Cheap bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Irvine
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Santa Barbara to Irvine Bus Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Santa Barbara to Irvine?
There are usually 6 daily train trips available from Santa Barbara to Irvine.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$39.29 | Avg. Price$48.90 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips1 | Daily Trips6 |
Duration | Duration6h 0m | Duration5h 45m |
Bus from Santa Barbara to Irvine: Journey Information
There is one daily bus from Santa Barbara to Irvine. Traveling by bus from Santa Barbara to Irvine usually takes around 6 hours and 1 minute, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 5 hours and 55 minutes.
| Distance | 120 mi (194 km) |
| Shortest duration | 5h 55m |
| Cheapest price | $39.00 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
| Bus lines | 1 |
How much is a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to Irvine?
Bus tickets for a trip from Santa Barbara to Irvine cost $39.00 on average. Opting to take a bus is a wallet-friendly way to make this trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Monthly avg. prices
What bus companies travel from Santa Barbara to Irvine?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Santa Barbara to Irvine. 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 | 6h 2m | $39.37 |
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 Santa Barbara to Irvine start at $39. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Santa Barbara to Irvine
The bus takes an average of 6 hours to cover the 120 miles from Santa Barbara to Irvine. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 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.
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, 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.
There is usually only one bus per day from Santa Barbara to Irvine. It leaves the station in Santa Barbara at 9:00pm 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 Santa Barbara to Irvine. 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 Santa Barbara to Irvine; ticket prices start at $35.00.
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.
Irvine
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Though Irvine is probably most famous for its corporations and university campuses, the city is well worth the trip for its variety of attractions and activities. Start with a date night at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, which boasts an intimate atmosphere and superb acoustics. You could also check out the UCI Arboretum, where you can learn more about the unique flora of the coastal California region. The Beall Center for Art + Technology features interesting exhibitions that fuse modern art with futuristic technologies.
When you've worked up an appetite, you can find a wide variety of dining options available in the city. For some of the best Japanese dishes in town, check out Fukuda, which serves udon and soba dishes. If you are craving a good chicken parm, North Italia has just what you need!
It's easy to get to Irvine from anywhere in Southern California via intercity buses or Amtrak trains. Flights operate through the nearby John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport, just 4.3 miles away from downtown.
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 Irvine?
Image credit: Adam Moss
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Irvine Transp Ctr - 15215 Barranca Pkwy
Irvine Station – also known as Irvine Transportation Center – is the busiest station in South Orange County, serving over a million passengers annually. It first opened in 1990 on the south side of the decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in the Spectrum district. The station serves Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, Metrolink (Southern California's commuter rail system), and various local transit bus lines part of the Orange County Transportation Authority's network. In the vicinity of the station, there are hotels, offices, and shops. Irvine Station is also close to the Irvine Spectrum Center, one of SoCal's most popular entertainment and shopping destinations.
All bus stations in Irvine:
Irvine Transp Ctr - 15215 Barranca Pkwy
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Irvine to Santa Barbara?
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