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$49 Find Cheap Flights from California to Santa Barbara - Compare and Save

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Cheap Flights from California to Santa Barbara

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from California to Santa Barbara

Thu, Sep 10 - Mon, Sep 14
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:30 pm - 11:50 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 20mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:05 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
1h 05mnonstop
$88Alaska Airlines
Wed, Sep 16 - Wed, Sep 23
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:30 pm - 11:50 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 20mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:05 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
1h 05mnonstop
$90Alaska Airlines
Mon, Oct 5 - Wed, Oct 7
Southwest Logo
12:45 pm - 1:50 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 05mnonstop
Southwest Logo
10:40 am - 11:35 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
0h 55mnonstop
$97Southwest
Mon, Sep 28 - Wed, Sep 30
Southwest Logo
10:55 am - 11:55 amSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 00mnonstop
Southwest Logo
10:55 am - 11:45 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
0h 50mnonstop
$97Southwest
Sat, Oct 17 - Mon, Oct 19
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:30 pm - 11:47 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 17mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:22 pm - 3:24 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
1h 02mnonstop
$97Alaska Airlines
Sat, Sep 19 - Mon, Sep 21
Southwest Logo
2:50 pm - 3:45 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
0h 55mnonstop
Southwest Logo
12:30 pm - 1:25 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
0h 55mnonstop
$97Southwest
Sat, Sep 26 - Sat, Sep 26
United Airlines Logo
7:30 am - 11:52 amSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
4h 22m1 stop San Francisco
United Airlines Logo
4:21 pm - 8:45 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
4h 24m1 stop San Francisco
$157United Airlines
Mon, Sep 14 - Mon, Sep 14
United Airlines Logo
6:17 am - 11:57 amSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
5h 40m1 stop San Francisco
United Airlines Logo
6:26 pm - 12:29 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
6h 03m1 stop San Francisco
$157United Airlines
Mon, Nov 2 - Thu, Nov 5
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:40 pm - 1:58 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 18mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:07 am - 6:38 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
32h 31m3 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl Vancouver Intl San Francisco
$469Multiple Airlines
Tue, Sep 29 - Wed, Sep 30
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:30 pm - 2:47 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 17mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:24 pm - 2:10 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
18h 46m3 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl Vancouver Intl Calgary
$490Multiple Airlines
Useful Info

Good to know

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$49
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 3% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 3% lower on average.
Flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara

FAQs for booking flights from California to Santa Barbara

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from California to Santa Barbara?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from California to Santa Barbara.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from California to Santa Barbara?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Santa Barbara from California is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from California to Santa Barbara?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Santa Barbara with an airline and back to California with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from California to Santa Barbara?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Santa Barbara from California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from California to Santa Barbara

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from California to Santa Barbara? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4215 reviews
8.1Boarding
8.6Crew
7.0Food
7.5Entertainment
8.0Comfort
Airline reviews

Seated at front bulkhead for a smidge extra leg room away from home and on flight back home. Away crew was very proactive about assuring our carryons had space close behind us (because no seat in front of us our personal items had to be in a small bin overhead). They actively required passengers place overhead luggage on its side so more items could fit in bins. Home crew made no such efforts. I had to struggle back rows to get overhead bags upon landing, no crew help then either, and some disgruntled passengers as I and others retrieved our bags. There was a system that worked pretty well. The home bound crew just didn't feel like working.

4.0 OkayMather, Aug 2026
Read more Southwest reviews

Seated at front bulkhead for a smidge extra leg room away from home and on flight back home. Away crew was very proactive about assuring our carryons had space close behind us (because no seat in front of us our personal items had to be in a small bin overhead). They actively required passengers place overhead luggage on its side so more items could fit in bins. Home crew made no such efforts. I had to struggle back rows to get overhead bags upon landing, no crew help then either, and some disgruntled passengers as I and others retrieved our bags. There was a system that worked pretty well. The home bound crew just didn't feel like working.

