There are 7 ways to get from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto by bus (Amtrak, Flixbus), train (Amtrak), car, plane, train, 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.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Santa Barbara to San Josebus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
7h 6m$53–148Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Santa Barbara to San Josetrain Coast Starlight
8h 6m$108–218Drive 291.9 mi
- Drive from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Altocar 291.9 mi
5h 19m$54–77Fly Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to San Francisco International Airport, Caltrain
- Fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane SBA - SFO
- Take the train from Millbrae Caltrain Southbound to California Avenue Caltrain Southboundtrain
4h 16m$194–450Bus, Caltrain
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to San Franciscobus FlixBus 2005
- Take the train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to California Avenue Caltrain Southboundtrain Local Weekday / ...
7h 49m$60–97Train to Los Angeles International Airport, fly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Take the train from Santa Barbara to Los Angelestrain
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane LAX - SJC
7h 3m$147–690Train to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Take the train from Santa Barbara to Van Nuystrain
- Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane BUR - SJC
6h 45m$530–823
Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto by bus and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto is to drive which costs $50 - $80 and takes 5h 19m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto is to fly and Caltrain which takes 4h 16m and costs $190 - $450.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto. However, there are services departing from Santa Barbara and arriving at San Jose via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 6m.
No, there is no direct train from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto. However, there are services departing from Santa Barbara and arriving at California Avenue Caltrain Northbound via San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 6m.
The distance between Santa Barbara (Station) and Palo Alto is 315 miles. The road distance is 293.6 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto without a car is to bus which takes 7h 6m and costs $50 - $150.
It takes approximately 7h 6m to get from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto, including transfers.
Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Santa Barbara station.
Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Santa Barbara station.
The best way to get from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto is to bus which takes 7h 6m and costs $50 - $150. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $100 - $220 and takes 8h 6m.
What companies run services between Santa Barbara (Station), CA, USA and Palo Alto, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a bus from Santa Barbara to San Jose 3 times a day. Tickets cost $100–150 and the journey takes 6h 25m. Flixbus USA also services this route 4 times a week. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Santa Barbara to San Jose once daily. Tickets cost $100–220 and the journey takes 7h 25m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–300
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–310
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $23–160
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–300
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–270
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Santa Barbara to San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $100–220
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 53m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $30–70
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Santa Barbara to Van Nuys
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 14m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $27–60
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from Millbrae Caltrain Southbound to California Avenue Caltrain Southbound
- Ave. Duration
- 31 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $5–7
Train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to California Avenue Caltrain Southbound
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Santa Barbara to San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $100–150
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Santa Barbara to San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–80
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $50–90
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at San Jose station.
Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at San Jose station.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto is 294 miles. It takes approximately 5h 19m to drive from Santa Barbara (Station) to Palo Alto.
There are 500+ hotels available in Palo Alto.










