SMF - SNA

$76 Find Cheap Flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Sacramento to Santa Ana departing on 4/13. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Santa Ana

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Sacramento to Santa Ana, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Sacramento to Santa Ana, as well as popular online travel agencies
Travelers love KAYAK
41.299.237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

Save 23% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$217
Overall average: $367
Multiple Airlines
Sun 4/26Wed 4/29
SMF - SNA • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$294
Typical prices: $339-$466
Southwest
Sun 4/26Wed 4/29
SMF - SNA • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
Park on level 3 at Sacramento for skybridge access.
SNA has clearly marked rideshare pick-up zones.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $281 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Every day
You can fly direct with Southwest. Average duration is 1h 28m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $185 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 4h 39m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 56% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 28% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Santa Ana!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana (SMF-SNA)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Sacramento to Santa Ana

Sun, Apr 26 - Wed, Apr 29
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:52 pm - 8:05 am
SMF
-
SNA
13h 13m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:23 pm - 3:51 pm
SNA
-
SMF
24h 28m
1 stop
$217Multiple Airlines
Fri, May 8 - Sun, May 10
Frontier Logo
11:28 am - 9:09 am
SMF
-
SNA
21h 41m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
9:54 am - 10:43 am
SNA
-
SMF
24h 49m
1 stop
$281Frontier
Fri, Apr 3 - Tue, Apr 7
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:44 am - 4:20 pm
SMF
-
SNA
6h 36m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:53 pm - 7:29 am
SNA
-
SMF
40h 36m
2 stops
$282Multiple Airlines
Thu, Apr 9 - Thu, Apr 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:04 am - 7:47 pm
SMF
-
SNA
9h 43m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:30 am - 10:05 am
SNA
-
SMF
26h 35m
2 stops
$285Multiple Airlines
Sun, May 3 - Sun, May 10
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:52 pm - 8:05 am
SMF
-
SNA
13h 13m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:23 pm - 4:27 pm
SNA
-
SMF
25h 04m
1 stop
$287Multiple Airlines
Thu, Apr 16 - Sat, Apr 18
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:11 pm - 9:45 pm
SMF
-
SNA
6h 34m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:23 pm - 12:22 pm
SNA
-
SMF
20h 59m
2 stops
$288Multiple Airlines
Fri, May 1 - Mon, May 4
Frontier Logo
11:03 am - 11:25 am
SMF
-
SNA
24h 22m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
11:11 am - 1:47 pm
SNA
-
SMF
26h 36m
1 stop
$291Frontier
Sun, Apr 26 - Wed, Apr 29
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:52 pm - 8:05 am
SMF
-
SNA
13h 13m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:23 pm - 3:51 pm
SNA
-
SMF
24h 28m
1 stop
$292Multiple Airlines
Sun, Apr 26 - Wed, Apr 29
Southwest Logo
4:40 pm - 10:25 pm
SMF
-
SNA
5h 45m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
11:40 am - 1:15 pm
SNA
-
SMF
1h 35mnonstop
$293Southwest
Sun, Apr 5 - Wed, Apr 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:34 am - 9:53 am
SMF
-
SNA
24h 19m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:53 pm - 7:29 am
SNA
-
SMF
40h 36m
2 stops
$294Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Sacramento to Santa Ana flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

When flying from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana), you should consider leaving on a Monday and avoid Wednesdays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to Sacramento, you’ll find the best rates on Saturdays and the most expensive ones on Mondays.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Sacramento to Santa Ana?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana is August, where tickets cost $238 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are March and January, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $389 and $378 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Sacramento to Santa Ana?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

No, with an average price for the route of $369, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Sacramento to Santa Ana?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Sacramento to Santa Ana, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 56% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 16 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Sacramento to Santa Ana

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Esther Carlstone

Esther Carlstone

Expert on SNA

Esther Carlstone is a travel and food writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in publications such as Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet, Forbes, Tripadvisor, Insider, and more.

