There are 6 ways to get from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara by train (Amtrak), bus, car, taxi, tram, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train (Amtrak)
best- Take the train from Solana Beach Amtrak Station to Santa Barbaratrain Pacific Surfliner
5h 25m$141–217Drive 198.5 mi
cheapest- Drive from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbaracar 198.5 mi
3h 31m$37–53Bus
- Take the bus from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar to LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stopbus reLAXsan
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Airport, CA to Santa Barbara Airportbus
6h 53m$140–214Taxi, tram to San Diego International Airport, fly
- Take the taxi from Carmel Valley to UCSD Health La Jolla Stationtaxi
- Take the tram from UCSD Health La Jolla Station to Old Town Stationtram
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane SAN - SBA
4h 30m$111–274Fly from Mcclellan–Palomar Airport
- Fly from Mcclellan–Palomar Airport (CLD) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane CLD - SBA
5h 38m$133–433Bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar to LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stopbus
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane LAX - SBA
5h 39m$370–629
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara is to drive which costs $35 - $55 and takes 3h 31m.
The fastest way to get from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara is to drive which takes 3h 31m and costs $35 - $55.
No, there is no direct bus from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar and arriving at Carrillo & Anacapa via Los Angeles Airport, CA and Santa Barbara Airport. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 53m.
No, there is no direct train from Carmel Valley station to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from Solana Beach Amtrak Station and arriving at Santa Barbara via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 25m.
The distance between Carmel Valley and Santa Barbara is 211 miles. The road distance is 199.6 miles.
The best way to get from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara without a car is to train which takes 5h 25m and costs $140 - $220.
It takes approximately 5h 25m to get from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara, including transfers.
Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by reLAXsan, depart from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar station.
Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Solana Beach Amtrak Station.
The best way to get from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara is to train which takes 5h 25m and costs $140 - $220. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $140 - $220 and takes 6h 53m, you could also fly, which costs $130 - $440 and takes 5h 38m.
What companies run services between Carmel Valley, San Diego County, CA, USA and Santa Barbara, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a train from Solana Beach Amtrak Station to Santa Barbara 5 times a day. Tickets cost $110–180 and the journey takes 5h 16m. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Carmel Valley to Carrillo & Anacapa via Sorrento Valley/Del Mar, LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stop, Los Angeles Airport, CA, and Santa Barbara Airport in around 6h 53m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Mcclellan–Palomar Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–370
Flights from Mcclellan–Palomar Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $25–200
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $28–210
Flights from Mcclellan–Palomar Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 32m
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $55–340
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–220
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Mcclellan–Palomar Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–390
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Solana Beach Amtrak Station to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 16m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $110–180
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 619-557-4555
- Website
- MTS
Tram from UCSD Health La Jolla Station to Old Town Station
- Ave. Duration
- 21 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–13
- Website
- MTS
- Schedules at
- MTS Schedules
- Phone
- (858) 430-8440
- [email protected]
- Website
- gorelaxsan.com
Bus from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar to LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Website
- gorelaxsan.com
Bus from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar to LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Website
- gorelaxsan.com
- Phone
- (323)-776-5467
- [email protected]
- Website
- LAX LINQ
Bus from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar to LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–110
- Website
- LAX LINQ
Bus from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar to LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–110
- Website
- LAX LINQ
- Phone
- +1 800-470-8818
- [email protected]
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
Bus from Los Angeles Airport, CA to Santa Barbara Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $70–85
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
- one way non-prepaid
- $75–85
- One-way prepaid 48 hours advance
- $70–80
- Ave. Duration
- 8 min
- Estimated price
- $30–40
Coastal Cab
- Phone
- +1 619-503-0500
- Website
- coastalcabdispatch.com
Orange Cab
- Phone
- +1 619-223-5555
- Website
- taxi-sandiego.com
San Diego Taxi Service
- Phone
- +1 619-906-0192
- Website
- sdtaxiservice.com
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by reLAXsan, arrive at LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stop station.
Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Yes, the driving distance between Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara is 200 miles. It takes approximately 3h 31m to drive from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara.
There are 312+ hotels available in Santa Barbara.









