Rome2Rio

How to get fromCarmel Valley to Santa Barbaraby train (Amtrak), bus (Flixbus), car, taxi, tram, plane, or bus

Find Transport to Santa Barbara

See all options

There are 6 ways to get from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara by train (Amtrak), bus (Flixbus), car, taxi, tram, plane, or bus

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Train (Amtrak)

    best
    1. Take the train from Solana Beach Amtrak Station to Santa Barbaratrain train Pacific Surfliner
    5h 25m
    $141–217

  2. Drive  198.5 mi

    cheapest
    1. Drive from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbaracar car 198.5 mi
    3h 31m
    $34–49

  3. Bus via Los Angeles (Flixbus)

    1. Take the bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Downtownbus bus FlixBus 2006 / ...
    2. Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Santa Barbara Bus Stopbus bus FlixBus 2005
    6h 13m
    $67–91

  4. Taxi, tram to San Diego International Airport, fly

    1. Take the taxi from Carmel Valley to UCSD Health La Jolla Stationtaxi taxi
    2. Take the tram from UCSD Health La Jolla Station to Old Town Stationtram tram
    3. Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane plane SAN - SBA
    4h 25m
    $91–284

  5. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar to LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stopbus bus reLAXsan
    2. Take the bus from Los Angeles Airport, CA to Santa Barbara Airportbus bus
    6h 53m

  6. Bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly

    1. Take the bus from Sorrento Valley/Del Mar to LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stopbus bus
    2. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane plane LAX - SBA
    5h 36m

San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) flights

Calendar28Weekly Planes
Duration1h 25mAverage Duration
Ticket$28Cheapest Price
See schedules

Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Carmel Valley to Santa Barbara.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 210.1 mi
  • Duration: 5h 25m

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 Santa Barbara Bus Stop via San Diego, Los Angeles Downtown, and Los Angeles Union Station in around 6h 13m.

Airlines
Train operators
Bus operators
Other operators

Want to know more about travelling around United States

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Related travel guides

Booking & Getting There