Cheap train tickets from Santa Barbara to San Francisco
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
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.
See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?
There are usually 2 daily bus trips from Santa Barbara to San Francisco.
Coach | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price£49.58 | Avg. Price£58.43 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips2 | Daily Trips3 |
Duration | Duration10h 54m | Duration9h 50m |
Trip Summary
You can pick from 4 daily train trips between Santa Barbara and San Francisco. The average train journey from Santa Barbara to San Francisco takes 9 hours and 49 minutes, but some Amtrak train trips are as short as 7 hours and 35 minutes.
| Distance | 277 mi (446 km) |
| Fastest train | 7h 35m |
| Lowest price | £16.26 |
| Trains per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?
Over the past month, a train ticket between Santa Barbara and San Francisco cost £53.96, on average. Booking your trip at least 5 days in advance can help you secure tickets at the best price. For same-day bookings, you’ll likely have to pay around £5.27 more.
Monthly average prices
Ticket prices for the train from Santa Barbara to San Francisco often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in December when the average ticket price is only £50,
If you're thinking of traveling from Santa Barbara to San Francisco during August, keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of £57 during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in August, is to book your trip well in advance.
Prices as travel date approaches
By booking your train trip from Santa Barbara to San Francisco on Wanderu at least 5 days ahead of time, you can save about £5.27 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!
Which train should you take from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Santa Barbara to San Francisco. However, there are 4 trains per day to choose from.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 4 | 9h 49m | £58.09 |
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 4 Amtrak trains from Santa Barbara to San Francisco every day, as well as 4 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from £16.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Santa Barbara to San Francisco
The distance between Santa Barbara and San Francisco is approximately 277 miles, or 446 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 9 hours and 49 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 7 hours and 35 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 Santa Barbara to San Francisco are the most crowded on Monday. 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 Thursday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Santa Barbara at 07:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 12:00. 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 4 scheduled trains on most days. There is one direct train, which you can stay on for the entire journey from Santa Barbara to San Francisco. In contrast, taking a non-direct train would require you to transfer trains during your trip.
You can also take a train for your return trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
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 Francisco
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Located in the heart of Northern California's Bay Area, San Francisco is a geographically small but culturally huge city known for its historic cable cars, active waterfront, and the eclectic mix of hippies and techies who call it home. While it might be one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, San Fran can actually be very cheap to visit, and there is no shortage of unique sights to see.
If the city's omnipresent fog (nicknamed "Karl the Fog" by locals) takes a break, the best views and Instagram photo ops of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge are found in Golden Gate Park. Stroll through the oldest Chinatown in North America to find the perfect dim sum, or if you and your boo prefer a little Full House moment, try a romantic picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Victorian "Painted Ladies." After all, San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations for couples.
Since the city is condensed onto a small peninsula, exploring by bike is an efficient and scenic way to get around. When you’re ready to travel beyond city limits, San Francisco is a convenient hub for trips throughout Northern California. It's actually the first stop on Wanderu's West Coast Wine Tour, with the next stop, obviously, in Napa Valley. Whether traveling by bus, train, or through either of the two nearby airports, San Francisco is a can't-miss destination.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Santa Barbara?
Main departure station: 209 State Street
There is one train station in Santa Barbara.
All train stations in Santa Barbara:
209 State Street
Where is the train station in San Francisco?
Image credit: 146109843@N05
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: San Francisco, California
Behind a modern curved façade lies San Francisco’s commuter hub, the Salesforce Transit Center. This gateway to downtown San Francisco and the entire Bay Area welcomes tens of thousands of passengers every day. Finding your way around is easy thanks to more than 270 digital displays with transit information. The Salesforce Transit Center serves as a bus station for Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway buses, as well as several public transit options for convenient connections. A standout feature of the Salesforce Transit Center is a public five-acre rooftop park which gives travelers an open space to relax. Rotating food trucks, cafés, carts, and pop-up retail make this a dynamic and vibrant destination in itself.
Train stations in San Francisco:
San Francisco, California
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Santa Barbara
Continue by train from San Francisco
Check out these popular routes
Wanderu is the simplest way to book coach 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.