SFO - SBA

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

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$181
Typical prices: $271-$510
Southwest
Sat 9/8Tue 9/11
SFO - SBA • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$187
Typical prices: $269-$509
United Airlines
Wed 9/19Fri 9/21
SFO - SBA • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 1h 22m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 5 weeks in advance save around 55% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 33% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $297 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 5h 14m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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Flight Deals

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

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

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

Wed, Sep 16 - Fri, Sep 18
Southwest Logo
4:40 pm - 9:25 pmSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
4h 45m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Southwest Logo
4:40 pm - 11:30 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
6h 50m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$181Southwest
Fri, Sep 11 - Mon, Sep 14
Southwest Logo
6:45 am - 11:55 amSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
5h 10m1 stop San Diego
Southwest Logo
12:30 pm - 4:30 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
4h 00m1 stop San Diego
$181Southwest
Fri, Sep 18 - Mon, Sep 21
Southwest Logo
6:45 am - 11:55 amSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
5h 10m1 stop San Diego
Southwest Logo
12:30 pm - 6:30 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
6h 00m1 stop San Diego
$181Southwest
Thu, Sep 17 - Fri, Sep 18
Southwest Logo
5:10 am - 10:50 amSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
5h 40m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Southwest Logo
11:30 am - 7:15 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
7h 45m1 stop Denver Intl
$181Southwest
Tue, Sep 29 - Fri, Oct 2
Southwest Logo
11:15 am - 5:05 pmSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
5h 50m1 stop San Diego
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 10:05 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
4h 35m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$181Southwest
Tue, Sep 8 - Fri, Sep 11
Southwest Logo
11:15 am - 5:05 pmSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
5h 50m1 stop San Diego
Southwest Logo
11:30 am - 7:15 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
7h 45m1 stop Denver Intl
$181Southwest
Sun, Oct 25 - Wed, Oct 28
United Airlines Logo
6:55 pm - 9:59 pmSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
3h 04m1 stop Los Angeles
United Airlines Logo
4:10 pm - 5:40 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
1h 30mnonstop
$182United Airlines
Thu, Oct 8 - Sat, Oct 10
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:03 am - 11:47 pmSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
16h 44m1 stop San Diego
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:08 am - 7:31 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
13h 23m1 stop San Diego
$183Alaska Airlines
Wed, Sep 16 - Fri, Sep 18
Southwest Logo
11:15 am - 9:25 pmSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
10h 10m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Southwest Logo
4:40 pm - 11:30 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
6h 50m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$186Southwest
Mon, Oct 5 - Wed, Oct 7
United Airlines Logo
9:30 pm - 10:51 pmSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 21mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
4:21 pm - 5:44 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
1h 23mnonstop
$187United Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for San Francisco to Santa Barbara flights

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

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

Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara start at $181. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from $271 to $510. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $181 on Southwest.

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

Saturday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, it is 19% cheaper than the average day. Monday is the most expensive day with flight prices 14% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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

  • September is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Santa Barbara at $245 round-trip.
  • July ($471) and March ($404) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 92% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are prices from San Francisco to Santa Barbara the cheapest?

Flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara are cheapest 5 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 55% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Key details for San Francisco to Santa Barbara flights

Low season

December

Cheapest flight

$59
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 11% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 33% 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

Your San Francisco to Santa Barbara flight questions, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.

  • 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.

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

    Among airlines operating San Francisco to Santa Barbara flights:

    • United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

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

  • What airlines are available from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    Only United Airlines operates flights between San Francisco and Santa Barbara.

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

    Flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and arrive at Santa Barbara (SBA).

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on San Francisco 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 Economy Class
    • JetBlue: a cabin bag in Economy Class class

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

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

    Four cabin classes are available on flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara:

    • Economy Class
    • Premium Economy Class
    • Business Class
    • First Class

    Prices vary by airline.

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

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $297 round-trip via Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS), compared to $364 for nonstop.

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

    There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $40–$80 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 Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    The Embraer 175 (Enhanced Winglets) family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by United Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320-100/200 variants.

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

    Connecting flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara most commonly pass through:

    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 50% of one-stop connections
    • San Diego (SAN) - 50% of one-stop connections
    Together, these airports account for 100% of one-stop bookings on this route.

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

    On the San Francisco to Santa Barbara route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 30%. Saturday is the cheapest day at $296 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $419: a $123 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

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

    Morning is the busiest departure period on San Francisco to Santa Barbara flights, with 25% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 25%, evening flights for 25%, and night flights for 25%.

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

    A nonstop flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara takes 1h 22m, covering 262 miles.

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

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

    • Earliest: departs at 8:45 am and lands at 10:07 am
    • Latest: departs at 10:38 pm and lands at 12:00 am.

    The flight takes about 1h 22m.

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

    Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 53% above the route average of $365. Book 5 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from San Francisco 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.

  • Have flight prices from San Francisco 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 $181 to $1,256. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from San Francisco to Santa Barbara are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $62, which is 77% below the typical average for this route.

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

    Flying via Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 04m, compared with 5h 14m via San Diego (SAN).

  • 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 $26 for economy cars. Top options include:
    · Budget
    · Dollar
    · Hertz
    · Alamo
    · Thrifty

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

    Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara range from $271 to $510, with an average of $365 over the past 12 months. Anything below $271 counts as a good deal.

Your guide to booking San Francisco to Santa Barbara flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates can be flexible, aim for a Saturday departure instead of Monday. On this route, Saturday flights average $296 - about $123 less than Monday (29% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 5 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 55% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your San Francisco to Santa Barbara trip for September. Fares historically average $245 round-trip in that month - typically $226 less than the most expensive month, which is July (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl Airport (LAS) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $297 round-trip on this route - about $67 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
  • 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?

 
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

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports