City in California, United States
Getting around Santa Barbara
How to get around Santa Barbara
The center is walkable and MTD buses are cheap, with a free electric Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Coastal buses link to Los Angeles; wine country needs a car.
Ways to get around Santa Barbara
| Option | Fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| MTD buses | $1.75 single | Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District; exact change or tap card |
| Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle | $0.50–0.75 | Electric shuttles linking State Street and the beach |
| Amtrak Pacific Surfliner | Varies by distance | Daily trains to Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo; downtown station near the beach |
| Uber / Lyft | About $12–22 for 5 km | Main option for evenings and wine country |
Ride-hailing apps in Santa Barbara
A 5 km ride costs about $12–22 ($12–22).
- Street hailing is rare; book rideshare in advance for the airport. Taxis exist but cost more.
Arriving in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)
Uber or taxi about $25–40 to downtown, 15–20 min; few direct flights, mostly West Coast hubs.
Los Angeles International (LAX)
Flyaway shuttle or Amtrak to Santa Barbara about 2.5–3.5 h; car 1.5–2.5 h, depending on traffic.
Driving and onward travel
- Scooters: Lime scooters and bikes in downtown and the Mesa; riding on sidewalks is banned. Helmets are recommended.
- Driving: on the right. Foreign licences work for visitors in most states; carry an IDP if yours isn't in English. Under-25s pay rental surcharges.
- Onward travel in United States: Distances are long, so domestic flights are usually fastest. Amtrak works well in the Northeast Corridor; buses are cheapest. Outside big cities you often need a car.
Quick answers
Is there Uber in Santa Barbara?
Yes. Apps that work here: Uber, Lyft.
What's the best way to get around Santa Barbara?
The center is walkable and MTD buses are cheap, with a free electric Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Coastal buses link to Los Angeles; wine country needs a car.
How do I get from the airport to Santa Barbara?
Uber or taxi about $25–40 to downtown, 15–20 min; few direct flights, mostly West Coast hubs.
Is Santa Barbara walkable?
Walkable center.
More about Santa Barbara
Going to Santa Barbara solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Santa Barbara meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- Amtrak
- Greyhound
- FlixBus
- Santa Barbara MTD
- Santa Barbara Airport
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
- Visit Santa Barbara
Fares are typical 2026 prices; check the operator for today's fares. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.