There are 6 ways to get from San Rafael to Santa Barbara by bus, plane, bus (Flixbus), train (Amtrak), car, or bus (Amtrak)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus to Oakland International Airport, fly
best- Take the bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airportbus
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane OAK - SBA
4h 21m$67–384Bus (Flixbus)
cheapest- Take the bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara Bus Stopbus FlixBus 2005
8h 20m$48–130Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Oakland to Santa Barbaratrain Coast Starlight
11h 24m$63–123Drive 336.1 mi
- Drive from San Rafael to Santa Barbaracar 336.1 mi
6h 8m$62–89Bus to San Francisco International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Hwy 101 @ Seminary Dr Bus Padbus
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane SFO - SBA
5h 3m$61–293Bus via Oakland (Amtrak)
- Take the bus from Oakland to Santa Barbarabus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
11h 1m
San Rafael to Santa Barbara by bus (Flixbus)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Rafael to Santa Barbara is to bus which costs $45 - $130 and takes 8h 20m.
The fastest way to get from San Rafael to Santa Barbara is to bus and fly which takes 4h 21m and costs $65 - $390.
No, there is no direct bus from San Rafael to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A and arriving at Santa Barbara Bus Stop via 4th St & Market St and San Francisco. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 20m.
The distance between San Rafael and Santa Barbara is 304 miles. The road distance is 338 miles.
The best way to get from San Rafael to Santa Barbara without a car is to bus which takes 8h 20m and costs $45 - $130.
It takes approximately 4h 21m to get from San Rafael to Santa Barbara, including transfers.
San Rafael to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from San Francisco station.
The best way to get from San Rafael to Santa Barbara is to bus which takes 8h 20m and costs $45 - $130. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $60 - $130 and takes 11h 24m.
San Rafael to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Santa Barbara Bus Stop station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Rafael to Santa Barbara is 338 miles. It takes approximately 6h 8m to drive from San Rafael to Santa Barbara.
What companies run services between San Rafael, CA, USA and Santa Barbara, CA, USA?
Flixbus USA operates a bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara Bus Stop 4 times a week. Tickets cost $40–120 and the journey takes 6h 20m. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Oakland to Santa Barbara once daily. Tickets cost $55–110 and the journey takes 9h 3m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–260
- 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 Oakland to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 3m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–110
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 707-837-8700
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $21–55
- Website
- https://groometransportation.com/sonoma-county/
- First Passenger
- $21–55
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $40–120
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Website
- marintransit.gov
Bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Hwy 101 @ Seminary Dr Bus Pad
- Ave. Duration
- 11 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Schedules at
- marintransit.gov
- Phone
- +1 415-921-5858
- bridgecomments@goldengate.org
- Website
- goldengate.org
Bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Hwy 101 @ Seminary Dr Bus Pad
- Ave. Duration
- 10 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org/
- Adult
- $5–7
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Oakland to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
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