Cheap bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas

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Bus from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas: Journey Information

There are 2 intercity buses per day from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas. Travelling by bus from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas usually takes around 14 hours and 34 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 10 hours and 30 minutes.

Distance: 284 mi (457 km)
Shortest duration: 10h 30m
Cheapest price: CHF 90.20
Trips per day: 2
Most frequent service: Amtrak Thruway
Bus lines: 1

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Santa Barbara to Las Vegas Bus Schedule

No preview is currently available. Please try another date or search the full schedule.

Is it better to travel by bus or train from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas?

There are usually 2 daily train trips available from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas.

	Bus	Train
Avg. Price	Avg. PriceCHF 103.41Cheaper	Avg. PriceCHF 113.58
Daily Trips	Daily Trips2	Daily Trips2
Duration	Duration14h 34m	Duration9h 14mFaster

There are several bus options that can take you from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas:

Amtrak Thruway: 2 daily buses from CHF 90

See more details

How much is a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas?

Bus tickets for a trip from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas cost about CHF 90 when you book at the cheapest time, on the day you travel. Bus tickets on this route can be a bit expensive due to the length of the trip. But even with a higher price tag, taking the bus is often more affordable than flying to Las Vegas. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.

Average bus ticket prices from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas by travel date

If you're planning to travel by bus from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from CHF 81 to CHF 114. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on November 18, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Las Vegas this week, bus tickets are available starting at CHF 81.

Average bus ticket prices from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas by month

Taking the bus from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas is usually cheapest in September, when the average ticket price is only CHF 53. If you're planning to take the bus from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas during December, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of CHF 84. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. If you're looking for cheap bus tickets, booking in advance is the way to go.

What bus companies travel from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas. Amtrak Thruway is the one bus line that serves this route. Although it's the sole option, there are a couple of different scheduled times to choose from.

Bus	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Amtrak Thruway	2	14h 34m	CHF 103.41

Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railways. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard washroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas start at CHF 90.20. On average, there are 2 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.

Frequently asked questions about travelling by bus from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas

There are usually only 2 buses per day from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas. One bus is a direct connection, meaning that you can stay on the same vehicle for the entire trip, without having to transfer onto a connecting bus at any point. Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas; ticket prices start at CHF 114.

Trips per day

Direct trips

The bus takes an average of 14 hours and 34 minutes to cover the 457 kilometres from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas. However, the fastest bus only takes 10 hours and 30 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

Distance (mi)

284

Distance (km)

457

The first bus leaves at 12:00 p.m. and the last bus leaves at 9:55 p.m. To see the times for all buses from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

Earliest bus

12:00pm

Latest bus

9:55pm

Friday is the busiest travel day for buses as people head from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas for the weekend. If you are planning to travel on a Friday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out. On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, travelling mid-week is your best bet.

Most crowded

Friday

Least crowded

Wednesday

City Information

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a major travel destination along the southern coast of California. Dramatically situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara offers incomparable scenery with a comfortably warm climate year-round. White stucco buildings with Mediterranean-style architecture, gorgeous beaches, and upscale local cuisine give Santa Barbara the nickname “The American Riviera.”

There are many kinds of vacations to enjoy in Santa Barbara. You can spend days on the soft sand of Leadbetter Beach, surfing in the swells at Rincon Point, or shopping for trinkets along Stearns Wharf. Or embrace the area's history by visiting the Mission Santa Barbara, a Spanish mission founded in 1786. Highlights from the mission include Spanish architecture, a rose garden, a museum, and even crypts.

Santa Barbara Airport, only a few miles from downtown, serves passengers to the region. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner stops in Santa Barbara on its way from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, with plenty of connections to other SoCal hotspots. Intercity buses, including FlixBus, offer routes from Santa Barbara to destinations like L.A., San Diego, and Las Vegas.

Las Vegas

People say that Las Vegas is a Disneyland for adults and they have a point – with more than 50 casinos and dozens of nightclubs in the Strip area alone, Vegas is the place where you can let loose and have some good old fun.

Why travel the globe when you can see some of the most iconic landmarks in the world right there next to each other on the Las Vegas Strip? Just by walking down the street, you can visit the Eiffel Tower (at the Paris Hotel), check out the Statue of Liberty (at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino), or go for a gondola ride down the canals of Venice (at the Venetian Resort).

Yes, the many gambling opportunities attract millions of visitors to Sin City every year, but it’s the unique shows and concert residencies that have made Las Vegas one of the key entertainment destinations in the world. While you can certainly relax by the pool during the day, Vegas is definitely not a vacation destination if you’re looking for peace and quiet. When you’re in Las Vegas, you better be ready to hit the town, and if you’re lucky – the jackpot!

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Santa Barbara?

Main departure station: 209 State Street

Most buses depart from the main station in Santa Barbara.

All bus stations in Santa Barbara:

209 State Street

Where does the bus arrive in Las Vegas?

Main arrival station: Tour Bus Loading Zone

All buses from Santa Barbara arrive at one main station in Las Vegas.

All bus stations in Las Vegas:

Tour Bus Loading Zone

Need a return trip from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara?

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