Bill Fink

Bill Fink

Expert on SMF

Bill is an award-winning travel writer with extensive credits covering airlines and the aviation industry for publications including AARP, AFAR, The Points Guy and Yahoo. Based in Portland, Oregon, Bill has traveled to more than 75 countries - and been late for his flight in most of them. He once achieved top-level frequent flier status for all of American, Delta and United Airlines during a single year.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$76
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 13% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 10% increase in price.
Flight from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)

When to book flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Sacramento to Santa Ana based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)

  • Are there on-site hotels at SMF?

    There are many hotels at or close to the airport where you can seek accommodation if you have scheduled an early departure from SMF and need a place to stay the night. Four Points by Sheraton Sacramento, Holiday Inn Express & Suites and Hampton Inn & Suites are some of the ideal hotels to choose from, depending on your preferences. As a result, you will avoid the early morning commute and the risk of missing your flight.

  • Can I use public transit from downtown Sacramento to SMF?

    There are numerous modes of transport available from Sacramento's downtown to SMF. You can decide to drive, use a taxi, or use a rideshare app to order Uber, which will take approximately 24min to arrive at the airport. Alternatively, you can opt for the express airport shuttle bus that regularly runs every 20-30min between the airport terminals and downtown Sacramento and takes approximately 35min to get to the airport.

  • How can I fly from SMF to SNA?

    Southwest Airlines is the most common airline offering nonstop flights between SMF and SNA routes. However, if you want to save some dollars, you can opt for a number of one-stop option flights, such as Spirit Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines and United Airlines, usually with stops at LAS and SLC airports. However, this will generally add at least 3h to your overall travel time.

  • Can I sleep at SNA?

    It is not illegal to sleep at SNA airport. However, it is not the most comfortable place where you can spend the night as it features wooden benches. If you want to sleep at the airport in comfort, consider carrying a blanket, travel mattress and a pillow. Nonetheless, you can choose to book a room at one of the many hotels within the airport.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Sacramento to Santa Ana?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Sacramento to Santa Ana was $76 for a one-way ticket and $217 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Sacramento and John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    A passport is not required to fly from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana).

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    On your way to John Wayne (Santa Ana), you’ll fly out from Sacramento Intl. You’ll be landing at Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana) flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    The Canadair (Bombardier) Regional Jet 700 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana) flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    SkyTeam, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Sacramento and John Wayne (Santa Ana), with SkyTeam being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    There are nonstop flights from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana) on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana, Southwest or Delta?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Sacramento to Santa Ana are Southwest and Delta. With an average price for the route of $352 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. Delta is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $217 and an overall rating of 7.9.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    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 Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana).

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to John Wayne (Santa Ana) from Sacramento 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 Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    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 John Wayne (Santa Ana) with an airline and back to Sacramento with another airline. Booking your flights between Sacramento and SNA can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

    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 John Wayne (Santa Ana) from Sacramento up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Sacramento to Santa Ana

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $169 or less one-way and $372 or less round-trip.
  • There is always much to do at both the departure and arrival airports. Connect to the free Wi-Fi that is available throughout the airport terminals to stay in touch with loved ones. You can have a 10min massage at Sacramento International Airport (SMF) in Terminal B before boarding your aircraft. On the other hand, there are a variety of lounges at SMF and John Wayne Santa AnaInternational Airport (SNA) where you can relax.
  • Nursing mothers will find exceptional Mamave pods in Terminal A and B at SMF. The nursing suites are furnished with a sink, a baby changing table, comfortable chairs and power outlets suitable for pumping and breastfeeding.
  • If you are arriving at John Wayne Santa Ana International Airport and are looking forward to catching up on unfinished work, SNA features multiple workstations that you can take advantage of without any incremental fee. The stations are located at Terminal C of the airport.
  • There are many food concessions that you can visit if you are feeling hungry at SMF. However, these food booths run on a variety of schedules, with some opening as early as 4 am and most closing by 9 pm. There are no 24h dining alternatives at the airport. You will find 13 eateries at B and 9 in Terminal A. The best part is the two terminals feature vending machines.
  • Passengers can ask for help at the information counter in SNA airport if they have any questions or are looking for particular information. The information desk is located in the baggage claim areas, across from carousels 2 and 3. You can also look for ambassadors with red vests.

