DEN - SBA

$114 Find Cheap Flights from Denver to Santa Barbara - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$227
Typical prices: $289-$463
Southwest
Sun 11/4Sun 11/11
DEN - SBA • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$114
Typical prices: $162-$341
Southwest
Sat 1/6
DEN - SBA • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines and Southwest. Average duration is 2h 42m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 24 weeks in advance save around 64% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 26% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $294 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 4h 33m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to Santa Barbara!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Denver to Santa Barbara (DEN-SBA)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Denver to Santa Barbara

Wed, Nov 4 - Wed, Nov 11
Southwest Logo
8:20 pm - 10:05 pmDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
2h 45mnonstop
Southwest Logo
2:20 pm - 5:40 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
2h 20mnonstop
$227Southwest
Wed, Nov 4 - Mon, Nov 9
United Airlines Logo
7:25 pm - 9:08 pmDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
2h 43mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 8:28 amSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
2h 28mnonstop
$227United Airlines
Mon, Oct 26 - Wed, Oct 28
United Airlines Logo
7:25 pm - 9:08 pmDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
2h 43mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 8:28 amSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
2h 28mnonstop
$227United Airlines
Thu, Nov 12 - Sat, Nov 14
United Airlines Logo
7:25 pm - 9:08 pmDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
2h 43mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
1:06 pm - 4:35 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
2h 29mnonstop
$227United Airlines
Thu, Nov 12 - Sat, Nov 14
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 10:30 amDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
6h 00m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Southwest Logo
7:00 am - 10:15 amSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
2h 15mnonstop
$237Southwest
Thu, Nov 12 - Mon, Nov 16
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 10:30 amDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
6h 00m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Southwest Logo
2:20 pm - 5:40 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
2h 20mnonstop
$237Southwest
Wed, Nov 4 - Thu, Nov 12
Southwest Logo
6:45 am - 1:40 pmDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
7h 55m2 stops Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl San Diego
Southwest Logo
1:50 pm - 5:05 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
2h 15mnonstop
$242Southwest
Mon, Oct 26 - Thu, Oct 29
American Airlines Logo
12:21 pm - 6:15 pmDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
6h 54m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
American Airlines Logo
6:10 am - 11:31 amSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
4h 21m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$247American Airlines
Thu, Nov 5 - Sat, Nov 7
American Airlines Logo
5:30 am - 12:00 pmDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
7h 30m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
American Airlines Logo
12:45 pm - 7:22 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
5h 37m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$247American Airlines
Sat, Nov 7 - Sat, Nov 14
American Airlines Logo
5:30 am - 12:00 pmDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
7h 30m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
American Airlines Logo
12:45 pm - 7:22 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
5h 37m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$247American Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Denver to Santa Barbara flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a round-trip flight from Denver to Santa Barbara?

Round-trip flights from Denver to Santa Barbara typically range from $289 to $463. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $227, on Southwest.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Denver to Santa Barbara?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Denver to Santa Barbara. It’s 6% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 23% higher.

What’s the cheapest month to fly from Denver to Santa Barbara?

•January is the cheapest month to fly from Denver to Santa Barbara at $264 round-trip.
•March ($418) and August ($384) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 58% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Denver to Santa Barbara the cheapest?

Flights from Denver to Santa Barbara are cheapest 24 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 64% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Denver to Santa Barbara

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on Southwest

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specializing in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favorite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history. She will always choose the window seat.

Key details for Denver to Santa Barbara flights

Low season

December

Cheapest flight

$114
The most popular month to fly with an average 13% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Denver to Santa Barbara

When to book flights from Denver to Santa Barbara

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Denver to Santa Barbara based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your Denver to Santa Barbara flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Denver to Santa Barbara:

    • Earliest: departs at 10:30 am and lands at 1:12 pm
    • Latest: departs at 9:35 pm and lands at 12:17 am.

    The flight takes about 2h 42m.

  • What cabin classes can I book on flights from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Denver to Santa Barbara:

    • Economy Class
    • First Class

  • How long is a flight from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    A nonstop flight from Denver to Santa Barbara takes 2h 42m, covering 914 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Denver to Santa Barbara flight?

    Round-trip flights from Denver to Santa Barbara range from $289 to $463, with an average of $355 over the past 12 months. Anything below $289 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Denver to Santa Barbara flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 124% above the $355 route average. Book 24 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $294 round-trip via San Diego (SAN), compared to $359 for nonstop.

  • What is the standard checked-bag allowance on flights from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $40–$90 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    The Boeing 737-800 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by United Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Boeing 737 MAX 8 variants.

  • How are flight departures from Denver to Santa Barbara spread across the day?

    Evening is the busiest departure period on Denver to Santa Barbara flights, with 66% of flights leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 34%, afternoon flights for 0%, and night flights for 0%.

  • Have flight prices from Denver to Santa Barbara changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $227 to $1,092. That means the highest observed fare was about 5x higher than the lowest one.

  • How are flight prices from Denver to Santa Barbara looking right now?

    One-way fares from Denver to Santa Barbara are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $118, which is 45% below the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)?

    Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $29 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Budget
    • Hertz
    • Dollar
    • Alamo
    • Thrifty

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    Flights from Denver to Santa Barbara usually depart from Denver Intl (DEN) and arrive at Santa Barbara (SBA).

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Denver to Santa Barbara pass through?

    One-stop flights from Denver to Santa Barbara most commonly connect through:

    • San Diego (SAN) - 30% of one-stop connections
    • Salt Lake City (SLC) - 30% of one-stop connections
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 26% of one-stop connections
    • Los Angeles (LAX) - 9% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 24% on flights from Denver to Santa Barbara. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $334 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $439, a difference of $105.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • What airlines fly from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    2 airlines operate flights between Denver and Santa Barbara. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

    • United Airlines
    • Southwest

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from Denver to Santa Barbara?

    Flying via Los Angeles (LAX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 33m, compared with 4h 37m via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) and 4h 50m via Salt Lake City (SLC).

  • What is the time difference between Denver and Santa Barbara?

    Santa Barbara is 1 hour behind Denver (Pacific Time vs Mountain Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Denver to Santa Barbara flights?

    Among airlines operating Denver to Santa Barbara flights:

    • United Airlines: offers free seat selection
    • Southwest: offers free seat selection

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Denver to Santa Barbara flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in First Class
    • Southwest: a cabin bag in Economy Class class

    Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Your guide to booking Denver to Santa Barbara flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $334, about $105 less than Sunday fares (24% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 24 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 64% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Denver to Santa Barbara trip for January. Fares historically average $264 round-trip in that month - typically $154 less than the most expensive month, which is March (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through San Diego Airport (SAN) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $294 round-trip on this route - about $66 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Santa Barbara Airport.

    • The Steward, Santa Barbara, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Prefer to fly direct from Denver to Santa Barbara?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Denver Intl Airport to Santa Barbara Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Denver Intl to Santa Barbara

Monday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Tuesday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Wednesday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Thursday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Friday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Saturday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Sunday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Santa Barbara to Denver Intl

Monday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Tuesday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Wednesday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Thursday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Friday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Saturday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

Sunday

Southwest,United Airlines

Southwest,United Airlines

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Denver to Santa Barbara

Complete your trip to Santa Barbara with a hotel stay or car rental