What is the distance between Santa Monica and Santa Cruz?

The distance separating Santa Monica and Santa Cruz is 285 miles (460 km).

Bus Santa Monica to Santa Cruz from $80 | Compare & Save up to 10%

TodayAug 6

TomorrowAug 7

from $85

FriAug 8

SatAug 9

SunAug 10

MonAug 11

TueAug 12

WedAug 13

Next departures to Santa Cruz

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest + Fastest
Departure time: August 7 at 8:05am
Departure city: Santa Monica
Departure location: Santa Monica Pier
Arrival time: August 7 at 8:04pm
Destination city: Santa Cruz
Destination location: Santa Cruz, CA
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 11h 59m
Departure time: August 7 at 8:05am
Departure city: Santa Monica
Departure location: Santa Monica Pier
Arrival time: August 7 at 8:46pm
Destination city: Santa Cruz
Destination location: Santa Cruz, CA
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 12h 41m

Accepted payments

Frequently asked questions for your trip Santa Monica - Santa Cruz, US

What is the distance between Santa Monica and Santa Cruz?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

08/04

No data

08/05

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Today

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08/07

$80

08/08

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08/09

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08/10

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08/11

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The cheapest trip from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz, US was searched and found on Aug 7, 2025 with a price of $80

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

You can expect to pay from $80 to $80 for a bus ticket from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $80 which is on 2025-08-07.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

If you're abroad, study some local language. Not only could it get you out of a pickle during your bus trip from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

Did you know some bus companies in Germany offer to their passenger low-costs snacks and regional beer based on their destination? Prosit!

You can also go to Santa Cruz, US by train

Train from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz, US

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. Use Busbud to book your trip online, in your own language and currency, wherever you are. With Busbud, you can buy tickets with confidence. We ensure that you make the most out of your bus trip by partnering up with reliable bus companies from all around the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz, US

Next departures to Santa Cruz

One passenger / one way

Frequently asked questions for your trip Santa Monica - Santa Cruz, US