Cheap bus tickets from Los Angeles to Isla Vista
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
Lowest Prices
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
Best Travel Options
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
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:
Bus from Los Angeles to Isla Vista: Journey Information
There is one daily bus from Los Angeles to Isla Vista. Traveling by bus from Los Angeles to Isla Vista usually takes around 2 hours and 54 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Distance | 96 mi (154 km) |
Shortest duration | 2h 10m |
Cheapest price | $17.48 |
Trips per day | 2 |
Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
Bus lines | 2 |

What bus companies travel from Los Angeles to Isla Vista?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Los Angeles to Isla Vista that you can compare and book on Wanderu. However, each company only runs one bus per day.
Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 2h 59m | $33.00 |
FlixBus US | 2 | 2h 45m | $22.05 |
Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from Los Angeles to Isla Vista start at $33. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
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 Los Angeles to Isla Vista, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Los Angeles to Isla Vista
The bus takes an average of 2 hours and 54 minutes to cover the 96 miles from Los Angeles to Isla Vista. However, the fastest bus only takes 2 hours and 10 minutes. It's the perfect amount of time to take a nap, get some work done, or watch a movie. 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.
Travelers prefer riding the bus on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in Isla Vista. 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, Sunday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you are looking for less crowded buses to Isla Vista, book your ticket for the last day of the week.
There is usually only one bus per day from Los Angeles to Isla Vista. It leaves the station in Los Angeles at 5:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.
There is usually only one bus per day from Los Angeles to Isla Vista. Fortunately, this happens to be a direct bus, meaning that you do not have to get on a different bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Los Angeles to Isla Vista; ticket prices start at $33.00.
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.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Los Angeles?

Image credit: David Wilson
Link to image attributionMain 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 bus stations in Los Angeles:
Union Station
592 Gayley Ave
Downtown - Vignes Lot
North Hollywood Bus Station
Where does the bus arrive in Isla Vista?
Main arrival station: UCSB Bus Loop
All buses from Los Angeles arrive at one main station in Isla Vista.
All bus stations in Isla Vista:
UCSB Bus Loop
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Isla Vista to Los Angeles?
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. 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.
- Bus Tickets
- United States
- California
- Isla Vista
- Los Angeles to Isla Vista