background-img-buses-trains
chiku-desktop

Cheap bus tickets from Los Angeles to Santa Maria

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

chiku-mobile

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:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Chiku

Los Angeles to Santa Maria Bus Schedule

Find cheap rental carsFind great deals on cheap cars in the area.
RentalCars logotypeRentalCars logotype
from$30.00

Is it better to travel by bus or train from Los Angeles to Santa Maria?

There are usually 10 daily train trips available from Los Angeles to Santa Maria.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$53.20
Avg. Price
$64.50
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
1
Daily Trips
10
Duration
Duration
3h 57m
Duration
4h 34m

Bus from Los Angeles to Santa Maria: Journey Information

There is one daily bus from Los Angeles to Santa Maria. Traveling by bus from Los Angeles to Santa Maria usually takes around 4 hours and 4 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 3 hours and 25 minutes.

Distance139 mi (224 km)
Shortest duration3h 25m
Cheapest price$29.99
Trips per day2
Most frequent serviceAmtrak Thruway
Bus lines2

Wander into savings:
Get deals in your inbox!

Sign up to get the latest deals on bus & train tickets sent directly to you.

How much is a bus ticket from Los Angeles to Santa Maria?

Bus tickets for a trip from Los Angeles to Santa Maria cost $51.79 on average. Tickets cheaper than $51.79 are an excellent bargain. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.

Monthly avg. prices

$75$60$45$30$15JFMAMJJASOND
Taking the bus from Los Angeles to Santa Maria is usually cheapest in November, when the average ticket price is only $45. If you're planning to take the bus from Los Angeles to Santa Maria during September, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $63. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

$75$60$45$30$153020100

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. You know what they say about early birds and worms.

What bus companies travel from Los Angeles to Santa Maria?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from Los Angeles to Santa Maria that you can compare and book on Wanderu. However, each company only runs one bus per day.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Thruway14h 9m$59.00
FlixBus US13h 40m$48.56
  • 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 Maria start at $59. 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 1 trips per day from Los Angeles to Santa Maria, and the average ticket for this route costs only .

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Los Angeles to Santa Maria

The bus takes an average of 4 hours and 4 minutes to cover the 139 miles from Los Angeles to Santa Maria. However, the fastest bus only takes 3 hours and 25 minutes. In other words, you'll have plenty of time to rest and relax on the road. 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.

Friday is the busiest travel day for buses as people head from Los Angeles to Santa Maria for the weekend. If you are planning to travel on a Friday, 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 Santa Maria, book your ticket for the last day of the week.

There is usually only one bus per day from Los Angeles to Santa Maria. 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 Santa Maria. 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 Santa Maria; ticket prices start at $58.00.

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?

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 bus stations in Los Angeles:

  • Union Station

  • 800 N Alameda St

  • 592 Gayley Ave

Where does the bus arrive in Santa Maria?

Main arrival station: Santa Maria Bus Stop

All buses from Los Angeles arrive at one main station in Santa Maria.

All bus stations in Santa Maria:

  • Santa Maria Bus Stop

Get around town with Moovit

Find the best way to get to and from any station in Santa Maria by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

Need a return trip from Santa Maria to Los Angeles?

Search Bus Tickets

Plan your next adventure

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.