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Journey Information
There are 14 intercity buses per day from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Traveling by bus from Santa Barbara to San Diego usually takes around 9 hours and 39 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 50 minutes.
| Distance | 188 mi (302 km) |
| Shortest duration | 4h 50m |
| Cheapest price | $17.99 |
| Trips per day | 3 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
Bus tickets for a trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego cost $33.08 on average. Opting to take a bus is a wallet-friendly way to make this trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Average prices by travel date
If you're planning to travel by bus from Santa Barbara to San Diego in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $35 to $58. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on May 1, 2024.
If you’re looking to travel to San Diego this week, bus tickets are available starting at $39.
Monthly avg. prices
Prices as travel date approaches
Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 26 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $44.73 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from Santa Barbara to San Diego?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Santa Barbara to San Diego that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus US usually offers more choice, with 10 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 10 | 8h 48m | $52.04 |
| Greyhound | 4 | 11h 45m | $65.83 |
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 10 trips per day from Santa Barbara to San Diego, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 4 bus trips from Santa Barbara to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 11 hours and 45 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from $44.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 9 hours and 39 minutes to cover the 188 miles from Santa Barbara to San Diego. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 50 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Travelers prefer riding the bus on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in San Diego. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet.
The first bus leaves at 11:00am and the last bus leaves at 3:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Santa Barbara to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 14 scheduled buses that travel from Santa Barbara to San Diego every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 3 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Santa Barbara to San Diego; ticket prices start at $37.00.
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.
San Diego
San Diego is known as "America's Finest City" for its sunny weather, white-sand beaches, and dazzling attractions from Belmont Park to SeaWorld. San Diego's 70 miles of pristine beaches include such gems as Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach. The city's strong surfing culture may even inspire you to rent a surfboard and catch the epic waves, bro.
Visitors can spend days getting lost in Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre cultural hub which features 16 museums, immaculate gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The historic heart of the city, Old Town, showcases San Diego's heritage and ties to Mexican culture, while other sights like the USS Midway pay tribute to the city's military and maritime history. Leave time for some evening exploring, too! San Diego is rated the #1 best city for craft beer in America, so don't miss out on the bars in the Gaslamp Quarter: 16 walkable blocks packed with nightlife and young crowds.
Two airports, as well as many bus and train options, mean it is easy to get to San Diego from afar or from nearby cities like Tijuana, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Santa Barbara?
Main departure station: 209 State Street
Most buses depart from the main station in Santa Barbara.
All bus stations in Santa Barbara:
209 State Street
Where does the bus arrive in San Diego?
Main arrival station: San Ysidro Bus Terminal
Buses arrive in San Diego at 8 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
All bus stations in San Diego:
San Ysidro Bus Terminal
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
San Ysidro Transit Center
La Jolla - UC San Diego
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
SDSU - 5716 Hardy Ave
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
Balboa Park - Presidents Way
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