This leg was much better, but we did have to have a 3 hour lay o er after coming from a very exhausting hiccup with our flight from BNA to Den

Boarding was easy. The seats are small and fairly uncomfortable

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

Good but I prefer choose your own seat. With the new assigned seats they should board from the back I see no advantage to this new boarding. Just like every other airline

The charges were ridiculous for an hour flight and the turbulence was very scary.

3 hour delay. Had to change plans and was still delayed.

The boarding and seat assignment system no longer works for me, but I know it is being replaced. Otherwise, I am good with the overall experience.

The lead steward kept singing about "San Francisco" and hotel California---more annoying than humorous....needs work. Flight was smooth and on time.

Crew was great but because of fog they diverted us to Ontario instead of our Santa Barbara destination. Instead of cancelling the flight as soon as we landed in Ontario, they instead held us in Ontario for almost 4 hours before cancelling the flight. I had to rent a car in Ontario to get back to ventura on time to get an elderly relative his medication and take over his caretaking… otherwise if I had taken the buses you offered from Ontario I wouldn’t have even arrived to Santa Barbara till at least midnight (according to southwest airlines employees at Ontario), and then would have had to drive back down to ventura. At least renting the car I could get up to ventura by 10 pm to take care of my loved one.

Was very easy to board but when you get to the confirmation board it was too high for me to see even with my glasses so I just hoped that I was lead to the right gate and waited for boarding.

Flight cancelled originally with no email informing me of the change. Rebooked for the next day and that flight was delayed with no update on the app.

A refund because I never got on any you guys never canceled it in the first place

We got in the plane late we still got to our destination on time. I wished Airlines would make people that put their luggage above were smaller maybe they would all fit and get them out easier customers like myself pay for her luggage in the back when your in a hurry to go to another destination it’s very frustrating for everyone to take their time to get their luggage down and wait because they don’t want to pay.

Poor transfer conditions at LAX almost missed flight. Long walk and delayed shuttle ..avoid at all costs

I have been trying to cancel my flight from 2 hours before and still have not been able to

The problem was going through San Diego, a trip that's become a new development.

On time, good seats, not overly full, up beast positive crew.

Check-in was easy, I did it from the app. Boarding was easy, the crew was great. Santa Barbara airport had a disabled plane so we had to land in Burbank to refuel. They kept us well informed, and everyone was great. A very entertaining person from the Burbank airport got on and told a few jokes.

Had to show boarding pass twice. Otherwise flight was excellent.

It was a short, comfortable flight. It did leave an hour late due to the pilot having to be replaced (family emergency) but that didn’t inconvenience myself & my friend. The situation was explained, eventually.

UA594 was delayed multiple times. I ended up getting picked up so I can make it in time for work 6AM on Monday, 7/6/2026

Service was professional and quick. Premium economy seat was comfortable given the class

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly at all times! They went above and beyond to get us into an earlier flight in San Diego to make our connection in SFO possible, because our original flight did actually not make it! I did so much appreciate the UA team and how they made this possible. We also didn’t have seats together on the long flight to Singapore, but they found us seats together last moment with no additional cost! Nobody sat next to us, so that we were able to sleep! Thanks to UA for improving their service and Underpricer for booking this trip! Please be careful: 1,5 hrs for transfer in San Francisco might not be enough time in the future

Seat pitch is horrible especially on the 15 hour flight. Gate crew at SFO was Outstanding. The flight crew was also great.

Late plane. Only one crew on the ground so we b had to wait for Denver flight to come in, board, and depart. At 78 yrs of age I was not pleased trying to get my connection. What really made me angry was the notification you sent me to hurry up or I would miss my connection. Why tell me to hurry up when you got me in late. It was not a good way of treating customers.

Outstanding service, efficient & friendly crew, flight was safe, comfortable & on time

Flight delayed for more than 16 hrs and no effort was spent to provide an alternate

Great experience…left a bit behind schedule but made up fir that in the air and landed 10 minutes early 😁

Serving a coffr Or a Drink would have been nice.

Traveling to a place near Santa Barbara?

Book flights to Santa Barbara if you plan to visit one of these locations
Buellton
Los Olivos

Everything you need to know for your flight to Santa Barbara

Information on the airport you'll fly into in Santa Barbara