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Trip Summary
6 trains operate daily from Santa Barbara to Oakland. The train trip from Santa Barbara to Oakland is usually about 9 hours and 35 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 8 hours and 15 minutes.
| Distance | 274 mi (442 km) |
| Fastest train | 8h 15m |
| Lowest price | $45.00 |
| Trains per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 2 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
The average price for a train ticket from Santa Barbara to Oakland is $78.63, By booking your trip at least 23 days in advance, you increase your chances of scoring even cheaper tickets. But if you wait until the day of your trip to book tickets, expect to pay $13.23 more.
Monthly average prices
Prices as travel date approaches
By booking your train trip from Santa Barbara to Oakland on Wanderu at least 23 days ahead of time, you can save about $13.23 on your ticket. Waiting until the last minute means missing out on these savings!
Which train should you take from Santa Barbara to Oakland?
2 train services operate from Santa Barbara to Oakland. Amtrak 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 | 5 | 9h 42m | $84.69 |
| Amtrak Coast Starlight | 1 | 8h 45m | $93.41 |
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 Oakland every day, as well as 8 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $45.
The Amtrak Coast Starlight is a service provided by Amtrak that connects Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles on the US Pacific coast. The full journey winds through the Cascade Mountains, perfectly clipped vineyards, and dense coastal forest, allowing passengers to get a glimpse of the US west coast while enjoying air-conditioned cars, power outlets, complimentary onboard WiFi, and snacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Santa Barbara and Oakland is approximately 274 miles, or 442 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 9 hours and 35 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 8 hours and 15 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 Oakland are the most crowded on Monday. 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 12:00pm. 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 6 scheduled trains on most days. There is one direct train, which you can stay on for the entire journey from Santa Barbara to Oakland. In contrast, taking a non-direct train would require you to transfer trains during your trip.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Oakland to Santa Barbara.
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 is the train station in Santa Barbara?
Main departure station: 209 State Street
There is one train station in Santa Barbara.
All train stations in Santa Barbara:
209 State Street
Where is the train station 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 San Joaquins 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 train stations in Oakland:
245 Second St
Across San Leandro Blvd from BART station - 700 73rd Ave
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More trains from Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara to Carpinteria Train
$8+
- Santa Barbara to Davis Train
$83+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Fresno
$75+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Guadalupe
$30+
- Santa Barbara to Lompoc Train
$23+
- Santa Barbara to Los Angeles Train
$28+
- Santa Barbara to Modesto
$76+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Oceanside
$42+
- Santa Barbara to Ontario
$47+
- Santa Barbara to Oxnard Train
$17+
- Santa Barbara to Salinas Train
$77+
- Train from Santa Barbara to San Diego
$44+
- Santa Barbara to San Francisco Train
$72+
- Train from Santa Barbara to San Jose
$86+
- Train from Santa Barbara to San Juan Capistrano
$39+
- Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo
$34+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Simi Valley
$23+
Continue by train from Oakland
- Train from Oakland to Santa Barbara
$77+
- Oakland to Santa Cruz Train
$25+
- Oakland to Yosemite Valley Train
$37+
- Train from Oakland to Reno
$85+
- Oakland to New York Train
$407+
- Oakland to Portland Train
$146+
- Train from Oakland to Dallas
$337+
- Train from Oakland to Salt Lake City
$119+
- Train from Oakland to Seattle
$173+
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