
06/26
$44
06/27
$44
06/28
$44
06/29
$44
06/30
$44
busbud logoThe cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego was searched and found on Jun 23, 2025 with a price of $44

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

You can expect to pay from $44 to $323 for a train ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $44 which is on 2025-06-26.

About Train Travel

Train Travel Tips

Taking the fastest trains allows you to travel at speeds greater than 300 km/h. Taking a trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego is not only much quicker but more comfortable too! You can usually travel directly to the city centre and save time while you're at it.

No matter if you plan to take a regional or high-speed train to San Diego, the planet will thank you. You’ll help to protect the beautiful landscapes that will unfold before your very eyes.

With up to 30x less CO2 emissions for your train journey between Santa Barbara and San Diego, the train is an ecological alternative to flights or personal cars.

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

Did you know?

One of the deepest train stations in the world is in Kiev. Located at a depth of 105 m, it was designed in this way to serve as a shelter in the event of an attack. The second deepest station is in China. Badaling station is located 60 m under the Great Wall of China!

You can find dogs as passengers on the trains of Moscow, where there is a large number of stray dogs. Over time, the dogs have learned the inner workings of the rail system and it is not uncommon to find one traveling between the city and the suburbs.

Japanese trains are always on time, it is extremely infrequent to see breakdowns during peak periods. In the event of a delay of more than 5 minutes, the crew will personally apologize to each passenger.

What's the cheapest way to go from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

busbud logoThe train is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

The best way to travel between Santa Barbara and San Diego is by train. By choosing the train, you'll get to save some money as you travel to your destination, as ticket prices cost $47 on average. If you're on a budget, you'll find cheap tickets from $47. If you're looking for the fastest way to get to San Diego, choose the train, as it will take you from Santa Barbara to San Diego in about 6h 15m - that's the fastest way to get there!

Will you be returning to Santa Barbara by train?

Train from San Diego to Santa Barbara

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