There are 7 ways to get from Detroit to Santa Monica by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (Greyhound), car, 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.
Fly Detroit to Los Angeles International Airport
best- Fly from Detroit (DTW) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane DTW - LAX
8h 20m$176–558Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Detroit to Chicago Union Stationtrain Wolverine
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain Southwest Chief
2d 3h$580–1,475Bus
- Take the bus from Detroit, MI to Indianapolis, INbus
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to St Louis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
2d 5h$353–601Drive 2,294.1 mi
- Drive from Detroit to Santa Monicacar 2,294.1 mi
36h 11m$419–605Fly Detroit to Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Fly from Detroit (DTW) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane DTW - BUR
10h 33m$216–956Bus to Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport
- Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Cleveland Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane CLE - LAX
10h 48m$182–438Fly Detroit to John Wayne Airport Orange County, bus
- Fly from Detroit (DTW) to John Wayne Airport Orange County (SNA)plane DTW - SNA
- Take the bus from Disneyland Employee's Entrance to Figueroa / Picobus
12h 20m$309–4,110
Detroit to Santa Monica by train, subway, and tram (Amtrak)
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Detroit to Santa Monica is to bus and fly which costs $180 - $440 and takes 10h 48m.
The fastest way to get from Detroit to Santa Monica is to fly which takes 8h 20m and costs $170 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Detroit to Santa Monica. However, there are services departing from Detroit, MI and arriving at 5th / Santa Monica via Indianapolis Union Station, St Louis Bus Station and Patsaouras Transit Plaza. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 5h.
No, there is no direct train from Detroit to Santa Monica station. However, there are services departing from Detroit and arriving at Downtown Santa Monica Station via Chicago Union Station, Fullerton, Union Station - Metro B & D Lines and 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 3h.
The distance between Detroit and Santa Monica is 2027 miles. The road distance is 2307.5 miles.
The best way to get from Detroit to Santa Monica without a car is to train which takes 2 days 3h and costs $550 - $1,500.
It takes approximately 8h 20m to get from Detroit to Santa Monica, including transfers.
Detroit to Santa Monica bus services, operated by Barons Bus, depart from Detroit, MI station.
Detroit to Santa Monica train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Detroit station.
The best way to get from Detroit to Santa Monica is to fly which takes 8h 20m and costs $170 - $600. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $550 - $1,500 and takes 2 days 3h, you could also bus, which costs $350 - $600 and takes 2 days 5h.
What companies run services between Detroit, MI, USA and Santa Monica, CA, USA?
Delta, Southwest Airlines, and three other airlines fly from Detroit (DTW) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a train from Detroit to Downtown Santa Monica Station via Chicago Union Station, Fullerton Amtrak Station, Fullerton, L.A. Union Station, Union Station - Metro B & D Lines, 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines, and 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines in around 2d 3h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Detroit to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from Detroit to Los Angeles International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from Detroit to Burbank Bob Hope Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–950
Flights from Detroit to Burbank Bob Hope Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–950
Flights from Detroit to Burbank Bob Hope Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $210–950
Flights from Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 52m
- When
- Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Detroit to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Detroit to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Detroit to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 6m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–160
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 42h 44m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $500–1,300
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 888-378-3823
- [email protected]
- Website
- Barons Bus
Bus from Detroit, MI to Indianapolis, IN
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $27–70
- Website
- Barons Bus
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
Detroit to Santa Monica bus services, operated by Barons Bus, arrive at Indianapolis, IN station.
Santa Monica is 3h behind Detroit. It is currently 9:39 AM in Detroit and 6:39 AM in Santa Monica.
Detroit to Santa Monica train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Detroit to Santa Monica is 2308 miles. It takes approximately 36h 11m to drive from Detroit to Santa Monica.
There are 3214+ hotels available in Santa Monica.







