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There are 6 daily trains from Solana Beach to Santa Barbara. Traveling by train from Solana Beach to Santa Barbara usually takes around 5 hours and 37 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train can make the trip in 5 hours and 6 minutes.
| Distance | 171 mi (275 km) |
| Fastest train | 5h 6m |
| Lowest price | $59.35 |
| Trains per day | 4 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Pacific Surfliner |
| Train lines | 2 |
Overall score for trains from Solana Beach to Santa Barbara
(Based on 4 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: That I don't have another means of transport. Cons: That I only had to take 1 train and not a train bus. Tips: They bring to take only the train.
5.0
Pros: it was comfortable. Cons: I didn't see the numbers on the wall for the cars. Only the cafe sign and cafe car seemed to be labeled. Tips: no.
5.0
Pros: Love train 🚉. Cons: More and faster trains.
Over the past month, a train ticket between Solana Beach and Santa Barbara cost $62.11, on average. This price makes taking the train a budget-friendly option to get to Santa Barbara. Booking your trip at least 17 days in advance can help you secure tickets at the best price. For same-day bookings, you’ll likely have to pay around $3.80 more.
Since ticket prices on this route stay pretty consistent, you don’t need to book way in advance. However, we recommend buying your train ticket to Santa Barbara at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure to prevent any unpleasant surprises, like last-minute surges in price or sold-out tickets.
2 train services operate from Solana Beach to Santa Barbara. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner usually has more trains scheduled, with 4 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 2 | 6h 18m | $76.06 |
| Amtrak Pacific Surfliner | 4 | 5h 13m | $59.35 |
Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 2 Amtrak trains from Solana Beach to Santa Barbara every day, as well as 2 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $59.
The Pacific Surfliner is Amtrak’s passenger train service that runs along the Pacific coast of Southern California, connecting San Luis Obispo to the north with San Diego to the south. The line is among the most famous Amtrak routes due to the unique scenic views it presents, as the train parallels the coastline for large portions of the 268-mile railroad stretch. The Pacific Surfliner offers first-class amenities like onboard restrooms, free WiFi, seats with extra legroom and power outlets, as well as storage racks for surfboards. On average, the service offers 4 train trips from Solana Beach to Santa Barbara every day, and prices for a one-way train ticket start from $59.
The distance between Solana Beach and Santa Barbara is approximately 171 miles, or 275 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 5 hours and 37 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 5 hours and 6 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.
Trains from Solana Beach to Santa Barbara are the most crowded on Saturday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Wednesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Solana Beach at 4:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 4:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 6 scheduled trains on most days. 4 of these are direct connections to Santa Barbara. While direct trains may still make stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains at any point. If you're looking to get to your destination faster, a direct train is the convenient and time-efficient choice.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Santa Barbara to Solana Beach.
Solana Beach is a small coastal city in San Diego. Its name directly translates to 'warm wind' due to its sunny position by the beach. Some of the best activities in the city involve the sunny coast, like visiting Fletcher Cove Beach Park or going to Seascape Surf Park. You can also enjoy snorkeling, surfing, and fishing trips out on the Pacific. The area is well-known for its classic Californian hiking, with trails such as Annie's Canyon and the Coastal Rails Trail. When you've worked up an appetite, head to the famous Fish Market, which serves fresh-caught Californian seafood.
For air travel, the San Diego Airport is the closest. The city is also on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner route, which runs from Los Angeles, Fullerton, and Santa Ana to Solana Beach. If you'd prefer to take the bus, the Amtrak Thruway also operates in Solana Beach to connect from nearby cities like Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and 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.
There is one train station in Solana Beach.
105 N Cedros Ave - Solana Beach Transit Ctr
Santa Barbara has one train station.
209 State Street
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