Cheap train tickets from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
Lowest Prices
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
Best Travel Options
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:
Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz Train Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz?
There are usually 1 daily bus trips available from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. PriceDKK 747.19 | Avg. PriceDKK 752.10 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips1 | Daily Trips2 |
Duration | Duration1d 5h 55m | Duration11h 19m |
Trip Summary
There are usually 2 daily train trips available from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz. Traveling by train from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz usually takes 11 hours and 21 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 8 hours and 56 minutes.
| Distance | 220 mi (353 km) |
| Fastest train | 8h 56m |
| Lowest price | DKK 576.78 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz?
In the last 30 days, the average cost of a train ticket from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz was DKK 684.92. Tickets for this route are somewhat expensive, given the distance between Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. You have the best chances of scoring the cheapest ticket to Santa Cruz if you book your train tickets at least 11 days in advance. Waiting to purchase until the day of your trip could end up costing you an extra DKK 45.88.
Average train ticket prices from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz by month
Which train should you take from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz?
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz. The schedule is relatively limited as the train only runs twice a day.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 2 | 11h 21m | DKK 704.45 |
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 2 Amtrak trains from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz every day, as well as 2 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from DKK 577.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz
The distance between Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz is approximately 220 miles, or 353 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 11 hours and 21 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 8 hours and 56 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 Santa Cruz 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 Tuesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Santa Barbara at 12:00pm 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.
Trains leave the station in Santa Barbara twice a day, so there are a couple of options depending on your preferred travel time. However, there are no direct trains. This means that you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train at some point during your journey. You will need to remember to bring your carry-on luggage with you when you change trains. Depending on the carrier's policy, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Santa Cruz 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.
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 Santa Cruz?
Main arrival station: Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz has one train station.
All train stations in Santa Cruz:
Santa Cruz, California
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara to Anaheim
DKK 243+
- Santa Barbara to Carpinteria Train
DKK 52+
- Santa Barbara to Davis Train
DKK 681+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Fullerton
DKK 236+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Grover Beach
DKK 210+
- Santa Barbara to Los Angeles Train
DKK 181+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Moorpark
DKK 131+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Oceanside
DKK 275+
- Santa Barbara to Ontario
DKK 455+
- Santa Barbara to Riverside Train
DKK 283+
- Train from Santa Barbara to San Diego
DKK 288+
- Santa Barbara to San Francisco Train
DKK 665+
- Train from Santa Barbara to San Jose
DKK 637+
- Train from Santa Barbara to San Juan Capistrano
DKK 257+
- Train from Santa Barbara to South Lake Tahoe
DKK 642+
- Santa Barbara to Ventura Train
DKK 111+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Chicago
DKK 3,970+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Seattle
DKK 1,875+
Continue by train from Santa Cruz
- Train from Santa Cruz to Berkeley
DKK 177+
- Santa Cruz to Fremont Train
DKK 118+
- Santa Cruz to Fresno Train
DKK 306+
- Santa Cruz to Los Angeles
DKK 619+
- Santa Cruz to Martinez
DKK 254+
- Train from Santa Cruz to Merced
DKK 239+
- Santa Cruz to Monterey Train
DKK 454+
- Train from Santa Cruz to Oakland
DKK 166+
- Train from Santa Cruz to Sacramento
DKK 329+
- Santa Cruz to San Diego Train
DKK 749+
- Santa Cruz to San Francisco Train
DKK 237+
- Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara Train
DKK 848+
- Train from Santa Cruz to Santa Rosa
DKK 295+
- Santa Cruz to Reno Train
DKK 623+
- Santa Cruz to Seattle
DKK 1,686+
Check out these popular routes
- Montreal to New York Train
DKK 617+
- Québec to Montreal
DKK 419+
- London to Paris
DKK 1,654+
- Train from Los Angeles to San Diego
DKK 242+
- Train from San Diego to Los Angeles
DKK 233+
- Washington D.C. to Baltimore Train
DKK 120+
- Train from Baltimore to Washington D.C.
DKK 110+
- Portland to Seattle
DKK 5,067+
- Newark to Washington D.C. Train
DKK 977+
- New York to Montreal Train
DKK 654+
- Train from New York to Boston
DKK 1,151+
- Train from Rensselaer to New York
DKK 419+
- Train from Portland to Seattle
DKK 369+
- Providence to New Rochelle Train
DKK 838+
- Providence to Syracuse Train
DKK 1,281+
- Train from Seattle to Vancouver
DKK 363+
Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
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.