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Cheap bus tickets from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Bus from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara: Journey Information
There are 3 intercity buses per day from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. Traveling by bus from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara usually takes around 2 hours and 21 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in just one hour and 25 minutes.
- Distance
- 87 mi (140 km)
- Shortest duration
- 1h 25m
- Cheapest price
- $16.98
- Trips per day
- 2
- Most frequent service
- FlixBus US
- Bus lines
- 2
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Los Angeles to Santa Barbara Bus Schedule
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Average score for buses from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara (Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
5.0
There are several bus options that can take you from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara:
See more detailsHow much is a bus ticket from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?
Bus tickets for a trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara cost $26.49 on average. Opting to take a bus is a wallet-friendly way to make this trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Average bus ticket prices from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara by travel date
If you're planning to travel by bus from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $25 to $33. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on October 4, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Santa Barbara this week, bus tickets are available starting at $26.
Average bus ticket prices from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara by month
Traveling from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara by bus will cost you about the same throughout the year. In general, bus ticket prices for this route are fairly consistent, so expect to pay around $29 whenever you decide to travel.
Prices as travel date approaches
Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To save money on bus tickets and ensure availability, it's always best to book in advance.
What bus companies travel from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara 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 23m | $33.00 |
| FlixBus US | 3 | 2h 19m | $25.28 |
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 Santa Barbara 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 3 trips per day from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, and the average ticket for this route costs only $25.28.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara
There are 3 scheduled buses that travel from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 2 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip. Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara; ticket prices start at $25.
Trips per day
3
Direct trips
2
The bus takes an average of 2 hours and 21 minutes to cover the 87 miles from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 25 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.
Distance (mi)
87
Distance (km)
140
The first bus leaves at 4:50am and the last bus leaves at 9:45am. To see the times for all buses from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
Earliest bus
4:50am
Latest bus
9:45am
Tuesday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Tuesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out. On the other hand, Saturday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Saturday ticket is the way to go.
Most crowded
Tuesday
Least crowded
Saturday
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 does the bus leave from in Los Angeles?
Main departure station: 592 Gayley Ave
Buses to Santa Barbara leave from 5 stations in Los Angeles.
All bus stations in Los Angeles:
- 592 Gayley Ave
- Union Station
- San Fernando Bus Station
- 800 N Alameda St
- North Hollywood Bus Station
Where does the bus arrive in Santa Barbara?
Main arrival station: 209 State Street
All buses from Los Angeles arrive at one main station in Santa Barbara.
All bus stations in Santa Barbara:
- 209 State Street
Need a return trip from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles?
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