5.0
We traveled business class and the cars were spacious and quiet. We will definitely select business class again for future trips.
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
There are usually 1 daily bus trips available from Santa Barbara to Fullerton.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. PriceRON 216.06 | Avg. PriceRON 204.99 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips1 | Daily Trips5 |
Duration | Duration5h 25m | Duration5h 20m |
There are usually 8 daily train trips available from Santa Barbara to Fullerton. Traveling by train from Santa Barbara to Fullerton usually takes 5 hours and 20 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train can make the trip in 3 hours and 46 minutes.
| Distance | 108 mi (174 km) |
| Fastest train | 3h 46m |
| Lowest price | RON 158.74 |
| Trains per day | 5 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Pacific Surfliner |
| Train lines | 2 |

Average score for trains from Santa Barbara to Fullerton
(Based on 2 ratings and reviews)
5.0
We traveled business class and the cars were spacious and quiet. We will definitely select business class again for future trips.
In the last 30 days, the average cost of a train ticket from Santa Barbara to Fullerton was RON 204.50. At this price, taking the train is the cheap and easy way to go. You have the best chances of scoring the cheapest ticket to Fullerton if you book your train tickets at least 27 days in advance. Waiting to purchase until the day of your trip could end up costing you an extra RON 13.58.
By booking your train trip from Santa Barbara to Fullerton on Wanderu at least 27 days ahead of time, you can save about RON 13.58 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!
2 train services operate from Santa Barbara to Fullerton. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner usually has more trains scheduled, with 5 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 3 | 7h 48m | RON 312.44 |
| Amtrak Pacific Surfliner | 5 | 3h 53m | RON 158.74 |
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 3 Amtrak trains from Santa Barbara to Fullerton every day, as well as 3 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from RON 190.
The Pacific Surfliner is Amtrak’s passenger train service that runs along the Pacific coast of Southern California, connecting San Luis Obispo to the north with San Diego to the south. The line is among the most famous Amtrak routes due to the unique scenic views it presents, as the train parallels the coastline for large portions of the 268-mile railroad stretch. The Pacific Surfliner offers first-class amenities like onboard restrooms, free WiFi, seats with extra legroom and power outlets, as well as storage racks for surfboards. On average, the service offers 5 train trips from Santa Barbara to Fullerton every day, and prices for a one-way train ticket start from RON 159.
The distance between Santa Barbara and Fullerton is approximately 108 miles, or 174 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 5 hours and 20 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 3 hours and 46 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 Fullerton are the most crowded on Friday. 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 Wednesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Santa Barbara at 6:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 6:00pm. 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 8 scheduled trains on most days. 5 of these are direct connections to Fullerton. While direct trains may still make stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains at any point. If you're looking to get to your destination faster, a direct train is the convenient and time-efficient choice.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Fullerton 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.
Fullerton was founded in 1887 and is roughly 22 miles from Los Angeles. The area around Fullerton was the original California orange growing zone due to its great Mediterranean environment. The nightlife in downtown Fullerton is well-known, plus there are around 50 parks in the city, including the famed Fullerton Arboretum, which features 26 acres of uncommon and rare species as well as sculpted gardens.
Fullerton has some of the best art museums in the country, including Muckenthaler Art and Cultural Center and the Clayes Performing Arts Center. You can also experience amazing lakes such as the Laguna Lake Park.
If you're a beer-lover, visit the Bootleggers Brewery. Founded in 2008 by home brewer and beer enthusiast Aaron Barkenhagen, Bootleggers Brewery is one of Orange County's largest artisan breweries.
As for transportation, Amtrak and Fullerton Metrolink are the two best train stations in Fullerton serviced by Amtrak's Southwest Chief and Pacific Surfliner. These Amtrak lines connect from Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and even as far away as Chicago. For buses, Amtrak Thruway comes from Santa Ana, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, and Riverside to Fullerton. The nearest airport is Long Beach Airport, which is only 14 miles away from the city.
There is one train station in Santa Barbara.
209 State Street
Fullerton has one train station.
120 East Santa Fe Ave - Fullerton Transp Ctr
RON 686+
RON 35+
RON 364+
RON 359+
RON 101+
RON 121+
RON 360+
RON 75+
RON 194+
RON 373+
RON 388+
RON 150+
RON 163+
RON 392+
RON 13+
RON 75+
RON 2,004+
RON 985+
RON 22+
RON 147+
RON 220+
RON 71+
RON 330+
RON 367+
RON 132+
RON 347+
RON 28+
RON 448+
RON 82+
RON 137+
RON 172+
RON 137+
RON 117+
RON 324+
RON 1,375+
RON 803+
RON 162+
RON 162+
RON 125+
RON 128+
RON 145+
RON 185+
RON 1,560+
RON 165+
RON 87+
RON 1,524+
RON 229+
RON 2,736+
RON 137+
RON 490+
RON 605+
RON 212+
RON 488+
RON 218+

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.