There are 6 ways to get from Palo Alto to Santa Barbara by train, plane, bus, train (Amtrak), car, 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.
Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
best- Take the train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane SFO - SBA
4h 27m$165–390Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from San Jose to Santa Barbarabus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
8h 30m$50–106Caltrain, bus
- Take the train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northboundtrain Local Weekday / ...
- Take the bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara Bus Stopbus FlixBus 2005
8h 29m$53–84Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from San Jose to Santa Barbaratrain Coast Starlight
9h 11m$80–206Drive 291.4 mi
- Drive from Palo Alto to Santa Barbaracar 291.4 mi
5h 19m$54–77Fly 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
7h 44m$150–687
Palo Alto to Santa Barbara by train and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Palo Alto to Santa Barbara is to Caltrain and bus which costs $50 - $85 and takes 8h 29m.
The fastest way to get from Palo Alto to Santa Barbara is to Caltrain and fly which takes 4h 27m and costs $160 - $390.
No, there is no direct bus from Palo Alto to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from San Jose and arriving at Santa Barbara via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 30m.
No, there is no direct train from Palo Alto to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from California Avenue Caltrain Southbound and arriving at Santa Barbara via San Jose. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 11m.
The distance between Palo Alto and Santa Barbara is 293 miles. The road distance is 293.1 miles.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to Santa Barbara without a car is to Caltrain and bus which takes 8h 29m and costs $50 - $85.
It takes approximately 4h 27m to get from Palo Alto to Santa Barbara, including transfers.
Palo Alto to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from San Jose station.
Palo Alto to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from San Jose station.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to Santa Barbara is to train which takes 9h 11m and costs $80 - $210. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $50 - $110 and takes 8h 30m.
What companies run services between Palo Alto, CA, USA and Santa Barbara, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a train from San Jose to Santa Barbara once daily. Tickets cost $75–200 and the journey takes 7h 46m. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a bus from San Jose to Santa Barbara 3 times a day. Tickets cost $65–100 and the journey takes 7h 5m. Flixbus USA also services this route 4 times a week.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport via San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $45–260
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–200
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- Cal Train
Train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $5–7
Train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- Cal Train
- Schedules at
- Cal Train
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from San Jose to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
Palo Alto to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Palo Alto to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Yes, the driving distance between Palo Alto to Santa Barbara is 293 miles. It takes approximately 5h 19m to drive from Palo Alto to Santa Barbara.
There are 324+ hotels available in Santa Barbara.