There are 6 ways to get from Big Sur to Santa Monica by taxi, plane, bus, train, car, shuttle, or bus (Amtrak, Flixbus)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Taxi to Monterey Regional Airport, fly
best- 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
3h 30m$372–822Drive 281.1 mi
cheapest- Drive from Big Sur to Santa Monicacar 281.1 mi
5h 39m$52–75Taxi, bus
- Take the taxi from Big Sur to Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3taxi
- Take the bus from Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3 to Monterey / Gilroy Train Stationbus 59
- Take the bus from Gilroy to Los Angeles - Pacoimabus
11h 2m$181–229Taxi, train (Amtrak)
- Take the taxi from Big Sur to Salinastaxi
- Take the train from Salinas to Van Nuystrain Coast Starlight
11h 26m$230–372Taxi, shuttle to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, fly
- Take the taxi from Big Sur to Monterey Shuttle Stationtaxi
- Take a shuttle bus from Monterey Shuttle Station to SJC Airport Terminal A
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane SJC - LAX
6h 10m$250–773Bus
- Take the bus from Carmel Amtrak Bus Stop to Salinasbus
- Take the bus from Salinas to Santa Barbarabus
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
14h 47m$158–220
Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Big Sur to Santa Monica is to drive which costs $50 - $75 and takes 5h 39m.
The fastest way to get from Big Sur to Santa Monica is to taxi and fly which takes 3h 30m and costs $370 - $850.
No, there is no direct bus from Big Sur to Santa Monica. However, there are services departing from Carmel Amtrak Bus Stop and arriving at 5th / Santa Monica via Salinas, Santa Barbara Bus Stop and Patsaouras Transit Plaza. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 47m.
The distance between Big Sur and Santa Monica is 319 miles. The road distance is 282.7 miles.
The best way to get from Big Sur to Santa Monica without a car is to taxi and bus which takes 11h 2m and costs $180 - $230.
It takes approximately 3h 30m to get from Big Sur to Santa Monica, including transfers.
Big Sur to Santa Monica bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Carmel Amtrak Bus Stop station.
Big Sur to Santa Monica bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Salinas station.
Yes, the driving distance between Big Sur to Santa Monica is 283 miles. It takes approximately 5h 39m to drive from Big Sur to Santa Monica.
There are 3192+ hotels available in Santa Monica.
What companies run services between Big Sur, CA, USA and Santa Monica, CA, USA?
You can take a vehicle from Big Sur to 5th / Santa Monica via Carmel Amtrak Bus Stop, Salinas, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Bus Stop, and Patsaouras Transit Plaza in around 14h 47m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–210
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Salinas to Van Nuys
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85–200
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- 1-888-678-2871
- [email protected]
- Website
- Monterey-Salinas Transit
Bus from Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3 to Monterey / Gilroy Train Station
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- Monterey-Salinas Transit
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Estimated price
- $90–170
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