There are 5 ways to get from Salinas to Santa Barbara by bus (Amtrak), train (Amtrak), car, bus, train, or plane
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
6hTrain (Amtrak)
cheapest- Take the train from Salinas to Santa Barbaratrain Coast Starlight
6h 6m$40–110Drive 216.8 mi
- Drive from Salinas to Santa Barbaracar 216.8 mi
4h$40–58Bus, Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Salinas to San Josebus
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane SFO - SBA
5h 53mBus, train to Oakland International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Salinas to San Josebus
- Take the train from San Jose to Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtraktrain
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane OAK - SBA
6h 35m
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Salinas to Santa Barbara is to drive which costs $35 - $60 and takes 4h.
The fastest way to get from Salinas to Santa Barbara is to drive which takes 4h and costs $35 - $60.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Salinas and arriving at Santa Barbara. Services depart three times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 6h.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Salinas and arriving at Santa Barbara. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 6h 6m.
The distance between Salinas and Santa Barbara is 245 miles. The road distance is 218.1 miles.
The best way to get from Salinas to Santa Barbara without a car is to bus which takes 6h and costs .
The bus from Salinas to Santa Barbara takes 6h including transfers and departs three times a day.
Salinas to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Salinas station.
Salinas to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Salinas station.
The best way to get from Salinas to Santa Barbara is to bus which takes 6h and costs . Alternatively, you can train, which costs $40 - $110 and takes 6h 6m.
What companies run services between Salinas, 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 San Francisco International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $45–330
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
Train from San Jose to Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $14–16
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
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
Bus from Salinas to San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
Salinas to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Salinas to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Yes, the driving distance between Salinas to Santa Barbara is 218 miles. It takes approximately 4h to drive from Salinas to Santa Barbara.
Book your Salinas to Santa Barbara train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Salinas to Santa Barbara bus tickets online with Omio.
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