There are 7 ways to get from Santa Monica to Big Sur by bus, plane, taxi, train, car, tram, shuttle, or subway
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Line 3 bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly to Monterey Regional Airport, taxi
best- Take the bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Centerbus
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)plane LAX - MRY
- Take the taxi from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Big Surtaxi
3h 53m$356–813Drive 285.6 mi
cheapest- Drive from Santa Monica to Big Surcar 285.6 mi
5h 48m$53–76Train, taxi
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Salinastrain Coast Starlight
- Take the taxi from Salinas to Big Surtaxi
11h 14m$234–404Bus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles - Pacoima to Gilroybus Nogales
- Take the bus from Monterey / Gilroy Train Station to Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3bus 59
13h 2m$121–166Tram to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to Monterey Regional Airport, taxi
- Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Linestram
- Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)plane BUR - MRY
- Take the taxi from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to Big Surtaxi
4h 50m$519–914Fly Los Angeles International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane LAX - SJC
- Take a shuttle bus from SJC Airport Terminal A to Monterey Shuttle Station
6h 6m$231–758Tram, subway to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, shuttle, taxi
- Take the tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Linestram
- Take the subway from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines to North Hollywood Stationsubway
- Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane BUR - SJC
- Take a shuttle bus from SJC Airport Terminal A to Monterey Shuttle Station
- Take the taxi from Monterey Shuttle Station to Big Surtaxi
7h 6m$604–909
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Monica to Big Sur is to drive which costs $50 - $80 and takes 5h 48m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Monica to Big Sur is to line 3 bus and fly and taxi which takes 3h 53m and costs $350 - $850.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Monica to Big Sur. However, there are services departing from Santa Monica Eb & Lincoln Ns and arriving at Monterey Transit Plaza / Gate 4 Tyler via Westwood / Lindbrook, Los Angeles - Pacoima, Monterey / Gilroy Train Station and Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 2m.
The distance between Santa Monica and Big Sur is 307 miles. The road distance is 287.3 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Monica to Big Sur without a car is to train and taxi which takes 11h 14m and costs $230 - $410.
It takes approximately 3h 53m to get from Santa Monica to Big Sur, including transfers.
Santa Monica to Big Sur bus services, operated by Tufesa, depart from Los Angeles - Pacoima station.
Santa Monica to Big Sur bus services, operated by Tufesa, arrive at Gilroy station.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Monica to Big Sur is 287 miles. It takes approximately 5h 48m to drive from Santa Monica to Big Sur.
There are 312+ hotels available in Big Sur.
What companies run services between Santa Monica, CA, USA and Big Sur, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Santa Monica Eb & Lincoln Ns to Big Sur via Westwood Nb & Wilshire Ns, Westwood / Lindbrook, Van Nuys / Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles - Pacoima, Gilroy, Monterey / Gilroy Train Station, Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3, Salinas Transit Center / Gate 7, and Monterey Transit Plaza / Gate 4 Tyler in around 13h 2m.
- 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
- $45–290
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–300
- 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
- $45–290
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Monterey Regional Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–240
- Website
- jsx.com
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Monterey Regional Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–240
- 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
- $100–360
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Los Angeles to Salinas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 19m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–240
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1-323-466-3876
- [email protected]
- Website
- Metro Los Angeles
Tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- Metro Los Angeles
Tram from Downtown Santa Monica Station to 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro A & E Lines
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- Metro Los Angeles
Subway from 7th Street / Metro Center Station - Metro B & D Lines to North Hollywood Station
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Website
- Metro Los Angeles
- Phone
- +1 310-451-5444
- Website
- bigbluebus.com
Bus from 4Th Sb & Santa Monica Place to LAX/Metro Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- http://www.bigbluebus.com
- Schedules at
- http://www.bigbluebus.com/Routes-And-Schedules/
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- Tufesa
Bus from Los Angeles - Pacoima to Gilroy
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Schedules at
- Tufesa
- Adult One way
- $65–95
- Phone
- +52 644 410 2444
- [email protected]
- Website
- tufesa.com.mx
Bus from Los Angeles - Pacoima to Gilroy
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–60
- Schedules at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Book at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Plus
- $40–60
- Titanium
- $45–60
- Phone
- 1-888-678-2871
- [email protected]
- Website
- Monterey-Salinas Transit
Bus from Monterey / Gilroy Train Station to Salinas Transit Center / Gate 3
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- Monterey-Salinas Transit
- Phone
- +1 831-373-7777
- Website
- Groome Transportation
Shuttle from SJC Airport Terminal A to Monterey Shuttle Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- Groome Transportation
- Standard Rate
- $45–60
Shuttle from SJC Airport Terminal A to Monterey Shuttle Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- Groome Transportation
- Standard Rate
- $45–60
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- Estimated price
- $75–160
Sal's Salinas Taxi Co
- Phone
- +1 831-422-7276
Yellow Cab
- Phone
- +1 831-424-1234
- Website
- yellowcab1234.com
Sal's Salinas Taxi Co
- Phone
- +1 831-422-7276
Yellow Cab
- Phone
- +1 831-424-1234
- Website
- yellowcab1234.com
Sal's Salinas Taxi Co
- Phone
- +1 831-422-7276
Yellow Cab
- Phone
- +1 831-424-1234
- Website
- yellowcab1234.com
Sal's Salinas Taxi Co
- Phone
- +1 831-422-7276
Yellow Cab
- Phone
- +1 831-424-1234
- Website
- yellowcab1234.com
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