Ucsb's Airport Shuttle Services: What You Need To Know

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) offers a range of transportation options for students and visitors. While it is unclear whether UCSB provides direct shuttles from the airport, there are several alternative travel options available. UCSB is located in Goleta, Santa Barbara, California, and is easily accessible via various transport services, including buses, trains, and cars. The university also provides parking options for those who prefer to drive to the campus.

Santa Barbara Airbus

The Airbus fleet includes deluxe shuttle coaches, deluxe mini-limos, and large touring motor coaches, all of which are well-maintained and offer comfortable seating. They provide a cost-effective and stress-free travel option, with 16 trips scheduled between Santa Barbara and LAX every day.

In addition to their regular shuttle services, Santa Barbara Airbus also offers private charters for special events, weddings, parties, corporate events, and wine tours. Their coaches can accommodate both small and large groups, and discounts are available for advance bookings and groups of two or more passengers.

Goleta terminal

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is located on cliffs directly above the Pacific Ocean. The campus is bordered by the ocean on two sides, with miles of coastline, its own lagoon, and the rocky extension, Goleta Point, also known as "Campus Point". While UCSB appears closer to the city of Goleta, a parcel of the City of Santa Barbara runs through the east entrance to the university campus, which is why it has a Santa Barbara mailing address.

The Santa Barbara Airport is adjacent to UCSB and the city of Goleta. The airport offers non-stop service to ten western cities and New York. The Goleta Valley was originally intended to be an oil drilling site, but former Santa Barbara Mayor and Superior Court Judge John T. Rickard worked out a plan to "connect" Santa Barbara to the valley, which mainly served to prevent inshore oil drilling and boost tourism. Rickard also ensured that the City of Santa Barbara had jurisdiction over the airport land, which was a creative act of gerrymandering.

The Goleta Amtrak station is located in downtown Santa Barbara and offers train services to the airport. The Greyhound terminal is also nearby, located at 224 Chapala Street.

LAX

The Central Coast Shuttle operates a bus from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Santa Barbara, which is located near UCSB. The bus from LAX to Santa Barbara runs every four hours and costs $65–85. The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes. The bus boards on the curbside of S Hope St, directly south of the USC Campus Shuttle bus loading zone. Beginning October 31, 2024, the boarding location will move to the backside of the Stonewood Center along the yellow-painted curb, in front of the old Sears location.

Another option is to fly from LAX to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA). United Airlines offers two flights per day. The flight time is approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes. Once at Santa Barbara Airport, you can take the FlixBus to the UCSB bus loop. FlixBus is the ticket reseller for the Santa Barbara Airbus, which offers a shuttle service from Santa Barbara Airport to UCSB.

Driving is the cheapest option, costing between $17 and $26, and taking approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes.

UCSB Coastal Express

The UCSB Coastal Express is a long-distance bus service for UCSB commuters. The Coastal Express now offers free wireless web access on every bus. The schedules for the "80-89 Coastal Express" can be found on the VCTC website, and include Weekday and Weekend Northbound and Southbound trips. To be notified of any unplanned interruptions or changes to routes, passengers can use the GOVCbus app for push notifications or sign up at govcbus.com for text alerts.

Faculty and staff who are employed at least 45% of the time at UCSB, at least six months into the future, may purchase monthly passes through pre-tax payroll deduction. Enrollees in the payroll deduction program who do not own a UCSB parking permit may save an additional $21 per month on bus fare. To enroll in this program, download and complete the University of California Pretax Transportation Deductions request form, and send it to TAP as an email attachment or return it in person or by fax.

Three airports are located within 100 miles of the UCSB campus. Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is just minutes away from the campus and Isla Vista. It is served by five major airlines, five non-stop destinations, and more than 200 one-stop destinations. To get to the airport, you can drive, take the MTD bus #11, or call a taxi. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 106 miles south on the 101 Freeway. A Santa Barbara Airbus from 750 Technology Drive in Goleta is the recommended way to get to LAX without paying for parking.

Amtrak train

The Amtrak train station closest to UCSB is the Goleta station (GTA), located at 25 S. La Patera Lane. The Santa Barbara station (SBA) is located at 209 State Street. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner stops at both the Goleta and Santa Barbara stations, while the Coast Starlight stops only at the Santa Barbara station.

To get to the Goleta Amtrak station from UCSB, you can take the MTD Line 24x west-bound towards the Camino Real Marketplace from the UCSB Bus Loop. Line 24x becomes Line 12x. You can get off at the intersection of Hollister Avenue and La Patera Lane and walk up La Patera Lane for 0.3 miles (about 6 minutes) towards the mountains to reach the station. The trip between the Goleta Train Station and UCSB takes less than 20 minutes by bicycle.

To get to the Santa Barbara Amtrak station from UCSB, you can board the MTD Line 24x towards Santa Barbara from the UCSB Bus Loop.

Amtrak also operates a bus that travels between the UCSB Bus Loop near the Pollock Theater and the Capitol Corridor Train and Caltrain (in San Jose) or the San Joaquin Train (in Bakersfield).

Frequently asked questions