There are 6 ways to get from Monterey to Santa Barbara by bus (Amtrak), train (Amtrak), car, plane, shuttle, or subway
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus (Amtrak)
best- Take the bus from Salinas to Santa Barbarabus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
7h 53mTrain (Amtrak)
cheapest- Take the train from Salinas to Santa Barbaratrain Coast Starlight
7h 59m$42–113Drive 232.2 mi
- Drive from Monterey to Santa Barbaracar 232.2 mi
4h 22m$43–62Fly from Monterey Regional Airport
- Fly from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane MRY - SBA
5h 45m$49–315Shuttle to San Francisco International Airport, fly
- Take a shuttle bus from Monterey - Calle Principal / Parking Garage to SFO Airport Terminal 2-Lower Level
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane SFO - SBA
6h 17m$98–344Shuttle, BART to Oakland International Airport, fly
- Take a shuttle bus from Monterey - Calle Principal / Parking Garage to San Jose Airport Terminal A
- Take the subway from Milpitas to Coliseumsubway
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane OAK - SBA
6h 42m$106–394
Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Monterey to Santa Barbara is to drive which costs $40 - $65 and takes 4h 22m.
The fastest way to get from Monterey to Santa Barbara is to drive which takes 4h 22m and costs $40 - $65.
No, there is no direct bus from Monterey to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from Tyler / Franklin and arriving at Santa Barbara via Salinas. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 53m.
The distance between Monterey and Santa Barbara is 264 miles. The road distance is 233.5 miles.
The best way to get from Monterey to Santa Barbara without a car is to bus which takes 7h 53m and costs .
It takes approximately 7h 53m to get from Monterey to Santa Barbara, including transfers.
Monterey to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Salinas station.
The best way to get from Monterey to Santa Barbara is to bus which takes 7h 53m and costs . Alternatively, you can train, which costs $40 - $120 and takes 7h 59m, you could also fly, which costs $45 - $320 and takes 5h 45m.
Monterey to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Yes, the driving distance between Monterey to Santa Barbara is 234 miles. It takes approximately 4h 22m to drive from Monterey to Santa Barbara.
What companies run services between Monterey, CA, USA and Santa Barbara, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a bus from Salinas to Santa Barbara 3 times a day, and the journey takes 6h. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Salinas to Santa Barbara once daily. Tickets cost $40–110 and the journey takes 6h 6m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–310
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $45–320
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–440
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $45–320
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Salinas to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 6m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–110
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Milpitas to Coliseum
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–8
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Salinas to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 831-373-7777
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Shuttle from Monterey - Calle Principal / Parking Garage to SFO Airport Terminal 2-Lower Level
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $60–75
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Online Discount
- $60–75
- Standard Rate
- $71
Shuttle from Monterey - Calle Principal / Parking Garage to San Jose Airport Terminal A
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $50–60
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Online Discount
- $50–60
- Standard Rate
- $57
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