There are 7 ways to get from Monterey to Santa Barbara by bus (Amtrak), train (Amtrak), car, plane, shuttle, subway, or train
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 53m$72–133Drive 232.2 mi
cheapest- Drive from Monterey to Santa Barbaracar 232.2 mi
4h 22m$43–62Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Salinas to Santa Barbaratrain Coast Starlight
7h 59m$67–153Fly Monterey Regional Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Fly from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane MRY - SBA
5h 50m$49–305Shuttle to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from Monterey Shuttle Station to SFO Airport International
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane SFO - SBA
6h 12m$90–300Shuttle, BART to Oakland International Airport, fly to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from Monterey Shuttle Station to SJC Airport Terminal B
- Take the subway from Milpitas to Coliseumsubway
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane OAK - SBA
6h 45m$99–352Fly Monterey Regional Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, train
- Fly from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane MRY - LAX
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbaratrain
7h 19m$66–296
Monterey to Santa Barbara by bus (Amtrak)
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 $70 - $140.
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 $70 - $140. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $65 - $160 and takes 7h 59m, you could also fly, which costs $45 - $310 and takes 5h 50m.
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. Tickets cost $70–130 and the journey takes 6h. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Salinas to Santa Barbara once daily. Tickets cost $65–150 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 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–300
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Tuesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $45–310
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–230
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–220
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–240
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–450
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–280
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
- $65–150
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 36m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $26–60
- 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
- Estimated price
- $70–130
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 831-373-7777
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Shuttle from Monterey Shuttle Station to SFO Airport International
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $55–70
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Standard Rate
- $55–70
Shuttle from Monterey Shuttle Station to SJC Airport Terminal B
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Standard Rate
- $45–60
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