SFO - SBA

$89 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara departing on 4/28. 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 Barbara

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, 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 San Francisco to Santa Barbara, as well as popular online travel agencies
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41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$257
Overall average: $349
United Airlines
Tue 4/14Wed 4/15
SFO - SBA • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$258
Typical prices: $259-$543
United Airlines
Sat 5/2Tue 5/5
SFO - SBA • Non-stop
Top airlines
United Airlines
Cheapest • from $257 (round-trip)
United Airlines
Best reviews • 7.4 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Every day
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 1h 25m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Top layover airports
Las Vegas (LAS)
Cheapest • Avg $280 (round-trip)
Las Vegas (LAS)
Shortest trip • 5h 13m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 57% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
September
Cheapest • 27% price drop
October
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 Barbara!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (SFO-SBA)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara 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 San Francisco to Santa Barbara

Tue, Apr 14 - Wed, Apr 15
United Airlines Logo
8:49 am - 1:49 pm
SFO
-
SBA
5h 00m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
2:30 pm - 8:14 pm
SBA
-
SFO
5h 44m
1 stop
$257United Airlines
Sat, May 2 - Tue, May 5
United Airlines Logo
8:49 pm - 10:17 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 28mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
4:15 pm - 5:41 pm
SBA
-
SFO
1h 26mnonstop
$258United Airlines
Sat, Apr 11 - Mon, Apr 13
United Airlines Logo
8:55 pm - 10:24 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 29mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:31 pm - 9:48 pm
SBA
-
SFO
1h 17mnonstop
$259United Airlines
Thu, Apr 16 - Sat, Apr 18
Southwest Logo
8:05 am - 5:50 pm
SFO
-
SBA
9h 45m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 11:50 am
SBA
-
SFO
6h 20m
2 stops
$260Southwest
Thu, Apr 9 - Mon, Apr 13
United Airlines Logo
10:40 am - 12:01 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 21mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
2:16 pm - 3:33 pm
SBA
-
SFO
1h 17mnonstop
$261United Airlines
Thu, Apr 9 - Mon, Apr 13
United Airlines Logo
6:14 pm - 7:35 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 21mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:31 pm - 9:48 pm
SBA
-
SFO
1h 17mnonstop
$262United Airlines
Sat, Apr 25 - Tue, Apr 28
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:53 pm - 11:45 pm
SFO
-
SBA
8h 52m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:53 pm - 11:01 pm
SBA
-
SFO
8h 08m
1 stop
$263Alaska Airlines
Thu, Apr 9 - Fri, Apr 10
United Airlines Logo
8:55 pm - 10:24 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 29mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:18 am
SBA
-
SFO
1h 18mnonstop
$264United Airlines
Wed, Apr 15 - Wed, Apr 22
United Airlines Logo
8:49 am - 1:49 pm
SFO
-
SBA
5h 00m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
2:30 pm - 6:57 pm
SBA
-
SFO
4h 27m
1 stop
$267United Airlines
Sat, Apr 11 - Tue, Apr 14
United Airlines Logo
8:50 am - 1:49 pm
SFO
-
SBA
4h 59m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
2:30 pm - 6:57 pm
SBA
-
SFO
4h 27m
1 stop
$268United Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Francisco to Santa Barbara flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara 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 San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

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

If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to Santa Barbara on a Saturday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Monday is the most expensive day to fly from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Friday and avoiding Sundays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, 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 San Francisco to Santa Barbara is September, where tickets cost $254 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are March and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $438 and $411 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

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.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 2 stops layover the cheapest option at $389 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, 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 San Francisco to Santa Barbara, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 57% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 18 weeks before departure.

Find deals

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$89
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 15% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 9% lower on average.
Flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

When to book flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

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

  • Does SFO have a hotel in the airport?

    Yes. The Grand Hyatt at the San Francisco International Airport hotel is convenient and comfortable place to stay, especially if you have an early flight to Santa Barbara. This accommodation is connected to the airport on the free AirTrain, which goes to all of the terminals. Some features of this upscale hotel include a restaurant and bar, room service, free Wi-Fi, a work-out room, and more.

  • Does the San Francisco Airport have a USO?

