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Cheap bus tickets from Santa Maria to Los Angeles

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Santa Maria to Los Angeles Bus Schedule

Is it better to travel by bus or train from Santa Maria to Los Angeles?

There are usually 10 daily train trips available from Santa Maria to Los Angeles.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$55.91
Avg. Price
$67.64
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
2
Daily Trips
10
Duration
Duration
3h 56m
Duration
5h 45m

Bus from Santa Maria to Los Angeles: Journey Information

There are 2 intercity buses per day from Santa Maria to Los Angeles. Traveling by bus from Santa Maria to Los Angeles usually takes around 4 hours and 34 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Distance139 mi (224 km)
Shortest duration3h 10m
Cheapest price$37.47
Trips per day2
Most frequent serviceAmtrak Thruway
Bus lines2

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Price trends for buses from Santa Maria to Los Angeles

Monthly avg. prices

$50$40$30$20$10JFMAMJJASOND

What bus companies travel from Santa Maria to Los Angeles?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from Santa Maria to Los Angeles that you can compare and book on Wanderu. However, each company only runs one bus per day.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Thruway13h 39m$59.00
FlixBus US35h 21m$53.48
  • 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 Maria to Los Angeles start at $59. 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 3 trips per day from Santa Maria to Los Angeles, and the average ticket for this route costs only .

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Santa Maria to Los Angeles

The bus takes an average of 4 hours and 34 minutes to cover the 139 miles from Santa Maria to Los Angeles. However, the fastest bus only takes 3 hours and 10 minutes. In other words, you'll have plenty of time to rest and relax on the road. 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.

Because many passengers travel from Santa Maria to Los Angeles at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for buses. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet.

The first bus leaves at 5:00pm and the last bus leaves at 8:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Santa Maria to Los Angeles, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are usually only 2 buses per day from Santa Maria to Los Angeles. 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 Santa Maria to Los Angeles; ticket prices start at $58.00.

City Information

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the undisputed world capital of the entertainment business. Because of that, the City of Angels is where you will find some of the most iconic landmarks of the film and music industries, including the world-famous Walk of Fame and Dolby Theatre (home of the Academy Awards) on Hollywood Boulevard, the easily recognizable Capitol Records building at Hollywood & Vine, and the LA Live complex in Downtown Los Angeles.

The best part of LA is that it has something to offer for people of all interests: outdoor enthusiasts can hike up to the Hollywood sign, fashion aficionados can go shopping in Beverly Hills, art lovers can check out the prominent Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in the Miracle Mile district, and those looking for a fun night out can go bar-hopping in West Hollywood. Are you a Pokémon GO addict? Well then this is the place for you because LA is the best city to catch the rarest Pokémon in the U.S.. And if you want to want to experience the famed golden coast of Southern California for yourself, head west to Santa Monica and Venice for a refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean.

With one of the biggest airports on the West Coast and several bus and train stops across the county, Los Angeles makes it easy to travel elsewhere in California, visit the neighboring Nevada, Arizona and Mexico, or take a flight to pretty much any other part of the world.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Santa Maria?

Main departure station: Santa Maria Bus Stop

Most buses depart from the main station in Santa Maria.

All bus stations in Santa Maria:

  • Santa Maria Bus Stop

Where does the bus arrive in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles, CA - Union Station - LAXUST-0

Image credit: David Wilson

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: Union Station

Union Station is the main train station in Los Angeles and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. The station was opened in 1939 and has become one of California’s busiest transportation hubs, serving more than 100 thousand passengers per day. Every Amtrak route that goes through Los Angeles stops at Union Station. In addition, the area around the station serves as the main bus stop for several bus carriers that conduct trips in and out of the city. Located in Downtown LA, Union Station offers easy transit connections to other parts of the city via three Metro Rail lines and one Metro Busway line, as well as a shuttle service to LAX airport. Union Station also serves as the main LA hub for six lines of Metrolink, Southern California’s primary commuter rail service.

All bus stations in Los Angeles:

  • Union Station

  • 592 Gayley Ave

  • San Fernando Bus Station

  • 800 N Alameda St

  • North Hollywood Bus Station

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