Cheap bus tickets from Santa Maria to Oakland
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Santa Maria to Oakland Bus Schedule
Bus from Santa Maria to Oakland: Journey Information
There are 3 intercity buses per day from Santa Maria to Oakland. Traveling by bus from Santa Maria to Oakland usually takes around 6 hours and 32 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway bus can make the trip in 6 hours and 10 minutes.
| Distance | 222 mi (357 km) |
| Shortest duration | 6h 10m |
| Cheapest price | $42.00 |
| Trips per day | 3 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Thruway |
| Bus lines | 1 |

What bus companies travel from Santa Maria to Oakland?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Santa Maria to Oakland. Amtrak Thruway 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 3 | 6h 32m | $42.00 |
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 Oakland start at $42. On average, there are 3 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Santa Maria to Oakland
The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 32 minutes to cover the 222 miles from Santa Maria to Oakland. However, the fastest bus only takes 6 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.
The first bus leaves at 11:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Santa Maria to Oakland, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 3 scheduled buses that travel from Santa Maria to Oakland every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Santa Maria to Oakland without transferring.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Santa Maria to Oakland; ticket prices start at $110.00.
City Information
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 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 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 Gold Runner 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
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Need a return trip from Oakland to Santa Maria?
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