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Journey Information
There are 3 intercity buses per day from Santa Barbara to Oakland. Traveling by bus from Santa Barbara to Oakland usually takes around 16 hours and 17 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 7 hours and 5 minutes.
| Distance | 274 mi (442 km) |
| Shortest duration | 7h 5m |
| Cheapest price | $32.00 |
| Trips per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Buses from Santa Barbara to Oakland
- Amtrak Thruway: 1 daily buses from $32
- FlixBus US: 2 daily buses from $33
- Greyhound: 1 daily buses from $33
How much is a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
Bus tickets for a trip from Santa Barbara to Oakland cost $69.09 on average. While it’s a bit pricey for a bus ticket, it’s still significantly more cost-effective than flying. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Average prices by travel date
Bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Oakland are expected to cost between $68 and $90 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to Oakland within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from $75. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.
Monthly average prices
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 7 days in advance to save $18.36 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.
What bus companies travel from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
There are 3 bus lines from Santa Barbara to Oakland available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. Each of these companies only runs one bus per day. The following table helps you compare your available choices:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 18h 25m | $88.55 |
| FlixBus US | 2 | 10h 45m | $73.08 |
| Greyhound | 1 | 13h 35m | $49.47 |
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 Oakland start at $32. 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 Santa Barbara to Oakland, 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 Santa Barbara to Oakland every day, with the average journey taking around 13 hours and 35 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Oakland usually start from $33.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 16 hours and 17 minutes to cover the 274 miles from Santa Barbara to Oakland. However, the fastest bus only takes 7 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.
Thursday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Thursday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Friday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Friday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 7:00am and the last bus leaves at 6:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Santa Barbara to Oakland, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 3 scheduled buses that travel from Santa Barbara to Oakland every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. However, only one of these is a direct bus. With direct service, you do not have to transfer onto a different bus at any point during your trip. Direct buses also tend to be significantly faster, which is worth bearing in mind as you compare the available options.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Santa Barbara to Oakland; ticket prices start at $45.00.
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.
Oakland
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Oakland, CA is a port city that is beginning to step out of the shadow of San Francisco, its neighbor to the west. Every visitor should start their Oakland trip in the downtown area and Old Oakland, the city's historic quarter full of quaint old buildings. While here, don't forget to take a short detour to Oakland's famous Chinatown as well. The African American Museum and Library at Oakland tells the history of Black communities in the area and is definitely worth a stop. For those who would prefer to stay close to nature, Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park's abundance of redwood groves will offer amazing views.
Oakland's food scene is vibrant and diverse, with a wide range of offerings for all budgets. Enssaro is a popular local name with mid-range dishes that will whet your appetite. For an excellent haute-cuisine dinner, head towards The Wolf.
It's easy to get around the Bay Area on local public transit (called the BART, for Bay Area Rapid Transit). Getting to Oakland from further afield is also a breeze thanks to many intercity bus routes in the area and Amtrak's Capitol Corridor train, which stops in Oakland. Flights arrive at the Oakland International Airport, but several additional airport options in the larger Bay Area are also available.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Santa Barbara?
Main departure station: 209 State Street
Buses to Oakland leave from 11 stations in Santa Barbara.
All bus stations in Santa Barbara:
209 State Street
Tour Bus Loading Zone
South Strip
601 Truxtun Ave - Transit Station
Transportation Center
Ventura Transit Station Bus Stops
Denny's restaurant
Carl's Jr restaurant
Tehachapi Park and Ride
718 West Ventura St
475 Linden Ave
Where does the bus arrive in Oakland?
Image credit: David Wilson
Link to image attribution
Image credit: David Wilson
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: 245 Second St
The Jack London Station in Oakland opened in 1995, replacing 16th Street Station, which was extensively damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. The station was named after the famous writer Jack London, as he spent much of his life in the area. It is a contemporary glass and stone structure located on the easternmost corner of Jack London Square. The square, which fronts a natural estuary leading to San Francisco Bay, was formerly the hub of Oakland's port activities, connecting the maritime and agricultural sectors. It is still an active and bustling waterfront today. Amtrak's Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight, and San Joaquins trains serve the station. It is the 10th busiest of Amtrak's 74 California stops, boarding or de-boarding an average of 1,142 people per day.
All bus stations in Oakland:
245 Second St
West Oakland Bart Station
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