There are 5 ways to get from Chicago to Santa Barbara by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport
best- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane ORD - SBA
7h 29m$124–557Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Los Angelestrain Southwest Chief / ...
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbaratrain Pacific Surfliner / ...
47h 8m$233–1,643Bus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Santa Barbara Bus Stopbus
2d 1h$174–584Drive 2,084.2 mi
- Drive from Chicago to Santa Barbaracar 2,084.2 mi
32h 58m$381–550Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane MDW - SBA
9h 3m$154–707
Chicago to Santa Barbara by train (Amtrak)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Santa Barbara is to fly which costs $120 - $600 and takes 7h 29m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to Santa Barbara is to fly which takes 7h 29m and costs $120 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from Chicago Bus Station and arriving at Santa Barbara Bus Stop via St Louis Bus Station and Los Angeles Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 1h.
No, there is no direct train from Chicago station to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from Chicago Union Station and arriving at Santa Barbara via Los Angeles. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 47h 8m.
The distance between Chicago and Santa Barbara is 1837 miles. The road distance is 2096.4 miles.
The best way to get from Chicago to Santa Barbara without a car is to train which takes 47h 8m and costs $230 - $1,700.
It takes approximately 7h 29m to get from Chicago to Santa Barbara, including transfers.
Chicago to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
Chicago to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Chicago Union Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to Santa Barbara is to fly which takes 7h 29m and costs $120 - $600. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $230 - $1,700 and takes 47h 8m, you could also bus, which costs $170 - $600 and takes 2 days 1h.
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and Santa Barbara, CA, USA?
United Airlines, American Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from Chicago Union Station to Santa Barbara via Los Angeles in around 47h 8m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 11m
- When
- Monday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Oakland
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 17m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $170–750
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 50m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 43h 32m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $200–1,600
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 36m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $30–120
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–75
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Santa Barbara Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $17–50
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 38h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $120–460
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
Chicago to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at St Louis Bus Station.
Santa Barbara is 2h behind Chicago. It is currently 9:22 PM in Chicago and 7:22 PM in Santa Barbara.
Chicago to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Los Angeles station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to Santa Barbara is 2096 miles. It takes approximately 32h 58m to drive from Chicago to Santa Barbara.
Book your Chicago to Santa Barbara train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Chicago to Santa Barbara bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 302+ hotels available in Santa Barbara.