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.
Journey Information
There are 4 intercity buses per day from Los Angeles to Santa Maria. Traveling by bus from Los Angeles to Santa Maria usually takes around 5 hours and 25 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 3 hours and 25 minutes.
| Distance | 139 mi (224 km) |
| Shortest duration | 3h 25m |
| Cheapest price | $26.99 |
| Trips per day | 3 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from Los Angeles to Santa Maria?
Bus tickets for a trip from Los Angeles to Santa Maria cost $57.08 on average. Tickets cheaper than $57.08 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
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. Booking even a few days ahead of time can make your ticket much cheaper.
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. Of these two carriers, Amtrak Thruway usually offers more choice, with 2 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 2 | 5h 56m | $61.66 |
| FlixBus US | 3 | 3h 51m | $54.57 |
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 $58. On average, there are 2 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 Maria, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 5 hours and 25 minutes to cover the 139 miles from Los Angeles to Santa Maria. However, the fastest bus only takes 3 hours and 25 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.
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.
The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00am. To see the times for all buses from Los Angeles to Santa Maria, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 4 scheduled buses that travel from Los Angeles to Santa Maria every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 3 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 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?
Main departure station: 800 N Alameda St
Buses to Santa Maria leave from 10 stations in Los Angeles.
All bus stations in Los Angeles:
800 N Alameda St
592 Gayley Ave
Union Station
Los Angeles Un Station Arrival
Anaheim Stadium Parking - 2626 E Katella Ave
120 East Santa Fe Ave - Fullerton Transp Ctr
Reg Transp Ctr - 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd
Irvine Transp Ctr - 15215 Barranca Pkwy
Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
Oceanside Transit Center
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
Need a return trip from Santa Maria to Los Angeles?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from Los Angeles
Continue by bus from Santa Maria
Check out these popular routes
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.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more