SAN - SBA

$59 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$105
Typical prices: $137-$277
Alaska Airlines
Wed 11/21Thu 11/22
SAN - SBA • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$59
Typical prices: $86-$199
Alaska Airlines
Fri 12/14
SAN - SBA • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with Alaska Airlines and Southwest. Average duration is 1h 09m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to travel
Cheapest • 14% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $231 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 3h 37m (one-way)
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Insights
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Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara (SAN-SBA)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from San Diego to Santa Barbara

Sat, Nov 21 - Sun, Nov 22
Alaska Airlines Logo
1:22 pm - 2:39 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 17mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:16 pm - 4:21 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
1h 05mnonstop
$105Alaska Airlines
Wed, Jan 20 - Sat, Jan 23
Alaska Airlines Logo
12:31 pm - 1:37 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 06mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:14 pm - 3:13 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
0h 59mnonstop
$114Alaska Airlines
Fri, Feb 5 - Sun, Feb 7
Southwest Logo
11:10 am - 12:05 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
0h 55mnonstop
Southwest Logo
12:50 pm - 1:40 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
0h 50mnonstop
$117Southwest
Sat, Nov 21 - Sun, Nov 22
Southwest Logo
3:20 pm - 4:15 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
0h 55mnonstop
Southwest Logo
11:05 am - 11:55 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
0h 50mnonstop
$117Southwest
Sun, Dec 13 - Fri, Dec 18
Alaska Airlines Logo
12:33 pm - 1:48 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 15mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:25 pm - 3:32 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
1h 07mnonstop
$117Alaska Airlines
Fri, Nov 27 - Fri, Dec 4
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:30 pm - 11:49 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 19mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:25 pm - 3:29 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
1h 04mnonstop
$117Alaska Airlines
Wed, Dec 2 - Wed, Dec 9
Southwest Logo
12:35 pm - 1:40 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 05mnonstop
Southwest Logo
7:45 am - 1:05 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
5h 20m1 stop Oakland
$127Southwest
Wed, Nov 25 - Wed, Dec 2
United Airlines Logo
2:30 pm - 5:28 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
2h 58m1 stop Los Angeles
United Airlines Logo
4:10 pm - 10:27 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
6h 17m1 stop San Francisco
$177United Airlines
Sat, Nov 21 - Mon, Nov 23
United Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 12:03 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
5h 48m1 stop San Francisco
United Airlines Logo
6:20 am - 10:12 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
3h 52m1 stop San Francisco
$187United Airlines
Fri, Nov 20 - Sun, Nov 22
United Airlines Logo
6:26 pm - 11:59 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
5h 33m1 stop San Francisco
United Airlines Logo
4:10 pm - 8:37 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
4h 27m1 stop San Francisco
$197United Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara?

Round-trip flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara typically range from $137 to $277. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $105, on Alaska Airlines.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara. It’s 26% cheaper than the average day, while Monday is the most expensive, with prices 52% higher.

Key details for San Diego to Santa Barbara flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$59
Beat the crowds with an average 97% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 65% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara

When to book flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara?

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

    • Earliest: departs at 11:10 am and lands at 12:19 pm
    • Latest: departs at 10:30 pm and lands at 11:39 pm.

    The flight takes about 1h 09m.

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

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

    • Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

    A nonstop flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara takes 1h 09m, covering 192 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara flight?

    Round-trip flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara range from $137 to $277, with an average of $184 over the past 12 months. Anything below $137 counts as a good deal.

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

    On this route, nonstop flights are cheaper than layover options on average. Nonstop fares average $177 round-trip, compared to $231 via a layover through Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS).

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

    There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $45–$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 San Diego to Santa Barbara?

    The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Southwest. Other aircraft seen on the route include Embraer 175 variants.

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

    Afternoon is the busiest departure period on San Diego to Santa Barbara flights, with 66% of flights leaving in that window. Night departures account for 33%, morning flights for 1%, and evening flights for 0%.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi on San Diego to Santa Barbara flights?

    Alaska Airlines is the only airline on the San Diego to Santa Barbara route offering in-flight Wi-Fi. Pricing depends on fare class.

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

    One-way fares from San Diego to Santa Barbara are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $68, which is 49% 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 averaging $71 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Budget
    • Hertz
    • Dollar
    • Alamo
    • Thrifty

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

    Flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara usually depart from San Diego (SAN) and arrive at Santa Barbara (SBA).

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

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

    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 40% of one-stop connections
    • San Francisco (SFO) - 40% of one-stop connections
    • Los Angeles (LAX) - 20% of one-stop connections

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

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 52% on flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $137 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $281, a difference of $144.

    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 San Diego to Santa Barbara?

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

    • Alaska Airlines
    • Southwest

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

    Flying via Los Angeles (LAX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 3h 37m, compared with 4h 06m via Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) and 4h 48m via San Francisco (SFO).

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

    Among airlines operating San Diego to Santa Barbara flights:

    • Alaska Airlines: offers extra legroom; 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara flights?

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

    • Alaska Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy 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 San Diego 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 Monday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $137, about $144 less than Monday fares (51% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your San Diego to Santa Barbara trip for August. Fares historically average $157 round-trip in that month - typically $279 less than the most expensive month, which is December (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 San Diego to Santa Barbara?

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

Direct departures

San Diego to Santa Barbara

Monday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Friday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Santa Barbara to San Diego

Monday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Friday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara

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