$54 Find Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara to California - Compare and Save

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Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara to California

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Los Angeles
Los Angelesnonstop$309
San Francisco
San Franciscononstop$193
San Diego
San Diegononstop$117
Sacramento
Sacramentononstop$115
San Jose
San Jose1 stop$223
Palm Springs
Palm Springs1 stop$429
Arcata
Arcata1 stop$354
Reno
Reno1 stop$205
Los Angeles
Los Angelesnonstop$309
San Francisco
San Franciscononstop$193
San Diego
San Diegononstop$117
Sacramento
Sacramentononstop$115
San Jose
San Jose1 stop$223
Palm Springs
Palm Springs1 stop$429
Arcata
Arcata1 stop$354
Reno
Reno1 stop$205
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Santa Barbara to California flights

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

What is the cheapest Santa Barbara to California flight route?

The cheapest ticket to California from Santa Barbara found in the last 5 days was to San Diego, at $137 round-trip. The most popular route is from Santa Barbara (SBA) to San Francisco (SFO), and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $176.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to California?

The cheapest time of day to fly to California is generally in the afternoon, when round-trip flights cost $479 on average. Morning departures are around 13% more expensive than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to California is generally in the morning, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $594.

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

No, with an average price for the route of $315, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Santa Barbara to California?

The cheapest month for flights from Santa Barbara to California is September, when tickets cost $255 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and May, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $401 and $385 respectively.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Santa Barbara to California?

For Santa Barbara to California, Friday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Thursday is the most expensive. Flying from California back to Santa Barbara, the best deals are generally found on Thursday, with Wednesday being the most expensive.

Good to know

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$54
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 14% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 8% lower on average.
Flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego

Flights from Santa Barbara to California: the best tips from KAYAK users

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from Santa Barbara to California 
DAVIDFlew with United Airlines-Sep 2026
The SBA airport food options are very limited as the airport is small (6 gates). Cozy country feel to the airport.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines-Jun 2026
Check your flight the night before! My flight was canceled and rebooked but it is a common thing to have flights cancelled. The airport is small so going through TSA is fairly quick.

FAQs - booking California flights

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Santa Barbara to California?

    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 Santa Barbara to California.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from Santa Barbara to California 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 Santa Barbara to California?

    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 from Santa Barbara to California with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Santa Barbara to California?

    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 from Santa Barbara to California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to California

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found tickets from Santa Barbara to the following destinations at these prices or less: Las Vegas $176 one-way - $307 round-trip; San Diego $213 one-way - $219 round-trip; San Francisco $176 one-way - $269 round-trip

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from Santa Barbara to California

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Santa Barbara to California? 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.
7.9
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 13134 reviews
7.0Entertainment
8.5Crew
8.1Boarding
7.0Food
7.8Comfort
Airline reviews

Alaska prevented me from selecting a seat and was only assigned a seat at the gate. This gave me unnecessary anxiety prior to boarding. Several 15-minute delays (probably weather though no explanation was provided) eventually pushed departure back by one hour.

6.0 GoodDAVID, Oct 2026
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

Alaska prevented me from selecting a seat and was only assigned a seat at the gate. This gave me unnecessary anxiety prior to boarding. Several 15-minute delays (probably weather though no explanation was provided) eventually pushed departure back by one hour.

It was friendly. Also, we had some turbulence due to the wing of a plane in front of us, and I was grateful the pilot explained that reason to us. It made me feel like we were safer than if there were no explanation and it was inherently interesting to learn.

Our original flight was cancelled and we were rebooked on a flight the next afternoon. Finally gotten it straightened out at guest services and we were able to get on a delayed flight that departed about an hour later that our original flight. The Guest Services and Gate staff were very helpful!!

Smooth boarding process and comfy seats! Will definitely fly Alaska Airlines again!

Trip from SNA to SFO and back was riddled with DELAYS.

I love the service! I was hoping they would keep the Ontario to Santa Rosa route.

Gate agent and flight crew were amazing! Only issue was landing and waiting on the run way for 30 mins to deplane.

It was all a wonderful experience. I hate to fly and I hate to travel yet. This was a very pleasurable event. Thank you.

Over all it was great. My original flight was canceled but they quickly rebooked me. I was frustrated because I had to cancel my entire plans for the day but all considered, not bad. The crew tried to keep us calm while we sat in the plane for was felt was an hour or so but they could use a bit of a script. The seats were comfortable and I would give it another try.

If they actually let me fly. I was rerouted to United and there was no Alaska airlines reps at all. Then the lady who worked the delta counter told me to go away and figure things out myself. Horrible experience.

Not exactly Southwest’s problem, but the new Burbank airport is not great. No restaurants open and tons of work still to be completed. Can’t believe they opened the airport in that condition.

I liked how it boarded fast. I do not like how the seats are just too narrow, and I’m not a big person.

Despite paying for an ‘upgraded’ seat in row 1, I had to put my luggage in the middle of the plane. Snacks were bleh and seat was small and uncomfortable and I am not large. Attendants were fine but not super helpful. Plane just seemed outdated.

Seated at front bulkhead for a smidge extra leg room away from home and on flight back home. Away crew was very proactive about assuring our carryons had space close behind us (because no seat in front of us our personal items had to be in a small bin overhead). They actively required passengers place overhead luggage on its side so more items could fit in bins. Home crew made no such efforts. I had to struggle back rows to get overhead bags upon landing, no crew help then either, and some disgruntled passengers as I and others retrieved our bags. There was a system that worked pretty well. The home bound crew just didn't feel like working.

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.

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

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 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.

Santa Barbara is a super small and easy airport. Breezed through rental car return, breezed through Security, ordered a coffee and muffin and to my gate in less than 30 minutes. Maybe because it was a small airport we got the oldest plane. Hardly any overhead space and absolutely zero internet. Its NFL Sunday man! That hurt.

We were delay because so many bags needed to be gate checked and it was disappointing not to have outlets in the seats for such a long flight.

Boarding, time to take off, in flight offerings, and staff were all great. I recommend using UA for this short flight.

The flight out of Fresno boarded 1.5 hour past scheduled and made me miss my connecting flight from SFO to SEA.

It was a short, comfortable flight. It did leave an hour late due to the pilot having to be replaced (family emergency) but that didn’t inconvenience myself & my friend. The situation was explained, eventually.

UA594 was delayed multiple times. I ended up getting picked up so I can make it in time for work 6AM on Monday, 7/6/2026

Service was professional and quick. Premium economy seat was comfortable given the class

I paid $380 for my one-way ticket from California to Minnesota. The fair did not include online check-in. I received instructions from their app to check in at a kiosk. At the kiosk, the boarding pass would not print until an actual person came to verify that I had a personal item and not a carry-on item, On the plane, the person next to me was drunk and allowed to continue to order alcohol. United is garbage I’d rather fly spirit.

Delays!!! Maintain your planes so your customers don’t have to sit on their assess for over an hour on the tarmac!! Also, United app is buggy. Videos did not load. Overall a miserable experience. Flight crew was awesome though.

My fi t er t esed to Denver was cancelled and need to schechedule

More options for your flight from Santa Barbara to California

Complete your trip to California with a hotel stay or car rental