There are 5 ways to get from Santa Maria to Monterey by bus (Amtrak), bus, train, car, or train (Amtrak)
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 Maria Transit Center to Government Centerbus 10N
- Take the bus from San Luis Obispo to Salinasbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
7h 24m$46–74Bus via King City
cheapest- Take the bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Government Centerbus 10N
- Take the bus from Government Center to North County Transit Centerbus 9N
- Take the bus from North County Transportation Ctr / Paso Robles to Canal / Bassett Streetbus 84
- Take the bus from Canal / Bassett Street to Salinas Transit Center / Gate 9bus 23 / ...
9h 1m$12–19Bus, train
- Take the bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Government Centerbus 10N
- Take the train from San Luis Obispo to Salinastrain Coast Starlight
7h 39m$46–99Drive 170 mi
- Drive from Santa Maria to Montereycar 170 mi
3h 10m$31–45Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from San Luis Obispo to Salinastrain Coast Starlight
7h 48m$55–117
Santa Maria to Monterey by bus and train (Amtrak)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Maria to Monterey is to bus via King City which costs $11 - $20 and takes 9h 1m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Maria to Monterey is to drive which takes 3h 10m and costs $30 - $45.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Maria to Monterey. However, there are services departing from Santa Maria Transit Center and arriving at Tyler / Franklin via Downtown Transit Center, San Luis Obispo and Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 24m.
No, there is no direct train from Santa Maria station to Monterey. However, there are services departing from Guadalupe Amtrak Station and arriving at Salinas via San Luis Obispo. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 48m.
The distance between Santa Maria and Monterey is 187 miles. The road distance is 171 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Maria to Monterey without a car is to bus which takes 7h 24m and costs $45 - $75.
It takes approximately 7h 24m to get from Santa Maria to Monterey, including transfers.
Santa Maria to Monterey bus services, operated by San Luis Obispo RTA, depart from Santa Maria Transit Center station.
Santa Maria to Monterey train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from San Luis Obispo station.
The best way to get from Santa Maria to Monterey is to bus which takes 7h 24m and costs $45 - $75. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $50 - $120 and takes 7h 48m.
What companies run services between Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, CA, USA and Monterey, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Tyler / Franklin via Government Center, Downtown Transit Center, Santa Barbara at Church, San Luis Obispo, Salinas, and Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7 in around 7h 24m. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from San Luis Obispo to Salinas once daily. Tickets cost $40–90 and the journey takes 3h 5m.
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Luis Obispo to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–90
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Luis Obispo to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–90
- Website
- Amtrak
- Website
- SoCoTransit
Bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Government Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- SoCoTransit
Bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Government Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- SoCoTransit
Bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Government Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- SoCoTransit
Bus from Government Center to North County Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- SoCoTransit
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from San Luis Obispo to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $40–65
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- 1-888-678-2871
- [email protected]
- Website
- Monterey-Salinas Transit
Bus from North County Transportation Ctr / Paso Robles to Canal / Bassett Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Website
- Monterey-Salinas Transit
Bus from Canal / Bassett Street to Salinas Transit Center / Gate 9
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Website
- Monterey-Salinas Transit
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More Questions & Answers
Santa Maria to Monterey bus services, operated by San Luis Obispo RTA, arrive at Government Center station.
Santa Maria to Monterey train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Salinas station.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Maria to Monterey is 171 miles. It takes approximately 3h 10m to drive from Santa Maria to Monterey.
There are 227+ hotels available in Monterey.