    Yes. The USO military lounge at the San Francisco airport is located landside in the Harvey Milk Terminal, Terminal 1, on the mezzanine level. Open daily from 7 am to 4 pm, this lounge offers its services and facilities free of charge to active duty US military personnel and their families. Some benefits of this lounge include comfortable seating, TV, snack packs to go, flight information, and more.

  • Does the Santa Barbara Airport have facilities for nursing moms?

    Yes. You can use the Mamava pod at Gate 2 in SBA, a free-standing unit designed to give nursing moms cleanliness and privacy to breastfeed or pump. This fiberglass pod has a fold down shelf, bench seating on either side, and electrical outlet, a USB port, a coat hook, and a mirror.

  • How can I get from SBA into Santa Barbara?

    At the Arrivals curb, you can catch a readily available taxi. Across from the airport, you can catch a bus at the station on Moffett Road. If you want to rent a car, there are a number of rental car companies on airport grounds, including Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and more. Thrifty is just off airport grounds.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara was $89 for a one-way ticket and $257 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between San Francisco and Santa Barbara?

    No

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    San Francisco and Santa Barbara are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave San Francisco from San Francisco and will be arriving at Santa Barbara.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    JetBlue, Delta, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San Francisco to Santa Barbara flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    The Canadair (Bombardier) Regional Jet 700 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to Santa Barbara flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    Star Alliance is the only airline alliance operating flights between San Francisco and Santa Barbara.

  • On which days can I fly direct from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    There are nonstop flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara on a daily basis.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Santa Barbara.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Santa Barbara from San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and SBA 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Santa Barbara

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $116 or less one-way and $286 or less round-trip.
  • The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is in northwest California and has Alaska Airlines as its hub. The Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is on the shores of the Pacific a few miles north of Santa Barbara in the town of Goleta, California.
  • United Airlines is one carrier that offers non-stop flights between SFO and SBA. United and American Airlines offer one-stop flights between SFO and SBA. Common layover cities include Los Angeles and Phoenix.
  • If when you get to SFO you want to rest or freshen up, you can pay to use Freshen Up, nap rooms that include a bed, a desk, a mirror, and free Wi-Fi. You can even take a shower for an extra charge. You can find Freshen Up at Level G in the Main Hall, landside.
  • If you are traveling with children you would like them to exhaust themselves or to distract themselves while they are waiting for their flight to Santa Barbara, you can take them to the Kids Spot at Gate D15 in Terminal 2. This indoor playground is an interactive experience and it is open all day, every day.
  • When you are waiting for your plane to Santa Barbara at SFO, keep an eye out for the Wag Brigade. The Wag Brigade started out as a therapy dog program, where handlers and the dogs roamed Departures hoping to offer delight, distraction, or comfort to passengers. But now the ever-popular Wag Brigade also includes a pig and a rabbit. All passengers are encouraged to pet and cuddle these therapy animals.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
Find which airlines fly direct from San Francisco Airport to Santa Barbara Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

San Francisco to Santa Barbara

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Santa Barbara to San Francisco

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top airline flying from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. 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 San Francisco 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.
7.4
United AirlinesOverall score based on 9455 reviews
7.3Comfort
6.6Food
8.1Crew
7.7Boarding
7.1Entertainment
Airline reviews

Seats are uncomfortable. This has been a trend in the industry for decades. Trying to fit more seats on each plane to increase profits at the expense of the passenger.

6.0 GoodAnonymous, Mar 2026
SFO - DEN
Read more United Airlines reviews

Seats are uncomfortable. This has been a trend in the industry for decades. Trying to fit more seats on each plane to increase profits at the expense of the passenger.

Staff were good. My seat was in need of repair, but for a short flight was not problematic. Usual basic snack and drink setup that you'll find on any US carrier. Over, a decent, basic flight.

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

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

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

Terrible. No customer service, no food, no drinks on a 6 hour premier economy booking.

The flight crew where really good. Better then the crew from BNE to SFO

left on time, reasonable boarding process arrived early luggage came out quickly

Pushed back only to get deplaned due to a tire damaged by ground crew. They did at least go pretty fast. The bathrooms should be banned under the Geneva convention. No room to even sit straight on the toilet. The under-seat entertainment units block what little leg room there is.

United airlines has the best customer experience from booking to arrival. I always fly United airlines. The mileage program is excellent

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

Information on your arrival and departure airports

San Francisco (SFO)
Santa Barbara (SBA)