There are 6 ways to get from Big Sur to Santa Barbara by taxi, train, bus (Amtrak), car, plane, or shuttle
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Taxi, train (Amtrak)
best- Take the taxi from Big Sur to Salinastaxi
- Take the train from Salinas to Santa Barbaratrain Coast Starlight
7h 5m$209–323Drive 201.9 mi
cheapest- Drive from Big Sur to Santa Barbaracar 201.9 mi
4h 4m$37–54Bus (Amtrak)
- Take the bus from Salinas to Santa Barbarabus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
8h 34m$159–215Taxi to Monterey Regional Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport, train
- Take the taxi from Big Sur to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)taxi
- Fly from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane MRY - LAX
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbaratrain
6h 46m$392–884Shuttle 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
7h 6m$313–593Taxi to Monterey Regional Airport, fly to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, train
- Take the taxi from Big Sur to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)taxi
- Fly from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane MRY - BUR
- Take the train from Van Nuys to Santa Barbaratrain
6h 19m$577–970
Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Big Sur to Santa Barbara is to drive which costs $35 - $55 and takes 4h 4m.
The fastest way to get from Big Sur to Santa Barbara is to drive which takes 4h 4m and costs $35 - $55.
No, there is no direct bus from Big Sur to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from Monterey Transit Plaza / Gate 4 Tyler and arriving at Santa Barbara via Salinas. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 34m.
The distance between Big Sur and Santa Barbara is 295 miles. The road distance is 203.1 miles.
The best way to get from Big Sur to Santa Barbara without a car is to taxi and train which takes 7h 5m and costs $200 - $330.
It takes approximately 7h 5m to get from Big Sur to Santa Barbara, including transfers.
Big Sur to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Salinas station.
Big Sur to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Yes, the driving distance between Big Sur to Santa Barbara is 203 miles. It takes approximately 4h 4m to drive from Big Sur to Santa Barbara.
There are 319+ hotels available in Santa Barbara.
What companies run services between Big Sur, CA, USA and Santa Barbara, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a bus from Salinas to Santa Barbara 3 times a day. Tickets cost $80–120 and the journey takes 6h 5m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–210
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–230
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–210
- Website
- jsx.com
Flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–340
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Salinas to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 6m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–170
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 43m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $30–70
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Van Nuys to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 12m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $26–60
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Salinas to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $80–120
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 831-373-7777
- Website
- Groome Transportation
Shuttle from Monterey Shuttle Station to SFO Airport International
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $55–70
- Schedules at
- Groome Transportation
- Standard Rate
- $55–70
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Estimated price
- $85–160
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