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.
Journey Information
There are 2 intercity buses per day from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. Traveling by bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara usually takes around 12 hours and 50 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 6 hours and 40 minutes.
| Distance | 277 mi (446 km) |
| Shortest duration | 6h 40m |
| Cheapest price | DKK 243.49 |
| Trips per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?
DKK 285.75 is the average price of a bus ticket from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. Any tickets cheaper than DKK 285.75 can be considered a great deal. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.
Monthly average prices
The lowest bus ticket prices on this route can usually be found in August. That’s when the average price of a bus ticket is expected to be just DKK 362 – the lowest of the year.
Alternatively, if you plan to travel from San Francisco to Santa Barbara in November, expect to spend more on your bus trip, as the average ticket price may surge to DKK 703 at that time of year. However, if you book your trip ahead of time, you can still score a ticket at a lower price.
Prices as travel date approaches
The easiest way to save money on bus tickets is by booking in advance! Many carriers increase prices as the travel date approaches, so it's always a good idea to buy your tickets as early as possible. Book at least 26 days in advance to save DKK 171.24 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.
What bus companies travel from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from San Francisco to Santa Barbara that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus US usually offers more choice, with 2 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 2 | 11h 54m | DKK 499.17 |
| Greyhound | 1 | 14h 7m | DKK 385.50 |
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 2 trips per day from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide coach carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 1 bus trips from San Francisco to Santa Barbara every day, with the average journey taking around 14 hours and 7 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Santa Barbara usually start from DKK 243.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 12 hours and 50 minutes to cover the 446 kilometers from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. However, the fastest bus only takes 6 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 bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Santa Barbara at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet.
The first bus leaves at 11:00 and the last bus leaves at 23:00. To see the times for all buses from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are usually only 2 buses per day from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. One bus is a direct connection, meaning that you can stay on the same vehicle for the entire trip, without having to transfer onto a connecting bus at any point.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Francisco to Santa Barbara; ticket prices start at DKK 334.12.
City Information
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.
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 does the bus leave from in San Francisco?
Main departure station: Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St
Buses to Santa Barbara leave from 3 stations in San Francisco.
All bus stations in San Francisco:
Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St
Salesforce Transit Center
700 Beach Street
Where does the bus arrive in Santa Barbara?
Main arrival station: 209 State Street
All buses from San Francisco arrive at one main station in Santa Barbara.
Bus stations in Santa Barbara:
209 State Street
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?
Search Bus Tickets
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 and with no additional fees. 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.
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