There are 5 ways to get from Santa Maria to Palo Alto by bus (Amtrak), bus, train, car, 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.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Government Centerbus 10N
- Take the bus from San Luis Obispo to San Josebus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
7h 54m$69–102Drive 229.3 mi
cheapest- Drive from Santa Maria to Palo Altocar 229.3 mi
4h 7m$42–61Bus, train
- Take the bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Government Centerbus 10N
- Take the train from San Luis Obispo to San Josetrain Coast Starlight
8h 35m$69–142Bus to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to Government Centerbus
- Fly from San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane SBP - SFO
5h 33m$177–423Bus to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Santa Maria Airport, CA to Santa Barbara Airportbus
- Fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane SBA - SFO
5h 40m$244–465
San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Maria to Palo Alto is to drive which costs $40 - $65 and takes 4h 7m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Maria to Palo Alto is to drive which takes 4h 7m and costs $40 - $65.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Maria to Palo Alto. However, there are services departing from Santa Maria Transit Center and arriving at San Jose via Downtown Transit Center and San Luis Obispo. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 54m.
The distance between Santa Maria and Palo Alto is 243 miles. The road distance is 230.7 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Maria to Palo Alto without a car is to bus which takes 7h 54m and costs $65 - $110.
It takes approximately 7h 54m to get from Santa Maria to Palo Alto, including transfers.
Santa Maria to Palo Alto bus services, operated by San Luis Obispo RTA, depart from Santa Maria Transit Center station.
Santa Maria to Palo Alto bus services, operated by San Luis Obispo RTA, arrive at Government Center station.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Maria to Palo Alto is 231 miles. It takes approximately 4h 7m to drive from Santa Maria to Palo Alto.
There are 457+ hotels available in Palo Alto.
What companies run services between Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, CA, USA and Palo Alto, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Santa Maria Transit Center to California Avenue Caltrain Northbound via Government Center, Downtown Transit Center, Santa Barbara at Church, San Luis Obispo, San Jose, and San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound in around 7h 54m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $22–160
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $23–160
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Luis Obispo to San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 41m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $60–130
- 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
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from San Luis Obispo to San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60–90
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 800-470-8818
- [email protected]
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
Bus from Santa Maria Airport, CA to Santa Barbara Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 13m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $60–75
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
- one way non-prepaid
- $65–75
- One-way prepaid 48 hours advance
- $60–70
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