There are 4 ways to get from San Marcos to Santa Barbara by train (Amtrak), bus (Flixbus), car, tram, 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.
Train (Amtrak)
best- Take the train from Oceanside to Santa Barbaratrain Pacific Surfliner
6h 41m$58–136Bus (Flixbus)
cheapest- Take the bus from Oceanside Transportation Center to Los Angeles Downtownbus FlixBus 2017
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Santa Barbara Bus Stopbus FlixBus 2005
7h 58m$30–54Drive 192 mi
- Drive from San Marcos to Santa Barbaracar 192 mi
3h 23m$35–51Tram, train, fly
- Take the tram from San Marcos Civic Center Station to Oceanside Transit Centertram
- Take the train from Oceanside to San Diego Old Town Transportation Centertrain
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane SAN - SBA
6h 10m$174–254
San Marcos to Santa Barbara by tram and train (Amtrak)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Marcos to Santa Barbara is to bus which costs $30 - $55 and takes 7h 58m.
The fastest way to get from San Marcos to Santa Barbara is to drive which takes 3h 23m and costs $35 - $55.
No, there is no direct bus from San Marcos to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from Mission Rd & Pico Av and arriving at Santa Barbara Bus Stop via Vista Transit Center Stall 5, Oceanside Transportation Center and Los Angeles Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 58m.
No, there is no direct train from San Marcos station to Santa Barbara. However, there are services departing from San Marcos Civic Center Station and arriving at Santa Barbara via Oceanside. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 41m.
The distance between San Marcos and Santa Barbara is 207 miles. The road distance is 193.1 miles.
The best way to get from San Marcos to Santa Barbara without a car is to train which takes 6h 41m and costs $55 - $140.
It takes approximately 6h 41m to get from San Marcos to Santa Barbara, including transfers.
San Marcos to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Oceanside Transportation Center station.
San Marcos to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Oceanside station.
The best way to get from San Marcos to Santa Barbara is to train which takes 6h 41m and costs $55 - $140. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $30 - $55 and takes 7h 58m.
What companies run services between San Marcos, CA, USA and Santa Barbara, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a train from Oceanside to Santa Barbara 5 times a day. Tickets cost $55–130 and the journey takes 4h 59m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Mission Rd & Pico Av to Santa Barbara Bus Stop via Vista Transit Center Stall 5, Oceanside Transit Center Stall 10, Oceanside Transportation Center, Los Angeles Downtown, and Los Angeles Union Station in around 7h 58m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–230
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–220
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Oceanside to Santa Barbara
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 59m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–130
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Oceanside to San Diego Old Town Transportation Center
- Ave. Duration
- 44 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $11–25
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 760-966-6500
- [email protected]
- Website
- North County Transit District
Tram from San Marcos Civic Center Station to Oceanside Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–7
- Website
- North County Transit District
- Schedules at
- North County Transit District Schedules
- Adult
- $2–7
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Oceanside Transportation Center to Los Angeles Downtown
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $13–23
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Santa Barbara Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–26
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
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More Questions & Answers
San Marcos to Santa Barbara bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Los Angeles Downtown station.
San Marcos to Santa Barbara train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Santa Barbara station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Marcos to Santa Barbara is 193 miles. It takes approximately 3h 23m to drive from San Marcos to Santa Barbara.
There are 265+ hotels available in Santa Barbara.








