Cheap train tickets from Vancouver to Santa Barbara

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

Trip Summary

There are usually 2 daily train trips available from Vancouver to Santa Barbara. Travelling by train from Vancouver to Santa Barbara usually takes 1 day, 5 hours and 55 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Coast Starlight train can make the trip in 1 day, 4 hours and 57 minutes.

Distance: 791 mi (1272 km)
Fastest train: 28h 57m
Lowest price: $222.14
Trains per day: 2
Most frequent service: Amtrak
Train lines: 2

Millions of travellers trust Wanderu every year to get:

Lowest Prices

We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.

Best Travel Options

We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.

Quick & Easy Booking

Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.

Fast Customer Support

We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.

See what travellers are saying about Wanderu:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Vancouver to Santa Barbara Train Schedule

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

There are several train options that can take you from Vancouver to Santa Barbara:

See more details

What is the price of a train ticket from Vancouver to Santa Barbara?

In the last month, train tickets from Vancouver to Santa Barbara cost about $256 when booked at the cheapest time. This is somewhat expensive compared to other train fares, but it makes sense given the route’s long distance. The further in advance you book your travels, the more likely it is you can find tickets at this price or lower.

Average train ticket prices from Vancouver to Santa Barbara by travel date

Over the next 30 days, a one-way train trip from Vancouver to Santa Barbara will cost between $211 and $1,055. Book in advance to secure the best price in the next few weeks.

Average train ticket prices from Vancouver to Santa Barbara by month

Ticket prices for the train from Vancouver to Santa Barbara often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in October when the average ticket price is only $258. If you're thinking of travelling from Vancouver to Santa Barbara during December, keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $387 during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in December, is to book your trip well in advance.

Prices as travel date approaches

You can score the best price on a train ticket from Vancouver to Santa Barbara by booking on Wanderu in advance. Tickets are nearly always cheaper the further in advance you purchase them.

Which train should you take from Vancouver to Santa Barbara?

2 train services operate from Vancouver to Santa Barbara. Amtrak usually has more trains scheduled, with 2 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:

Train	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Amtrak	2	30h 34m	$333.91
Amtrak Coast Starlight	1	29h	$436.63

Amtrak is the largest passenger railway 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 washroom, 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 Vancouver to Santa Barbara every day, as well as 2 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $233.32.
The Amtrak Coast Starlight is a service provided by Amtrak that connects Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles on the US Pacific coast. The full journey winds through the Cascade Mountains, perfectly clipped vineyards, and dense coastal forest, allowing passengers to get a glimpse of the US west coast while enjoying air-conditioned cars, power outlets, complimentary onboard WiFi, and snacks.

Frequently asked questions about travelling by train from Vancouver to Santa Barbara

Yes, there are trains that can take you the entire way from Vancouver to Santa Barbara. However, there are also some trips on this route that require you to board another vehicle, such as a bus or a shuttle, during your journey. This is worth paying attention to as you book your trip, since a direct train may be preferable for its speed and convenience.

Trains leave the station in Vancouver twice a day, so there are a couple of options depending on your preferred travel time. One of these is a direct train, which will typically get you to Santa Barbara faster. While it might still have stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains during your trip. You can also take a train for your return trip from Santa Barbara to Vancouver.

Trains per day

Direct trains

The distance between Vancouver and Santa Barbara is approximately 1,272 kilometres. The average train journey between these two cities takes 1 day, 5 hours and 55 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 1 day, 4 hours and 57 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.

Distance (mi)

791

Distance (km)

1272

The earliest train departs Vancouver at 1:15 p.m. while the last train of the day leaves at 1:15 p.m. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.

First train

1:15pm

Last train

1:15pm

Trains from Vancouver 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 travelling on Tuesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

Busiest

Saturday

Least crowded

Tuesday

City Information

Vancouver

Vancouver sits on the northern banks of the Columbia River in Washington and is the state's fourth most populated city. The surrounding Cascade Mountains offer incredible Pacific Northwest adventures. Mount Saint Helens and Mount Hood, two snow-topped volcanoes, are within short drives of Vancouver for easy access to hikes and ski runs. Beacon Rock State Park includes a trail to the summit of a monolithic rock formation. Plus, the Columbia River Gorge is easily one of the best destinations in Washington for breathtaking scenery.

Vancouver is located just across the Columbia from Portland, and Interstates 5 and 205 have north to south bridges connecting Portland to Vancouver. Within the city, you will find Vancouver's mass transit system, C-Tran, to get around with ease.

Several Amtrak services operate from Vancouver, including the Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, and Cascades routes. If you're arriving by air, the nearest airport is Portland International Airport, just a few minutes' drive from downtown Vancouver.

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.

Station Information

Where is the train station in Vancouver?

Main departure station: 1301 W 11th St

There is one train station in Vancouver.

All train stations in Vancouver:

1301 W 11th St

Where is the train station in Santa Barbara?

Main arrival station: 209 State Street

Santa Barbara has one train station.

All train stations in Santa Barbara:

209 State Street

Need a return trip from Santa Barbara to Vancouver?

Search Train Tickets

Plan your next adventure

More trains from Vancouver

Continue by train from Santa Barbara

Check out these popular routes

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.