There are 5 ways to get from Santa Maria to Palm Desert by bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), train, bus, car, plane, or bus (Flixbus)
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 Airport, CA to Los Angeles Airport, CAbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Indio Bus Stationbus Greyhound US1000 / ...
10h 8m$113–156Bus via Santa Barbara
cheapest- Take the bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Chapala at Figueroabus
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Downtown to Indio Bus Stationbus
11h 11m$42–70Train, bus (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Guadalupe Amtrak Station to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain Pacific Surfliner
- Take the bus from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Palm Desert Amtrak Bus Stopbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
10h 56m$102–202Drive 278.4 mi
- Drive from Santa Maria to Palm Desertcar 278.4 mi
4h 57m$51–74Bus, fly
- Take the bus from Santa Maria Airport, CA to Los Angeles Airport, CAbus
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)plane LAX - PSP
7h 20m$281–712
Santa Maria to Palm Desert by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Maria to Palm Desert is to bus via Santa Barbara which costs $40 - $70 and takes 11h 11m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Maria to Palm Desert is to drive which takes 4h 57m and costs $50 - $75.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Maria to Palm Desert. However, there are services departing from Transit Center and arriving at Hwy 111 at San Luis Rey via Santa Maria Airport, CA, LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal, Los Angeles Union Station and Hwy 111 at Golf Center Pkwy. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h 8m.
The distance between Santa Maria and Palm Desert is 332 miles. The road distance is 280 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Maria to Palm Desert without a car is to bus which takes 10h 8m and costs $110 - $160.
It takes approximately 10h 8m to get from Santa Maria to Palm Desert, including transfers.
Santa Maria to Palm Desert bus services, operated by Central Coast Shuttle, depart from Santa Maria Airport, CA station.
Santa Maria to Palm Desert bus services, operated by Central Coast Shuttle, arrive at Los Angeles Airport, CA station.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Maria to Palm Desert is 280 miles. It takes approximately 4h 57m to drive from Santa Maria to Palm Desert.
There are 1691+ hotels available in Palm Desert.
What companies run services between Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, CA, USA and Palm Desert, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Transit Center to Hwy 111 at San Luis Rey via Santa Maria Public Airport, Santa Maria Airport, CA, LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal, Los Angeles Union Station, Indio Bus Station, and Hwy 111 at Golf Center Pkwy in around 10h 8m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $29–230
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Guadalupe Amtrak Station to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 53m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–150
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 800-470-8818
- [email protected]
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
Bus from Santa Maria Airport, CA to Los Angeles Airport, CA
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $85–105
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
- one way non-prepaid
- $90–105
- One-way prepaid 48 hours advance
- $85–100
Bus from Santa Maria Airport, CA to Los Angeles Airport, CA
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $85–105
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
- one way non-prepaid
- $90–105
- One-way prepaid 48 hours advance
- $85–100
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
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $18–40
- 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
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $19–35
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $14–24
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Los Angeles Downtown to Indio Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $19–35
- 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
- Phone
- (805) 692-1902
- [email protected]
- Website
- Clean Air Express
Bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Chapala at Figueroa
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $7–8
- Website
- Clean Air Express
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