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Cheap bus tickets from Salinas to Santa Cruz

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Salinas to Santa Cruz Bus Schedule

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Bus from Salinas to Santa Cruz: Journey Information

There is one daily bus from Salinas to Santa Cruz. Traveling by bus from Salinas to Santa Cruz usually takes around 24 hours and 2 minutes, but some buses might arrive slightly earlier or later than scheduled depending on traffic conditions.

Distance29 mi (47 km)
Shortest duration24h 2m
Cheapest price$46.00
Most frequent serviceAmtrak Thruway
Bus lines1

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What bus companies travel from Salinas to Santa Cruz?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Salinas to Santa Cruz. Amtrak Thruway is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Thruway11d 0h 2m$46.00
  • 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 Salinas to Santa Cruz start at $46. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Salinas to Santa Cruz

The bus takes an average of 24 hours and 2 minutes to cover the 29 miles from Salinas to Santa Cruz. 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.

Travel trends tend to vary greatly for bus trips from Salinas to Santa Cruz.

There is usually only one bus per day from Salinas to Santa Cruz. It leaves the station in Salinas at 1:00pm 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 Salinas to Santa Cruz. However, it is not a direct bus, so you will have to get off your original vehicle to change buses during the trip.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Salinas to Santa Cruz; ticket prices start at $30.00.

City Information

Salinas

Salinas, CA, US - SNS-0

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Salinas is a city in California popularly known as the Salad Bowl of the World- though the nickname is about more than healthy food. The city has a vibrant agriculture industry, pristine farmland, historic sites, and plenty of greenery. As an agriculture-based city, it's not surprising that there are a lot of outdoor areas to visit, from Natividad Creek Park to the Creekbridge Neighborhood Park. In addition, history lovers in Salinas can visit the National Steinbeck Center and Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad Museum for their interactive exhibits, while Salinas Valley Art Gallery appeals to art lovers.

For wine lovers in Salinas, there is a wide range of wineries and vineyards in the city, with popular choices being the Chateau Sinnet Winery and Vineyard, and SMD Vineyards. Visitors to the city can check out nightclubs, lounges, and bowling centers. Salinas organizes festivals throughout the year, like the Monthly Art Market & Artisan Fair and the Annual Halloween Beer Crawl.

If you're visiting Salinas by train, over 100 cities offer routes by Amtrak. Fewer bus lines are going to the city, provided by Amtrak Thruway. There are also Monterey-Salinas Transit services for transport inside the city.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Salinas?

Main departure station: 11 Station Pl

Most buses depart from the main station in Salinas.

All bus stations in Salinas:

  • 11 Station Pl

Where does the bus arrive in Santa Cruz?

Main arrival station: Santa Cruz, California

All buses from Salinas arrive at one main station in Santa Cruz.

All bus stations in Santa Cruz:

  • Santa Cruz, California

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