There are 7 ways to get from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert by plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), train, bus, rideshare, car, or bus (Amtrak)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)plane SBA - PSP
4h 25m$72–246Drive 225 mi
cheapest- Drive from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desertcar 225 mi
3h 55m$42–60Bus
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara Airport to Los Angeles Airport, CAbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Indio Bus Stationbus Greyhound US1000 / ...
7h 36m$98–137Train, bus (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Goleta Station to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain Pacific Surfliner
- Take the bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Desert Amtrak Bus Stopbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
7h 40m$79–140Airport Transfer
- Take the rideshare from Santa Barbara-SBA to Palm Desert225 mi
3h 55mBus via Anaheim
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara Airport to Los Angeles Airport, CAbus
- Take the bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Desert Amtrak Bus Stopbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
8h 34m$120–157Train, bus via State & Yanonali (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Santa Barbara to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain Pacific Surfliner
- Take the bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Desert Amtrak Bus Stopbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
10h 25m$76–139
Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert is to drive which costs $40 - $60 and takes 3h 55m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert is to drive which takes 3h 55m and costs $40 - $60.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert. However, there are services departing from Santa Barbara Airport and arriving at Hwy 111 at San Luis Rey via LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal, Los Angeles Union Station and Hwy 111 at Golf Center Pkwy. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 36m.
The distance between Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) and Palm Desert is 208 miles. The road distance is 226.3 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert without a car is to bus which takes 7h 36m and costs $95 - $140.
It takes approximately 4h 25m to get from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert, including transfers.
Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert bus services, operated by Central Coast Shuttle, depart from Santa Barbara Airport station.
The best way to get from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert is to fly which takes 4h 25m and costs $70 - $250. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $95 - $140 and takes 7h 36m.
Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert bus services, operated by Central Coast Shuttle, arrive at Los Angeles Airport, CA station.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert is 226 miles. It takes approximately 3h 55m to drive from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) to Palm Desert.
What companies run services between Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), USA and Palm Desert, CA, USA?
American Airlines, United Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Santa Barbara Airport to Hwy 111 at San Luis Rey via LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal, Los Angeles Union Station, Indio Bus Station, and Hwy 111 at Golf Center Pkwy in around 7h 36m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–260
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $27–190
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–390
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–260
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $35–230
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Oakland
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $45–260
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–320
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Goleta Station to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–90
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Santa Barbara to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 42m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 800-470-8818
- [email protected]
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
Bus from Santa Barbara Airport to Los Angeles Airport, CA
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 32m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $70–85
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
- one way non-prepaid
- $75–85
- One-way prepaid 48 hours advance
- $70–80
Bus from Santa Barbara Airport to Los Angeles Airport, CA
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 32m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $70–85
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
- one way non-prepaid
- $75–85
- One-way prepaid 48 hours advance
- $70–80
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Indio Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $19–40
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Indio Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $20–35
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Desert Amtrak Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Desert Amtrak Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Desert Amtrak Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- Amtrak
- Website
- https://www.mozio.com
Rideshare from Santa Barbara-SBA to Palm Desert
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- On demand
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
There are 2247+ hotels available in Palm Desert.
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) and Palm Desert. A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.









