Cheap bus tickets from San Diego to Santa Maria
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Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Diego to Santa Maria?
There are usually 1 daily train trips available from San Diego to Santa Maria.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$57.37 | Avg. Price$77.00 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips3 | Daily Trips1 |
Duration | Duration8h 41m | Duration7h 39m |
Bus from San Diego to Santa Maria: Journey Information
There are 3 intercity buses per day from San Diego to Santa Maria. Traveling by bus from San Diego to Santa Maria usually takes around 8 hours and 23 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 7 hours and 55 minutes.
| Distance | 243 mi (392 km) |
| Shortest duration | 7h 55m |
| Cheapest price | $38.47 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Buses from San Diego to Santa Maria
- Amtrak Thruway: 1 daily buses from $77
- FlixBus US: 2 daily buses from $43
- Greyhound: 2 daily buses from $38
How much is a bus ticket from San Diego to Santa Maria?
Bus tickets for a trip from San Diego to Santa Maria cost $47.93 on average. Tickets cheaper than $47.93 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.
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 find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 18 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $48.70 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from San Diego to Santa Maria?
There are 3 bus lines from San Diego to Santa Maria available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. Greyhound offers the most choice in regards to departure times, with a couple of different times on its daily bus schedule.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 11h 45m | $78.14 |
| FlixBus US | 2 | 9h 18m | $85.45 |
| Greyhound | 2 | 8h 18m | $58.15 |
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.
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 2 trips per day from San Diego to Santa Maria, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 2 bus trips from San Diego to Santa Maria every day, with the average journey taking around 8 hours and 18 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Santa Maria usually start from $38.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Diego to Santa Maria
The bus takes an average of 8 hours and 23 minutes to cover the 243 miles from San Diego to Santa Maria. However, the fastest bus only takes 7 hours and 55 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.
Because many passengers travel from San Diego to Santa Maria at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for buses. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet.
The first bus leaves at 5:00am and the last bus leaves at 7:00am. To see the times for all buses from San Diego to Santa Maria, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 3 scheduled buses that travel from San Diego to Santa Maria every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so no matter which bus you take, you will have to transfer buses at least once during your journey.
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?
Main departure station: San Ysidro Transit Center
Buses to Santa Maria leave from 5 stations in San Diego.
All bus stations in San Diego:
San Ysidro Transit Center
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
La Jolla - UC San Diego
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
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
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Santa Maria to San Diego?
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