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.
Trip Summary
2 trains operate daily from Truckee to Santa Barbara. The train trip from Truckee to Santa Barbara is usually about 14 hours and 48 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 13 hours and 30 minutes.
| Distance | 340 mi (547 km) |
| Fastest train | 13h 30m |
| Lowest price | $82.00 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Truckee to Santa Barbara?
In the last month, the average price of a train ticket from Truckee to Santa Barbara was $106.00. This is somewhat expensive compared to other train fares, but it makes sense given the route’s long distance. Good news! You can find the cheapest tickets if you book your trip at least 5 days prior to the travel date. You’ll likely pay around $24.00 more if you wait to book until the last minute.
Monthly avg. prices
Which train should you take from Truckee to Santa Barbara?
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Truckee to Santa Barbara. The schedule is relatively limited as the train only runs twice a day.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 2 | 14h 49m | $115.23 |
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 Truckee to Santa Barbara every day, as well as 2 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $82.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Truckee and Santa Barbara is approximately 340 miles, or 547 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 14 hours and 48 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 13 hours and 30 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.
Saturday tends to be the busiest day of the week with travelers taking trains from Truckee to Santa Barbara. Ticket price also tend to be more expensive on Saturday than other days. If you are hoping to have more room on the train and even save some change check out travel options on Tuesday instead, as less people travel then and deals are more likely to be found.
The earliest train departs Truckee at 7:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 2:00pm. 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 Truckee 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 Barbara to Truckee.
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 Truckee?
Main departure station: 10065 Donner Pass Rd
There is one train station in Truckee.
All train stations in Truckee:
10065 Donner Pass Rd
Where is the train station in Santa Barbara?
Main arrival station: 209 State Street
Santa Barbara has one train station.
All train stations in Santa Barbara:
209 State Street
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Santa Barbara to Truckee?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Truckee
Continue by train from Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara to Tucson Train
$89+
- Santa Barbara to Carpinteria Train
$8+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Chico
$94+
- Santa Barbara to Davis Train
$83+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Guadalupe
$30+
- Santa Barbara to Los Angeles Train
$27+
- Santa Barbara to Monterey
$80+
- Santa Barbara to Oxnard Train
$17+
- Santa Barbara to Redding Train
$77+
- Santa Barbara to Riverside Train
$42+
- Train from Santa Barbara to San Juan Capistrano
$39+
- Santa Barbara to Santa Ana Train
$37+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Santa Clara
$84+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Santa Paula
$8+
- Train from Santa Barbara to South Lake Tahoe
$90+
- Train from Santa Barbara to Chicago
$303+
- Santa Barbara to Las Vegas Train
$88+
Check out these popular routes
- Train from Chicago to Saint Paul
$91+
- Train from Indianapolis to Chicago
$37+
- South Bend to Chicago Train
$27+
- Ann Arbor to Toronto Train
$113+
- Train from Ann Arbor to Chicago
$58+
- Saint Paul to Chicago Train
$92+
- Train from Charlotte to Raleigh
$27+
- Train from New York to Rochester
$73+
- Train from Milwaukee to Chicago
$22+
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.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more