Cheap coach tickets from Santa Barbara to San Diego
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Is it better to travel by bus or train from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
There are usually 14 daily train trips from Santa Barbara to San Diego.
Coach | Train | |
---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price£38.42 | Avg. Price£36.71 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips2 | Daily Trips14 |
Duration | Duration6h 37m | Duration6h 40m |
Coach from Santa Barbara to San Diego: Journey Information
There are 5 intercity coaches per day from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Traveling by coach from Santa Barbara to San Diego usually takes around 6 hours and 49 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US coach can make the trip in 4 hours and 40 minutes.
Distance | 188 mi (302 km) |
Shortest duration | 4h 40m |
Cheapest price | £27.03 |
Trips per day | 3 |
Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
Coach lines | 1 |

How much is a coach ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
Bus tickets for a trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego cost £31.36 on average. Tickets cheaper than £31.36 are an excellent bargain. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Monthly average prices
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. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 24 days in advance. This way, you can save up to £13.90 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What coach companies travel from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Santa Barbara to San Diego. FlixBus US connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.
Coach | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
FlixBus US | 5 | 6h 50m | £43.32 |
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 5 trips per day from Santa Barbara to San Diego, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Frequently asked questions about traveling by coach from Santa Barbara to San Diego
The coach takes an average of 6 hours and 49 minutes to cover the 188 miles from Santa Barbara to San Diego. However, the fastest coach only takes 4 hours and 40 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual coach may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
"Travelers prefer riding the coach on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in San Diego. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Friday is typically the least busy day for coach travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Friday ticket is the way to go."
The first coach leaves at 10:00 and the last coach leaves at 10:00. To see the times for all coaches from Santa Barbara to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 5 scheduled coaches that travel from Santa Barbara to San Diego every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 3 direct coaches, where you can stay on the same coach without having to transfer to a connecting coach at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Santa Barbara to San Diego; ticket prices start at £31.70.
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 coaches, including FlixBus, offer routes from Santa Barbara to destinations like L.A., San Diego, and Las Vegas.
San Diego



San Diego is known as "America's Finest City" for its sunny weather, white-sand beaches, and dazzling attractions from Belmont Park to SeaWorld. San Diego's 70 miles of pristine beaches include such gems as Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach. The city's strong surfing culture may even inspire you to rent a surfboard and catch the epic waves, bro.
Visitors can spend days getting lost in Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre cultural hub which features 16 museums, immaculate gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The historic heart of the city, Old Town, showcases San Diego's heritage and ties to Mexican culture, while other sights like the USS Midway pay tribute to the city's military and maritime history. Leave time for some evening exploring, too! San Diego is rated the #1 best city for craft beer in America, so don't miss out on the bars in the Gaslamp Quarter: 16 walkable blocks packed with nightlife and young crowds.
Two airports, as well as many bus and train options, mean it is easy to get to San Diego from afar or from nearby cities like Tijuana, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Station Information
Where does the coach leave from in Santa Barbara?
Main departure station: 209 State Street
Most coaches depart from the main station in Santa Barbara.
All coach stations in Santa Barbara:
209 State Street
Where does the coach arrive in San Diego?
Main arrival station: San Ysidro Transit Center
Coaches arrive in San Diego at 4 stations, depending on which coach line you are traveling with.
Coach stations in San Diego:
San Ysidro Transit Center
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
La Jolla - UC San Diego
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara?
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