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Trip Summary
You can pick from 2 daily train trips between Santa Barbara and Portland. The average train journey from Santa Barbara to Portland takes 27 hours and 44 minutes, but some Amtrak Coast Starlight train trips are as short as 27 hours and 19 minutes.
| Distance | 783 mi (1260 km) |
| Fastest train | 27h 19m |
| Lowest price | $114.00 |
| Trains per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 2 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Santa Barbara to Portland?
In the last 30 days, the average cost of a train ticket from Santa Barbara to Portland was $126.50. Tickets for this route are somewhat expensive, given the distance between Santa Barbara and Portland. You have the best chances of scoring the cheapest ticket to Portland if you book your train tickets at least 15 days in advance. Waiting to purchase until the day of your trip could end up costing you an extra $82.12.
Monthly avg. prices
Prices as travel date approaches
If you're looking to save on your train trip from Santa Barbara to Portland, book online with Wanderu at least 15 days in advance. That way, you’ll save $82.12 compared to booking your ticket last minute.
Which train should you take from Santa Barbara to Portland?
2 train services operate from Santa Barbara to Portland. However, each train line only offers one daily trip.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 1 | 1d 4h 6m | $178.15 |
| Amtrak Coast Starlight | 1 | 1d 3h 19m | $158.91 |
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 1 Amtrak trains from Santa Barbara to Portland every day, as well as 2 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $128.
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 Portland is approximately 783 miles, or 1260 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 27 hours and 44 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 27 hours and 19 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.
On a weekly basis, the greatest number of passengers tend to travel by trains from Santa Barbara to Portland on Friday. Tickets for Friday tend to also be the most expensive. For savvy travelers looking for cheaper priced tickets search for travel departing on Sunday. Sunday also tend to have less passengers which may make boarding faster and let you snag your perfect seat.
The earliest train departs Santa Barbara at 9:00am 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.
Trains leave the station in Santa Barbara twice a day, so there are a couple of options depending on your preferred travel time. One of these is a direct train, which will typically get you to Portland faster. While it might still have stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains during your trip.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Portland 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.
Portland
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Portland is the largest city in Oregon and accordingly one of the state's best vacation destinations. Also known as the City of Roses, this city along the Willamette River wows visitors with its diverse street food, quirky counterculture, and sprawling bookstores such as the world-famous Powell's Books.
Portland is the 5th best city in the United States for outdoor activities, thanks in part to open-air grounds like the expansive Forest Park. Gardens are also excellent outdoor date locales for couples on a romantic getaway: stop and smell the roses at either the International Rose Test Garden or the Portland Japanese Garden.
Once you've gotten hungry from a long day wandering outside, nearly every block downtown has a plethora of food trucks waiting to tickle your taste buds. Or, kick back at one of the many breweries in the #3 best city for craft beer in the United States. Unique locations like McMenamin's brewpubs in renovated cinemas or historic hotels do their part to "keep Portland weird."
As the biggest city in Oregon, Portland is a hub for travel throughout the Pacific Northwest. Amtrak train service and various bus services operate primarily out of Union Station, conveniently-located downtown, and nearby Portland International Airport makes it easy to travel to Portland from near and far.
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 Portland?
Image credit: Ian Sane
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Union Station
Located in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown area at 800 Northwest Sixth Avenue, Union Station features a glowing neon sign encouraging you to “Go By Train.” Union Station serves several iconic Amtrak routes including the Cascades through the Pacific Northwest, the scenic Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle, and the long-distance Empire Builder which travels all the way to Chicago. Along with train service, Union Station serves intercity bus service via Greyhound, and connects to the Portland Streetcar, MAX Light Rail, and several local TriMet buses. There is a restaurant and bar onsite, as well as a Metropolitan Lounge reserved for Amtrak’s first- and business-class passengers.
All train stations in Portland:
Union Station
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Continue by train from Portland
- Train from Portland to Vancouver
$79+
- Train from Portland to Arcata
$160+
- Train from Portland to Los Angeles
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- Train from Portland to Martinez
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- Train from Portland to Boston
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- Portland to Fargo
$139+
- Train from Portland to Rochester
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