How much is the train ticket from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo?

The cheapest train tickets from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo start from $28. The average price for this train route is around $37. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo?

The average train ride duration from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo is 2h 41m, covering a distance of 81 miles (131 km). The quickest train can get you there in 2h 31m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators service the Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo route?

Several major train operators operate on this route with 2 trains available per day.

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo?

The earliest train departs from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo at 9:58am. And the latest train departs at 7:01pm.

Train Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo from $25 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 11
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
12:21pm	Train Station	2h 31m	2:52pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 12
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
12:21pm	Train Station	2h 31m	2:52pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 13
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
12:21pm	Train Station	2h 31m	2:52pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 14
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
12:21pm	Train Station	2h 31m	2:52pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Next departures for Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on December 15
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	Cheapest
12:21pm	Train Station	2h 31m	2:52pm	AMTRAK Station	Fastest
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 57m	12:55pm	Cal Poly Vista Grande Dining Complex	No tags
9:58am	Train Station	2h 41m	12:39pm	AMTRAK Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 3:06 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach San Luis Obispo. The journey takes about 2 hours 25 minutes and with fares starting at just $22, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

4bus per day

2h 25mAverage Duration

82 milesDistance

3kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$22 - $65	Average Duration2h 25m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$28 - $61	Average Duration2h 41m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e

Where are the popular train stations and stops in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo?

Santa Barbara

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

San Luis Obispo

A
AMTRAK Station
1730 Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, USA
Visit page

Train Companies

Amtrak

4/55,635 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Based on 5635 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 $28

Train and bus companies in US:Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo by train

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 train ticket from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo?
The cheapest train tickets from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo start from $28. The average price for this train route is around $37. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo?
The average train ride duration from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo is 2h 41m, covering a distance of 81 miles (131 km). The quickest train can get you there in 2h 31m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators service the Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo route?
Several major train operators operate on this route with 2 trains available per day.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo?
The earliest train departs from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo at 9:58am. And the latest train departs at 7:01pm.

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found

12/08

$32

12/09

$34

Today

$34

12/11

$34

12/12

$34

12/13

$34

12/14

$34

12/15

$34

The cheapest trip from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo was searched and found on Dec 8, 2025 with a price of $32

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 Luis Obispo, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $32 to $194 for a train ticket from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $34 which is on 2025-12-11.