Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz Train - Amtrak Tickets PLN 326

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:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz Train Schedule

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	PLN 326.32
	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 PLN 326.32. You have the best chances of scoring the cheapest ticket to Santa Cruz if you book your train tickets at least 6 days in advance. Waiting to purchase until the day of your trip could end up costing you an extra PLN 72.31.

Average train ticket prices from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz by month

You can find the lowest prices on this route during April. This time of year offers the best deals on train tickets from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz, with the average price at just PLN 337. Train tickets on this route are most expensive in July, when the average price goes up to PLN 464. You can still score cheap deals below this average price, though, especially if you plan ahead and book your ticket in advance.

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 22m	PLN 385.76

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 PLN 326.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz

While the train is the main method of transportation from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz, it will only take you part of the way there. Please note that part of your trip will be on a different vehicle, most commonly a bus or express shuttle.

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 Tuesday. 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 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

Find the best way to get to and from any station in Santa Cruz by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

From the Wanderu blog

Ranking Bus & Train Carriers’ Cancellation Policies from Most to Least Flexible Read more

Top Things to Do in Santa Cruz Read more

Best Day Trips from San Francisco: Explore Northern California Read more

Need a return trip from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara?

Search Train Tickets

Plan your next adventure

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.

Cheap train tickets from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz

Search