Cheap bus tickets from San Diego to Santa Maria
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San Diego to Santa Maria Bus Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Diego to Santa Maria?
There are usually 3 daily train trips available from San Diego to Santa Maria.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$77.00 | Avg. Price$77.00 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips1 | Daily Trips3 |
Duration | Duration10h 51m | Duration7h 24m |
Bus from San Diego to Santa Maria: Journey Information
There is one daily bus from San Diego to Santa Maria. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Santa Maria usually takes around 10 hours and 48 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 10 hours,
| Distance | 243 mi (392 km) |
| Shortest duration | 10h 0m |
| Cheapest price | $77.00 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
| Bus lines | 1 |
Price trends for buses from San Diego to Santa Maria
Monthly avg. prices
Prices as travel date approaches
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Santa Maria?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from San Diego to Santa Maria. 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.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 10h 49m | $77.00 |
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 San Diego to Santa Maria start at $77. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Diego to Santa Maria
The bus takes an average of 10 hours and 48 minutes to cover the 243 miles from San Diego to Santa Maria. However, the fastest bus only takes 10 hours. 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.
With many people traveling in the middle of the week, Wednesday is the busiest day of the week for bus travel. If you are planning to travel on a Wednesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.
There is usually only one bus per day from San Diego to Santa Maria. It leaves the station in San Diego at 10:00pm 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 San Diego to Santa Maria. 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 San Diego to Santa Maria; ticket prices start at $77.00.
City Information
San Diego
San Diego is known as "America's Finest City" for its sunny weather, white-sand beaches, and dazzling attractions from Belmont Park to SeaWorld. San Diego's 70 miles of pristine beaches include such gems as Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach. The city's strong surfing culture may even inspire you to rent a surfboard and catch the epic waves, bro.
Visitors can spend days getting lost in Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre cultural hub which features 16 museums, immaculate gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The historic heart of the city, Old Town, showcases San Diego's heritage and ties to Mexican culture, while other sights like the USS Midway pay tribute to the city's military and maritime history. Leave time for some evening exploring, too! San Diego is rated the #1 best city for craft beer in America, so don't miss out on the bars in the Gaslamp Quarter: 16 walkable blocks packed with nightlife and young crowds.
Two airports, as well as many bus and train options, mean it is easy to get to San Diego from afar or from nearby cities like Tijuana, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Diego?
Image credit: Doug Letterman
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
The Santa Fe Depot is the main train station in San Diego and one of the end points of the Pacific Surfliner, the only Amtrak train line that serves the city. The station is also used by the Green Line of the San Diego Trolley light rail transit service and the COASTER commuter rail service that connects the city with the central and northern coastal regions of San Diego County. Opened in 1915, the Santa Fe Depot is famous for its Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture and grand interior space that features natural redwood beam ceilings and ceramic details. The train station is located in the heart of Downtown San Diego, making it easy to reach from all parts of the city.
All bus stations in San Diego:
Santa Fe Depot - 1050 Kettner Blvd
Where does the bus arrive in Santa Maria?
Main arrival station: Santa Maria Bus Stop
All buses from San Diego arrive at one main station in Santa Maria.
All bus stations in Santa Maria:
Santa Maria Bus Stop
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