Lowest Prices
We partner with the top coach & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
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.
Trip Summary
You can pick from 6 daily train trips between Fullerton and Santa Barbara. The average train journey from Fullerton to Santa Barbara takes 3 hours and 48 minutes, but some Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train trips are as short as 3 hours and 28 minutes.
| Distance | 108 mi (174 km) |
| Fastest train | 3h 28m |
| Lowest price | £28.90 |
| Trains per day | 5 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Pacific Surfliner |
| Train lines | 2 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Fullerton to Santa Barbara?
The average price for a train ticket from Fullerton to Santa Barbara is £30.54, Compared to most train fares, this is an excellent price. By booking your trip at least 28 days in advance, you increase your chances of scoring even cheaper tickets. But if you wait until the day of your trip to book tickets, expect to pay £2.15 more.
Average prices by travel date
The average cost of a one-way train trip from Fullerton to Santa Barbara is expected to fluctuate between £29 and £33 in the next 30 days. If you’re planning a train trip to Santa Barbara in the upcoming week, the cheapest price in the next 7 days for a ticket from Fullerton is £30.
Monthly average prices
Prices as travel date approaches
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.
Which train should you take from Fullerton to Santa Barbara?
2 train services operate from Fullerton 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 | 4h 13m | £35.01 |
| Amtrak Pacific Surfliner | 4 | 3h 34m | £28.90 |
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 Fullerton to Santa Barbara every day, as well as 3 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from £29.
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 Fullerton to Santa Barbara every day, and prices for a one-way train ticket start from £29.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Fullerton and Santa Barbara is approximately 108 miles, or 174 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 3 hours and 48 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 3 hours and 28 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 Fullerton to Santa Barbara are the most crowded on Sunday. 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 Tuesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Fullerton at 00:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 18:00. 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. 5 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 Fullerton.
City Information
Fullerton
Fullerton was founded in 1887 and is roughly 22 miles from Los Angeles. The area around Fullerton was the original California orange growing zone due to its great Mediterranean environment. The nightlife in downtown Fullerton is well-known, plus there are around 50 parks in the city, including the famed Fullerton Arboretum, which features 26 acres of uncommon and rare species as well as sculpted gardens.
Fullerton has some of the best art museums in the country, including Muckenthaler Art and Cultural Center and the Clayes Performing Arts Center. You can also experience amazing lakes such as the Laguna Lake Park.
If you're a beer-lover, visit the Bootleggers Brewery. Founded in 2008 by home brewer and beer enthusiast Aaron Barkenhagen, Bootleggers Brewery is one of Orange County's largest artisan breweries.
As for transportation, Amtrak and Fullerton Metrolink are the two best train stations in Fullerton serviced by Amtrak's Southwest Chief and Pacific Surfliner. These Amtrak lines connect from Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and even as far away as Chicago. For buses, Amtrak Thruway comes from Santa Ana, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, and Riverside to Fullerton. The nearest airport is Long Beach Airport, which is only 14 miles away from the city.
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.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Fullerton?
Main departure station: 120 East Santa Fe Ave - Fullerton Transp Ctr
There is one train station in Fullerton.
All train stations in Fullerton:
120 East Santa Fe Ave - Fullerton Transp Ctr
Where is the train station in Santa Barbara?
Main arrival station: 209 State Street
Santa Barbara has one train station.
Train stations in Santa Barbara:
209 State Street
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Santa Barbara to Fullerton?
Search Train Tickets
Wanderu is the simplest way to book coach and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare coach 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 coach and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading coach and train companies, we always have the best coach and train deals out there.
Book coaches and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more