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Cheap bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield

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Santa Barbara to Bakersfield Bus Schedule

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Is it better to travel by bus or train from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield?

There are usually 1 daily train trips available from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$53.22
Avg. Price
$77.73
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
1
Daily Trips
1
Duration
Duration
6h 52m
Duration
10h 12m

Bus from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield: Journey Information

There are 2 intercity buses per day from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield. Traveling by bus from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield usually takes around 6 hours and 37 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 5 hours and 10 minutes.

Distance76 mi (123 km)
Shortest duration5h 10m
Cheapest price$47.97
Most frequent serviceFlixBus US
Bus lines1

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What bus companies travel from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield. FlixBus US 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.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus US26h 37m$59.64
  • 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 Santa Barbara to Bakersfield, and the average ticket for this route costs only .

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield

The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 37 minutes to cover the 76 miles from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours and 10 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.

Saturday is usually the day when buses are busiest, as many travelers take the bus to enjoy the weekend in Bakersfield. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Sunday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you are looking for less crowded buses to Bakersfield, book your ticket for the last day of the week.

The first bus leaves at 6:00pm and the last bus leaves at 6:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are usually only 2 buses per day from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield. However, neither bus offers direct service, so you will have to get off your original vehicle to transfer buses during the trip.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield; ticket prices start at $29.00.

City Information

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.

Bakersfield

Bakersfield, California, is just north of LA on the Kern River. The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, one of the city’s biggest attractions, displays fossils, dinosaur models, Native American artifacts, and a changing array of temporary exhibitions. Meanwhile, the Bakersfield Museum of Art features multiple rotating galleries of modern and historical art.

As the sun sets in Bakersfield, locals and visitors alike flock to Buck Owens Crystal Palace for food, drinks, and the biggest live music venue in the area. The Belvedere Cocktail lounge offers a more intimate live music experience– plus some amazing drinks and arcade games. For a truly unique experience, check out the family-friendly Gaslight Melodrama Theatre, where audiences are encouraged to cheer, boo, and get in on the fun of the live performances.

On the quieter side, Bakersfield has a number of beautiful parks across the city. The Park at RiverWalk is a fan favorite, with 32 sprawling acres along the Kern River dotted with picnic areas, public grills, and fishing spots. The Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area provides more outdoor activities with swimming, boating, sailing, cycling, and more.

To get to Bakersfield, fly into the Meadows Field Airport just north of the town. Several bus lines also service the area, connecting the city to Phoenix, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Ontario. For train service, Amtrak offers routes to San Diego, San Francisco, and even New York City.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Santa Barbara?

Main departure station: 209 State Street

Most buses depart from the main station in Santa Barbara.

All bus stations in Santa Barbara:

  • 209 State Street

Where does the bus arrive in Bakersfield?

Main arrival station: 601 Truxtun Ave - Transit Station

These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Bakersfield.

All bus stations in Bakersfield:

  • 601 Truxtun Ave - Transit Station

  • McKee Park & Ride Bus Stop

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