UCSB rides home: LA & the Bay Area — from $14 | Seat Sherpa

UCSB ↔ LA & the Bay
rides for Gauchos

The 101 runs right past campus, and drivers on it have empty seats. Get to LA or the Bay for the price of splitting gas — no train-to-bus transfer.

🎒 Move-in weeks are the busiest of the year — book a few days ahead

Checking upcoming rides…
Find a rideDriving back? Fill your seats

UCSB corridors

UCSB → LA

$14–$26 a seat · 2–2.5 hours · ~100 mi

See upcoming rides →  ·  full route guide

UCSB → Bay Area

$35–$50 a seat · 5–6 hours · ~330 mi

See upcoming rides →  ·  full route guide

Your options from Isla Vista / Goleta

OptionTypical costTimeNotes
Seat Sherpa carpool that's us $14–$26 2–2.5 hours Door to door. Split the driver's gas — no surge, no station.
Amtrak Surfliner / Airbus Varies slower via transfers Fares move daily; we don't quote numbers we haven't checked. A carpool seat is door to door. Check fares →
Drive it yourself ~$16 of gas 2–2.5 hours 100 mi ÷ 30 mpg × $4.80/gal — before parking and wear. And you keep the car all semester.

Pickup & drop-off

Pickups in Isla Vista, Goleta and downtown Santa Barbara; drop-offs across LA (Westwood, DTLA, the Valley) or up the 101 to the Bay. You confirm the exact spot in the app after booking.

UCSB rides — FAQ

How do UCSB students get rides home with Seat Sherpa?

Download the app, search UCSB to LA, and book a seat with a verified driver already making the drive. Payment is held securely until pickup, and you coordinate the exact spot in chat.

How much does it cost?

Seats on these corridors usually run $14–$26. You're splitting the driver's real gas cost — capped at the IRS mileage rate — so there's no surge and no markup.

Is it safe?

Every driver is ID- and license-verified, payment is held until your trip starts (you share a pickup code with the driver), and riders and drivers rate each other after every trip. Everyone is 18+.

Can I bring a semester's worth of stuff?

Move-in loads are normal here. Add a note when you book ("2 suitcases + a mini fridge") so the driver can plan trunk space — or message them first in the app.

What about move-in and move-out weeks?

Those are the busiest weeks of the year on these corridors — book a few days ahead. Driving back to school with empty seats? Post your drive and your gas is covered.

Get the app & grab a seat

Browse rides, pick your seat, pay securely — free to download.