Cheap bus tickets from Santa Barbara to Oakland
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Is it better to travel by bus or train from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
There are usually 5 daily train trips available from Santa Barbara to Oakland.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$57.16 | Avg. Price$89.57 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips2 | Daily Trips5 |
Duration | Duration9h 11m | Duration9h 31m |
Bus from Santa Barbara to Oakland: 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 8 hours and 33 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 6 hours and 50 minutes.
| Distance | 274 mi (442 km) |
| Shortest duration | 6h 50m |
| Cheapest price | $44.47 |
| Trips per day | 2 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 1 |
How much is a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
Bus tickets for a trip from Santa Barbara to Oakland cost $45.98 on average. Tickets cheaper than $45.98 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 Santa Barbara to Oakland by month
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 22 days in advance to save $20.29 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.
What bus companies travel from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Santa Barbara to Oakland. FlixBus US connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 3 | 8h 34m | $70.64 |
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 3 trips per day from Santa Barbara to Oakland, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Santa Barbara to Oakland
The bus takes an average of 8 hours and 33 minutes to cover the 274 miles from Santa Barbara to Oakland. However, the fastest bus only takes 6 hours and 50 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 Oakland. 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, Tuesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Tuesday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 12:00pm and the last bus leaves at 1:00pm. 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. This includes 2 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
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
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 Oakland?
Image credit: Pi.1415926535
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: West Oakland Bart Station
The Greyhound bus station, located at 2103 San Pablo Ave, was built in 1926 and is still open and operating today. The station has dramatic doorways and a magnificently ornate domed ceiling design. A security guard is on duty at all times to guarantee passenger safety. When passengers arrive, baggage goes through a security check, and you are only allowed in the station if you have a ticket, so say your goodbyes before you come. It serves as a primary stop for Alameda County's National bus system. The station is open from 5 am until 1:30 am every day and offers regular bus trips operated by Greyhound to locations around the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
All bus stations in Oakland:
West Oakland Bart Station
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