Cheap bus tickets from San Francisco to Santa Maria
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 Maria Bus Schedule
Bus from San Francisco to Santa Maria: Journey Information
There are 2 intercity buses per day from San Francisco to Santa Maria. Traveling by bus from San Francisco to Santa Maria usually takes around 6 hours and 18 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 6 hours and 5 minutes.
| Distance | 224 mi (361 km) |
| Shortest duration | 6h 5m |
| Cheapest price | $54.00 |
| Trips per day | 2 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
| Bus lines | 1 |
What bus companies travel from San Francisco to Santa Maria?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from San Francisco to Santa Maria. Amtrak Thruway is the one bus line that serves this route. Although it's the sole option, there are a couple of different scheduled times to choose from.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 2 | 6h 18m | $54.00 |
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 Francisco to Santa Maria start at $54. On average, there are 2 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from San Francisco to Santa Maria
The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 18 minutes to cover the 224 miles from San Francisco to Santa Maria. However, the fastest bus only takes 6 hours and 5 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.
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Santa Maria at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Saturday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Saturday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 7:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00pm. To see the times for all buses from San Francisco to Santa Maria, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are usually only 2 buses per day from San Francisco to Santa Maria. Both of these are direct buses, meaning that you do not have to worry about transferring buses at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Francisco to Santa Maria; ticket prices start at $101.00.
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.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in San Francisco?
Image credit: 146109843@N05
Link to image attributionMain departure station: San Francisco, California
Behind a modern curved façade lies San Francisco’s commuter hub, the Salesforce Transit Center. This gateway to downtown San Francisco and the entire Bay Area welcomes tens of thousands of passengers every day. Finding your way around is easy thanks to more than 270 digital displays with transit information. The Salesforce Transit Center serves as a bus station for Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway buses, as well as several public transit options for convenient connections. A standout feature of the Salesforce Transit Center is a public five-acre rooftop park which gives travelers an open space to relax. Rotating food trucks, cafés, carts, and pop-up retail make this a dynamic and vibrant destination in itself.
All bus stations in San Francisco:
San Francisco, California
Where does the bus arrive in Santa Maria?
Main arrival station: Santa Maria Bus Stop
All buses from San Francisco 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 Francisco?
Search Bus Tickets
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.