There are 7 ways to get from Los Gatos to Santa Barbara by bus (Amtrak, Flixbus), train (Amtrak), car, train, 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.
Bus
best- Take the bus from San Jose to Santa Barbarabus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
8h 48m$50–83Drive 271.7 mi
cheapest- Drive from Los Gatos to Santa Barbaracar 271.7 mi
5h 5m$48–70Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from San Jose to Santa Barbaratrain Coast Starlight
9h 28m$176–288Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane SFO - SBA
5h 46m$172–401Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, train
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane SJC - LAX
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbaratrain
8h 10m$198–711Train to Oakland International Airport, fly to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Take the train from San Jose to Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtraktrain
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane OAK - SBA
6h 31m$64–308Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, train
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)plane SJC - BUR
- Take the train from Van Nuys to Santa Barbaratrain
7h 50m$256–842
Los Gatos to Santa Barbara by bus and tram
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Los Gatos to Santa Barbara is to drive which costs $45 - $70 and takes 5h 5m.
The fastest way to get from Los Gatos to Santa Barbara is to drive which takes 5h 5m and costs $45 - $70.
No, there is no direct bus from Los Gatos to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from Los Gatos-Saratoga & University and arriving at Santa Barbara via San Jose. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 48m.
No, there is no direct train from Los Gatos station to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from Winchester Station and arriving at Santa Barbara via San Jose. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 28m.
The distance between Los Gatos and Santa Barbara is 315 miles. The road distance is 273.2 miles.
The best way to get from Los Gatos to Santa Barbara without a car is to bus which takes 8h 48m and costs $50 - $85.
It takes approximately 8h 48m to get from Los Gatos to Santa Barbara, including transfers.
Los Gatos to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from San Jose station.
Los Gatos to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from San Jose station.
The best way to get from Los Gatos to Santa Barbara is to bus which takes 8h 48m and costs $50 - $85. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $170 - $290 and takes 9h 28m.
What companies run services between Los Gatos, CA, USA and Santa Barbara, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a bus from San Jose to Santa Barbara 3 times a day, and the journey takes 7h 5m. Flixbus USA also services this route 4 times a week. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from San Jose to Santa Barbara once daily. Tickets cost $170–280 and the journey takes 7h 46m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–200
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $35–260
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–320
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–200
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–210
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–650
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–370
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Jose to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 46m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $170–280
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 43m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $55–90
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Jose to Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $21–35
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Van Nuys to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 12m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- Cal Train
Train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from San Jose to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from San Jose to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
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Booking & Getting There
Los Gatos to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Los Gatos to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Yes, the driving distance between Los Gatos to Santa Barbara is 273 miles. It takes approximately 5h 5m to drive from Los Gatos to Santa Barbara.
There are 22+ hotels available in Santa Barbara.