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There are usually 5 daily train trips available from Santa Barbara to Berkeley. Traveling by train from Santa Barbara to Berkeley usually takes 9 hours and 17 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 7 hours and 7 minutes.
| Distance | 278 mi (448 km) |
| Fastest train | 7h 7m |
| Lowest price | $37.00 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
Average score for trains from Santa Barbara to Berkeley
(Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
4.0
Pros: Air conditioning throughout the trip. Clean and tidy bus. Departed and arrived on time. Cons: The bus driver’s attitude towards passengers. He could be more polite and soft spoken. No wifi working. Tips: Bring a neck pillow with you and sit in the frontmost seats.
In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from Santa Barbara to Berkeley was $37.00. This is an excellent price given the length of the route. Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 16 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $85.82 more if you wait to book until the last minute.
By booking your train trip from Santa Barbara to Berkeley on Wanderu at least 16 days ahead of time, you can save about $85.82 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Santa Barbara to Berkeley. However, there are 5 trains per day to choose from.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 5 | 9h 17m | $93.63 |
Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 5 Amtrak trains from Santa Barbara to Berkeley every day, as well as 5 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $37.
The distance between Santa Barbara and Berkeley is approximately 278 miles, or 448 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 9 hours and 17 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 7 hours and 7 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.
Trains from Santa Barbara to Berkeley are the most crowded on Wednesday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Thursday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Santa Barbara at 7:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 10:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 5 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Berkeley to 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.
Image credit: Unsplash
Berkeley is located on the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay Area and is home to the popular University of California. It has an ethnically diverse community and numerous culinary and art attractions as a college city. Make the most of your trip with a visit to their unique museums, like the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, the Berkeley Art Museum, and the Pacific Film Archive.
The Lawrence Hall of Science offers a planetarium and hands-on exhibits for families. Berkeley is also home to gorgeous parks and green spaces, like the 2000-acre Tilden Regional Park and Adventure Playground. Berkeley is the center of entertainment in California, with the exciting nightlife attracting students and young professionals. Food is an important part of this city, as you can explore the ethnic restaurants and food trucks. Look out for shows held in the Greek Theatre, or explore their ever-growing craft beer scene. Downtown Berkeley is the entertainment district of this college city.
If you're visiting Berkeley, you can do so by train from 85 other cities or bus from 38 cities. The bus lines are provided by FlixBus, while Amtrak supplies most of the train routes. In the town, you can move around with public transit, with student-friendly prices.
There is one train station in Santa Barbara.
209 State Street
Berkeley has one train station.
700 University Ave under University Ave overpass W of 4th St
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With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
