5.0
Pros: I loved the fact that the bus stopped for lunch, which I did not expect. The bus was clean, quiet, and comfortable. Cons: Keep up the good work. Tips: None. I throughly enjoyed the trip. Thank you.
Cheap bus tickets from San Francisco to Santa Barbara
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
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:
San Francisco to Santa Barbara Bus Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?
There are usually 4 daily train trips available from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$51.36 | Avg. Price$84.85 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips2 | Daily Trips4 |
Duration | Duration8h 29m | Duration10h 1m |
Bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara: Journey Information
There are 2 intercity buses per day from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. Traveling by bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara usually takes around 8 hours and 27 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 6 hours and 15 minutes.
| Distance | 277 mi (446 km) |
| Shortest duration | 6h 15m |
| Cheapest price | $42.98 |
| Trips per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 2 |
Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Average score for buses from San Francisco to Santa Barbara
(Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
5.0
How much is a bus ticket from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?
Bus tickets for a trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara cost $44.48 on average. Tickets cheaper than $44.48 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.
Average bus ticket prices from San Francisco to Santa Barbara by month
Taking the bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara is usually cheapest in September, when the average ticket price is only $47. If you're planning to take the bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara during December, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $84. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.
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. Book at least 25 days in advance to save $24.91 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.
What bus companies travel from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from San Francisco to Santa Barbara that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus US usually offers more choice, with 2 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 2 | 7h 55m | $68.65 |
| Greyhound | 1 | 13h 21m | $113.87 |
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 Francisco to Santa Barbara, 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 1 bus trips from San Francisco to Santa Barbara every day, with the average journey taking around 13 hours and 21 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Santa Barbara usually start from $67.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara
The bus takes an average of 8 hours and 27 minutes to cover the 277 miles from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. However, the fastest bus only takes 6 hours and 15 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 Francisco to Santa Barbara 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 8:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are usually only 2 buses per day from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. One bus is a direct connection, meaning that you can stay on the same vehicle for the entire trip, without having to transfer onto a connecting bus at any point.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Francisco to Santa Barbara; ticket prices start at $48.00.
City Information
San Francisco
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Located in the heart of Northern California's Bay Area, San Francisco is a geographically small but culturally huge city known for its historic cable cars, active waterfront, and the eclectic mix of hippies and techies who call it home. While it might be one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, San Fran can actually be very cheap to visit, and there is no shortage of unique sights to see.
If the city's omnipresent fog (nicknamed "Karl the Fog" by locals) takes a break, the best views and Instagram photo ops of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge are found in Golden Gate Park. Stroll through the oldest Chinatown in North America to find the perfect dim sum, or if you and your boo prefer a little Full House moment, try a romantic picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Victorian "Painted Ladies." After all, San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations for couples.
Since the city is condensed onto a small peninsula, exploring by bike is an efficient and scenic way to get around. When you’re ready to travel beyond city limits, San Francisco is a convenient hub for trips throughout Northern California. It's actually the first stop on Wanderu's West Coast Wine Tour, with the next stop, obviously, in Napa Valley. Whether traveling by bus, train, or through either of the two nearby airports, San Francisco is a can't-miss destination.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a major travel destination along the southern coast of California. Dramatically situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara offers incomparable scenery with a comfortably warm climate year-round. White stucco buildings with Mediterranean-style architecture, gorgeous beaches, and upscale local cuisine give Santa Barbara the nickname "The American Riviera."
There are many kinds of vacations to enjoy in Santa Barbara. You can spend days on the soft sand of Leadbetter Beach, surfing in the swells at Rincon Point, or shopping for trinkets along Stearns Wharf. Or embrace the area's history by visiting the Mission Santa Barbara, a Spanish mission founded in 1786. Highlights from the mission include Spanish architecture, a rose garden, a museum, and even crypts.
Santa Barbara Airport, only a few miles from downtown, serves passengers to the region. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner stops in Santa Barbara on its way from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, with plenty of connections to other SoCal hotspots. Intercity buses, including FlixBus, offer routes from Santa Barbara to destinations like L.A., San Diego, and Las Vegas.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Francisco?
Main departure station: Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St
San Francisco has two bus stations with service to Santa Barbara.
All bus stations in San Francisco:
Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St
Salesforce Transit Center
Where does the bus arrive in Santa Barbara?
Main arrival station: 209 State Street
All buses from San Francisco arrive at one main station in Santa Barbara.
All bus stations in Santa Barbara:
209 State Street
Get around town with Moovit
Find the best way to get to and from any station in Santa Barbara by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now
Need a return trip from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from San Francisco
- San Francisco to Vancouver Bus
$269+
- Bus from San Francisco to Phoenix
$141+
- Bus from San Francisco to Bakersfield
$43+
- Bus from San Francisco to Fresno
$42+
- San Francisco to Long Beach Bus
$81+
- Bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles
$75+
- San Francisco to Monterey Bus
$18+
- Bus from San Francisco to Sacramento
$31+
- Bus from San Francisco to San Diego
$95+
- Bus from San Francisco to San Jose
$15+
- Bus from San Francisco to Santa Ana
$77+
- San Francisco to Stockton
$38+
- Bus from San Francisco to Yosemite Valley
$22+
- Bus from San Francisco to Chicago
$336+
- San Francisco to Las Vegas
$107+
- Bus from San Francisco to Reno
$41+
- Bus from San Francisco to New York
$423+
- San Francisco to Seattle Bus
$232+
Continue by bus from Santa Barbara
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.