How much is the bus ticket from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

The cheapest bus tickets from San Jose to Santa Barbara start from $37. The average price for this route is around $73. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

The average bus trip duration from San Jose to Santa Barbara is 6h 20m, covering a distance of 232 miles (374 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 5h 15m and is operated by FlixBus .

Which bus companies service the San Jose to Santa Barbara route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 3 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak , FlixBus , Greyhound .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

The earliest bus departs from San Jose to Santa Barbara at 12:55am. And the latest bus departs at 11:50pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

A bus trip from San Jose to Santa Barbara generates an estimated 9 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.

Which bus company has the most timely service from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Jose to Santa Barbara?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak , with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Bus San Jose to Santa Barbara from $44 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for San Jose to Santa Barbara on December 4
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
9:25am	Diridon Station	5h 15m	2:40pm	Santa Barbara Station	CheapestFastest
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 35m	9:55pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 20m	9:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Jose to Santa Barbara on December 5
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 35m	9:55pm	Train Station	Cheapest
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 20m	9:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	Fastest
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Jose to Santa Barbara on December 6
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
2:55pm	Diridon Station	6h 35m	9:30pm	Train Station	Cheapest
2:55pm	Diridon Station	6h 20m	9:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	Fastest
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Jose to Santa Barbara on December 7
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	2:55pm	Diridon Station	6h 35m	9:30pm	Train Station	Cheapest
	2:55pm	Diridon Station	6h 20m	9:15pm	UC Santa Barbara	Fastest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	12:55am	Diridon Station	10h 45m	11:40am	Santa Barbara Station	No tags
	11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
	11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags

Next departures for San Jose to Santa Barbara on December 8
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
9:25am	Diridon Station	5h 15m	2:40pm	Santa Barbara Station	CheapestFastest
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 35m	9:55pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 20m	9:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Jose to Santa Barbara on December 9
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
9:25am	Diridon Station	5h 15m	2:40pm	Santa Barbara Station	CheapestFastest
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 35m	9:55pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 20m	9:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Next departures for San Jose to Santa Barbara on December 10
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
9:25am	Diridon Station	5h 15m	2:40pm	Santa Barbara Station	CheapestFastest
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 35m	9:55pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
11:35am	Diridon Station	7h 19m	6:54pm	Train Station	No tags
3:20pm	Diridon Station	6h 20m	9:40pm	UC Santa Barbara	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 5:31 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from San Jose to Santa Barbara

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Santa Barbara. The journey takes about 6 hours 20 minutes and with fares starting at just $37, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

3bus per day

6h 20mAverage Duration

232 milesDistance

9kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$37 - $191	Average Duration6h 20m	CO₂ emissions 9kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$58 - $131	Average Duration7h 46m	CO₂ emissions 35kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in San Jose and Santa Barbara?

Stops in San Jose

A
Diridon Station
65 Cahill St., San Jose, CA 95110
Visit page
B
Santiago Express San Jose
440 S King rd , an Jose CA 95116
Visit page
C
1118 E William St
1118 E William St, San Jose, CA 95116, USA
D
San Jose Bus Stop
100 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
E
Tamien Station
Guadalupe Fwy, San Jose, CA 95110, USA
F
Diridon Station
65 Cahill St, San Jose, CA 95110, USA

Stops in Santa Barbara

A
Train Station
224 Chapala St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Visit page

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,621 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,504 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

FlixBus San Jose Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

They stole my money :(

Madelyn B.

October 19, 2025

Greyhound

3.5/587,412 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.4

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

Greyhound San Jose Santa Barbara recent customer reviews

Great timing. friendly staff. Can be little more cleaner!

Hirish C.

February 21, 2018

US bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about traveling from San Jose, US to Santa Barbara by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
The cheapest bus tickets from San Jose to Santa Barbara start from $37. The average price for this route is around $73. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
The average bus trip duration from San Jose to Santa Barbara is 6h 20m, covering a distance of 232 miles (374 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 5h 15m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the San Jose to Santa Barbara route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 3 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak, FlixBus, Greyhound.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
The earliest bus departs from San Jose to Santa Barbara at 12:55am. And the latest bus departs at 11:50pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
A bus trip from San Jose to Santa Barbara generates an estimated 9 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company has the most timely service from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Jose to Santa Barbara?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak, with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

11/30

$98

12/01

$98

Today

$69

12/03

$69

12/04

$54

12/05

$69

12/06

$69

12/07

$69

The cheapest trip from San Jose, US to Santa Barbara was searched and found on Dec 4, 2025 with a price of $54

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from San Jose, US to Santa Barbara, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $54 to $135 for a bus ticket from San Jose, US to Santa Barbara based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $54 which is on 2025-12-04.

Usually Amtrak will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.