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Los Angeles to Santa Barbara train

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Los Angeles - Santa Barbara Train Timetable

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Trip Summary

There are 8 daily trains from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. Traveling by train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara usually takes around 2 hours and 26 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in one hour and 42 minutes.

Distance87 mi (140 km)
Fastest train1h 42m
Lowest price€18.69
Trains per day18
Most frequent serviceAmtrak Pacific Surfliner
Train lines3

Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Overall score for trains from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara

(Based on 21 ratings and reviews)

4.8

5.0

Kendra

23 April 2023- Visiting friends

Amtrak Coast Starlight

Pros: It was a beautiful train ride and much more pleasant that driving would have been. It was easy to get to and the station location of the in Santa Barbara allows easy walking to both the beach and State street. Cons: As with everywhere these days, there were minimal Covid measures. Being assigned a seat directly next to someone else while there were still plenty of open seats was mildly annoying. Tips: Say hello to your train conductor! They are very friendly.

5.0

Gloria

7 April 2023- Couples trip

Amtrak Coast Starlight

Pros: The sightseer car. Cons: Cleaning of light table on the sit. Tips: Don’t wait to long to go to the sightseer car.

5.0

Stephen

24 September 2022- Solo travel

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

Pros: Convenient. Cons: It's fine.

5.0

MORENA

30 May 2022- Solo travel

Amtrak

Pros: Everything. Cons: No comments. Tips: Great service.

5.0

Jerry

14 November 2021- Business

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

Everything

See more details

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

In the last month, €27.45 was the average price of a train ticket from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. This is about as inexpensive as train tickets ever get. You can expect to find tickets at that price or lower if you book your trip at least 26 days in advance. Otherwise, expect to pay around €1.46 more than that for a same-day booking.

Average prices by travel date

€42€28€14MayJun

Over the next 30 days, the average cost of a one-way train trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara will vary between €26 and €30. Planning a train trip to Santa Barbara within the upcoming week? The cheapest train ticket you can find from Los Angeles over the next 7 days is €26. Make sure to book your trip as soon as possible as train fares tend to go up as you get closer to your travel date.

Monthly average prices

€70€56€42€28€14JASONDJFMAMJ

Ticket prices for the train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in November when the average ticket price is only €25,

If you're thinking of traveling from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara during July, keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of €50 during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in July, is to book your trip well in advance.

Prices as travel date approaches

€47€37€28€19€93020100

If you want to score the best deal, you should plan to book your train trip online on Wanderu at least 26 days ahead of time. If you do that, your train ticket to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles will be about €1.46 cheaper compared to what you would pay if you book at the last minute.

Which train should you take from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?

There are 3 train lines with service from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is the most popular choice with travelers, offering scheduled service on 4 trains each day.

TrainDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak32h 59m€31.69
Amtrak Coast Starlight12h 12m€29.36
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner42h 13m€25.86

  • 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 3 Amtrak trains from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara every day, as well as 8 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from €19.

  • The Coast Starlight is an Amtrak train that travels the entire length of the West Coast, connecting Los Angeles to Seattle. The route starts hugging the California coastline, treating passengers to swoon-worthy views of the Pacific, before continuing into the verdant forests of the Cascade Mountains. The Coast Starlight indisputably earns its spot among the most scenic Amtrak train routes. Seating options include Coach or Business Class and roomettes or bedrooms for extra space. A trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara takes 2 hours and 12 minutes on average, and Coach tickets start at €19.

  • 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 Los Angeles to Santa Barbara every day, and prices for a one-way train ticket start from €24.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our train partners have implemented several different policies to keep you safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. From limiting vehicle capacity to enhancing cleaning protocols and upgrading air filters, train carriers are committed to maintaining a safe environment. For details on what each company is doing to ensure their fleet remains safe for travel, click here.

Although masks are no longer required on public transportation, we stand behind CDC guidelines that encourage passengers to wear a mask over their nose and mouth while on the train or in stations.

Please visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide for more information on all carrier policies and the latest travel advisories issued by every U.S. state, Canadian province, and European country.

Yes, there are trains that can take you the entire way from Los Angeles 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.
The distance between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara is approximately 87 miles, or 140 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 2 hours and 26 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 1 hour 42 minutes. As a relatively short ride, taking the train is an easy way to travel between these two cities.

Trains from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara are the most crowded on Thursday. 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 Los Angeles at 05:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 19:00. 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 8 scheduled trains on most days. 18 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 Los Angeles.

City Information

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the undisputed world capital of the entertainment business. Because of that, the City of Angels is where you will find some of the most iconic landmarks of the film and music industries, including the world-famous Walk of Fame and Dolby Theatre (home of the Academy Awards) on Hollywood Boulevard, the easily recognizable Capitol Records building at Hollywood & Vine, and the LA Live complex in Downtown Los Angeles.

The best part of LA is that it has something to offer for people of all interests: outdoor enthusiasts can hike up to the Hollywood sign, fashion aficionados can go shopping in Beverly Hills, art lovers can check out the prominent Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in the Miracle Mile district, and those looking for a fun night out can go bar-hopping in West Hollywood. Are you a Pokémon GO addict? Well then this is the place for you because LA is the best city to catch the rarest Pokémon in the U.S.. And if you want to want to experience the famed golden coast of Southern California for yourself, head west to Santa Monica and Venice for a refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean.

With one of the biggest airports on the West Coast and several bus and train stops across the county, Los Angeles makes it easy to travel elsewhere in California, visit the neighboring Nevada, Arizona and Mexico, or take a flight to pretty much any other part of the world.

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 Los Angeles?

Los Angeles, CA - Union Station - LAXUST-0

Image credit: David Wilson

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: Union Station

Union Station is the main train station in Los Angeles and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. The station was opened in 1939 and has become one of California’s busiest transportation hubs, serving more than 100 thousand passengers per day. Every Amtrak route that goes through Los Angeles stops at Union Station. In addition, the area around the station serves as the main bus stop for several bus carriers that conduct trips in and out of the city. Located in Downtown LA, Union Station offers easy transit connections to other parts of the city via three Metro Rail lines and one Metro Busway line, as well as a shuttle service to LAX airport. Union Station also serves as the main LA hub for six lines of Metrolink, Southern California’s primary commuter rail service.

All train stations in Los Angeles:

  • Union Station

  • Amtrak Metrolink Station - 7724 Van Nuys Blvd

  • 10040 Old Depot Plaza Rd, Chatsworth

  • 592 Gayley Ave

  • Metrolink Station

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

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