San Fracisco - Santa Barbara, transportation?

Question

I live in the bay area. My mom and my stepdad went to SB and it took like 5 hours to drive. My mom came home and told me to think twice and asked me if i'd like to go to UC Santa Cruz instead, since it's only about an hour away. I personally want to go to UCSB more, so I'm wondering if there's any other away to travel between here and SB so I can come home during breaks without troubling my parents too much? (it would be exhausting if they had to drive down there to pick me up and drive me back and come back home lol)

Answer 1

There are direct flights from SB to SFO.  

The Amtrak Coast Starlight travels between the two cities, but if time is a factor it wouldn't be so good, as the trip is about ten hours.

Answer 2

Amtrak has a train, go to amtrak.com and check the schedules.  

You could also hitch a ride with someone.  There are a lot of UCSB students that live in the bay area and drive up during breaks.  Just share a ride and split the cost of gas.

Answer 3

There is a regional Amtrak solution to making this trip by train in about 7 hours time. The Central Coast Pacific Surfliner offers a thruway connection bus between the Bay Area and San Luis Obispo where the continuation of the southbound trip would be by train to Santa Barbra. Check www.amtrakcalifronia.com   for details Good Luck!  Additionally, Greyhound does also provide service along this corridor but I would recommend the train for comfort at about the same fare.