$205 Cheap Flights from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara (SBA)
Popular airlines from Chicago to Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)
Find the cheapest flights on Expedia from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara (SBA). Flight ticket prices change frequently based on availability and demand. We send price‑drop alerts to make air travel simple and flexible. The lowest one-way fare found on Expedia for this route in the past 7 days starts at $205 for travel on December 5, 2026.
Cheap Flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara (CHI-SBA)
Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $205 for one-way flights and $367 for roundtrip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change.
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One way
Roundtrip
Wed, Dec 23 - Wed, Dec 30 · ORD · SBA · Roundtrip
Wed, Feb 24 - Wed, Mar 3 · ORD · SBA · Roundtrip
Fri, Jan 15 - Fri, Jan 15 · ORD · SBA · Roundtrip
Wed, Feb 24 - Wed, Mar 3 · ORD · SBA · Roundtrip
Thu, Dec 10 - Sun, Dec 13 · ORD · SBA · Roundtrip
Mon, Dec 21 - Fri, Dec 25 · ORD · SBA · Roundtrip
Sat, Dec 5 - Sat, Dec 12 · ORD · SBA · Roundtrip
Tue, Feb 2 - Tue, Feb 16 · ORD · SBA · Roundtrip
Fri, Jan 22 - Sun, Jan 24 · ORD · SBA · Roundtrip
Tue, Jan 26 - Tue, Feb 2 · MDW · SBA · Roundtrip
Alternative airports near Santa Barbara
Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Select flight to Santa Maria Public SMX. Average driving time to city center is 1 hour 12 minutes.
1 h 12 min · Search flights
Select flight to Oxnard, CA OXR. Average driving time to city center is 42 minutes.
42 min · Search flights
Select flight to Santa Ynez, CA SQA. Average driving time to city center is 38 minutes.
38 min · Search flights
Select flight to Santa Paula, CA SZP. Average driving time to city center is 47 minutes.
47 min · Search flights
Book with confidence
Chicago to Santa Barbara Flights
The cheapest times to fly from Chicago to Santa Barbara
On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara are during the month of December. You can find some of the cheapest flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.
The best time to book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara
Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.
How to find cheap round-trip tickets from Chicago to Santa Barbara
Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from Chicago to Santa Barbara in 2026. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $205 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.
Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap Chicago to Santa Barbara flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.
You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your Chicago to Santa Barbara airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.
*Terms apply.
Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.
Travel information
| Origin airport | Chicago Midway Airport |
|---|---|
| Destination airport | Santa Barbara Municipal Airport |
| Distance | 1,805 miles away |
| Airlines serving | Southwest Airlines, Delta |
| Popular airline | Southwest Airlines |
| Roundtrip price | $367 |
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*Available to One Key members.