Prefer to fly direct from Sacramento to John Wayne (Santa Ana)?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Sacramento Intl to Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty.
Find which airlines fly direct from Sacramento Intl Airport to Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Sacramento Intl to Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

Monday

Southwest

Southwest

Tuesday

Southwest

Southwest

Wednesday

Southwest

Southwest

Thursday

Southwest

Southwest

Friday

Southwest

Southwest

Saturday

Southwest

Southwest

Sunday

Southwest

Southwest

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty to Sacramento Intl

Monday

Southwest

Southwest

Tuesday

Southwest

Southwest

Wednesday

Southwest

Southwest

Thursday

Southwest

Southwest

Friday

Southwest

Southwest

Saturday

Southwest

Southwest

Sunday

Southwest

Southwest

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 4 airlines serving from Sacramento to Santa Ana

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Sacramento to Santa Ana. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Sacramento to Santa Ana? 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 4324 reviews
8.0Comfort
8.1Boarding
8.6Crew
7.0Food
7.5Entertainment
Airline reviews

Boarding was easy. The seats are small and fairly uncomfortable

8.0 ExcellentNicole, Mar 2026
LGB - OAK
Read more Southwest reviews

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.

No food or entertainment, just a quick 40 minute flight. A little bumpy due to Santa Ana winds but pilot has no control over that. Good flight and landing!

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

Mediocre. Boarding is now unpleasant. The employees, once friendly and nice, are now regularly speaking sternly to passengers, badgering them to do things right so they can take off on time and gate check bags because they don't have enough overhead bin space. The pretzel snack was crushed flat and broken into even smaller pieces, which happens frequently lately. Drink service was suspended before they reached my row.

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 flight crew was extremely rude and especially not helpful when our flight was 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.

Left a few minutes early. Got in 15 minutes early. Very attentive service on board. Very organized boarding.

There’s not much to say about a one hour flight. This is a connection from LA to RNO that I missed the previous night due to a mechanical check delay on my originating flight from JFK to LAX. The short flight itself was fine. Instructions from the pilot and crew were per usual. The coffee was barely lukewarm, which possibly was purposeful so we would down it quickly. Bags were already on carousel upon reaching baggage claim, which was excellent.

Delta continues to set the benchmark for traveler-friendly service with minimal disruption and clear communication within the mainland US (coast to coast). I am consistently pleased to be a Delta customer, and this experience once again met my expectations. There was a brief delay departing from MIA due to a technical issue that required the aircraft to return to the gate. However, the situation was handled professionally and transparently. Fortunately, my planned layover allowed ample buffer time, so the adjustment caused no stress. Overall, another smooth and reassuring experience.

Awesome! On time flight, early arrival, and a complimentary upgrade!

Was forced to check in my small carry on, even though I informed the crew it has very fragile items inside

They double booked seats, the gate staff changed my ticket as I was boarding she went over to the computer and changed it without telling me. She messed up an entire three row section for me and others. Other travelers were outraged but the gate staff were so rude, so condescending saying it wasn't their problem to solve. I would rate this a zero if I could. Will not fly Delta again I'll stick with United and American.

It was nt delta. It was aeromexo. Service was awful. They served a very small drink and NO snack for a 3hr and 35min flight. Then for the first 30 min of the flight is was talk and talk over head interruption the movie/ show i picked to watch.

I usually get upgraded so my experience is usually amazing. I did not get upgraded this time - which was fine - but the wifi had issues, the monitors were going in & out, & (though not Delta's fault) one of the gentlemen next to me desperately needed a shower.

I really liked the legroom. I am 6’4”.a at For some reason our seats were not together and using the app to fix it didn’t work. Passengers were nice enough to move for us but you should absolutely ensure a parent sits with their child.

Staff were friendly and happy. Delta could make sure passengers that don't have the app know of changes. Without Kayak I would not have known about the change of gate or the delay. Kayak was faster to notify me.

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

Women boarding passengers at the gate was absolutely rude and disrespectful of passengers. The flight attendant was absolutely delightful! Smiling and connected with the passengers. So happy. The seats are cramped and uncomfortable but I guess that’s just the way it is Communication regarding flight was excellent

Overall we had a good experience during our flight from San Francisco to Houston.

it was a very short flight so my expectations were low.

Very disappointing given gate agent behavior. Filed a formal complaint with United.

Flight delayed. WiFi connectivity very poor if not existant. Last minute arrival forced me to run to catch my connection.

The power at the seat didn't work and the seat itself was difficult to adjust - this was a business class seat. Flight attendant gave me miles to compensate. The attendant was very professional and on top of his game the entire flight.

the whole trip was smooth, and as comfortable as flying is these days. flight crew was friendly and very courteous and helpful.

First class ticket gets you a choice of chips or nuts. . Just like economy Southwest. Also no screen in the seats. This is first class???!

It was a pretty standard flight... until the almost hour and a half spent on the taxi way. I get that the weather has been poor but the delay had nothing to do with the weather and more to do with a plane with several issues tying up the gate. I get that that happens from time to time but this has been EVERY flight I've been on for the past 5 years and I fly 3 to 5 times a year. This isn't just United... it's American, it's Delta. It's an issue with the entire industry. I work for UPS and packages on a cargo plane get better service than people do these days. Anymore I HATE flying.

No WiFi, no outlets to charge phones, no complimentary beverages on a 6 hour flight

Flight was delayed more than 3 hours, and the metro had stopped running by the time we got to the terminal well past midnight, so I was stranded, alone, with no way to get home until the metro started up the next morning.

My flight was cancelled I missed time at work and got a parking ticket

Crew was very nice. Take off and landing were great. Economy seats are not comfortable. Extra cost for snacks.

The flight was delayed by 2 hours and we had no food or water or chargers

Horribly late because they had no crew!!! And then jet bridge didn’t work!! Then we arrived at a gate at lax miles away that we had to take a shuttle to a terminal!! I was over 3 hours late to getting the LA! Should have been here at 8:30 and at an appointment at 10:30 and arrived and left lax at 11 am!! Horrible experience!!!

Once again, the staff seem to think they are above the customers and treat everyone with disdain, belittling people.

Flight was canceled 8 hours before departure for lack of operational control and prepositioning of a plane. Then had the audacity to say it was because of weather, however there was no weather here in California or New Orleans or in between. It was the weather in Florida, Florida it had nothing to do with our flight path just the plane was supposed to fly us. 8 hours is more than enough time to move a plane anywhere in the US. That left me with a bill of 1200 dollars to re book a flight oh and kayaks insurance what a joke. Probably will never use kayak or spirit ever again terrible companies terrible customer service. I’ll also let everyone and anyone know this was an abomination and only for the customer. Also will be making a report to the DOT on bad business practices on behalf of kayak and spirit as well as the BBB. Do better, take care of your customers and don’t suck

The airplane had a strange noise that was constant throughout the flight. Thankfully I had noise-cancelling over-ear headphones that muted much of it.

it was terrible. flight was cancelled hours before the flight without a given reason and no other booking available .

Everything you need to know for your flight from Sacramento to Santa Ana

Other airlines flying from Sacramento to Santa Ana

Flights from the other most popular airlines that fly from Sacramento to Santa Ana according to KAYAK users. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability are not guaranteed.