$49 Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara (SBA) to San Francisco (SFO)

View $49 flight on Tue, Dec 9, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)

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

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $49 for one-way flights and $97 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

United
Sat, Aug 30 - Tue, Sep 2
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$97 Roundtrip, just found
$97
Roundtrip
just found
Select United flight, departing Sat, Aug 30 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Tue, Sep 2, priced at $97 just found
United
Sat, Dec 13 - Tue, Jan 6
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$121 Roundtrip, found 9 hours ago
$121
Roundtrip
found 9 hours ago
Select United flight, departing Sat, Dec 13 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Tue, Jan 6, priced at $121 found 9 hours ago
Southwest Airlines
Sat, Sep 13 - Wed, Sep 24
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$124 Roundtrip, found 5 hours ago
$124
Roundtrip
found 5 hours ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Sat, Sep 13 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Wed, Sep 24, priced at $124 found 5 hours ago
United
Tue, Sep 23 - Sat, Sep 27
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$125 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$125
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select United flight, departing Tue, Sep 23 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Sat, Sep 27, priced at $125 found 3 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Tue, Aug 26 - Sat, Aug 30
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$129 Roundtrip, found 1 hour ago
$129
Roundtrip
found 1 hour ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Tue, Aug 26 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Sat, Aug 30, priced at $129 found 1 hour ago
United
Fri, Aug 22 - Wed, Aug 27
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$131 Roundtrip, found 5 days ago
$131
Roundtrip
found 5 days ago
Select United flight, departing Fri, Aug 22 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Wed, Aug 27, priced at $131 found 5 days ago
United
Sat, Aug 30 - Tue, Sep 2
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$134 Roundtrip, just found
$134
Roundtrip
just found
Select United flight, departing Sat, Aug 30 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Tue, Sep 2, priced at $134 just found
Alaska Airlines
Sat, Sep 13 - Wed, Sep 24
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$292 Roundtrip, found 5 hours ago
$292
Roundtrip
found 5 hours ago
Select Alaska Airlines flight, departing Sat, Sep 13 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Wed, Sep 24, priced at $292 found 5 hours ago
Hawaiian Airlines
Mon, Sep 15 - Fri, Sep 26
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$327 Roundtrip, found 2 days ago
$327
Roundtrip
found 2 days ago
Select Hawaiian Airlines flight, departing Mon, Sep 15 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Fri, Sep 26, priced at $327 found 2 days ago
American Airlines
Sun, Sep 14 - Tue, Sep 16
SBA
Santa Barbara
SFO
San Francisco
$390 Roundtrip, found 21 hours ago
$390
Roundtrip
found 21 hours ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Sun, Sep 14 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, returning Tue, Sep 16, priced at $390 found 21 hours ago

Find the cheapest month to fly from Santa Barbara (SBA) to San Francisco (SFO)

August is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $77 - $719 per traveler.

Graph displaying average flight prices per month

Alternative airports near San Francisco

Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Select flight to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. SJC. Average driving time to city center is 50 minutes. Flights from $391
SJC
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.
Average driving time to city center50 min
Flights from $391
Select flight to Oakland Intl. OAK. Cheapest option available. Average driving time to city center is 26 minutes. Flights from $287
OAK
Oakland Intl.
Cheapest
Average driving time to city center26 min
Flights from $287
Flights from Santa Barbara (SBA) to San Francisco (SFO)
Origin airport
Santa Barbara Municipal
Destination airport
San Francisco Intl.
Airlines serving
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$97
Distance
262 mi
Average flight time
1 hour 9 mins

Santa Barbara to San Francisco Flights

The cheapest times to fly from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

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 Santa Barbara to San Francisco are during the month of August. You can find some of the cheapest flights from Santa Barbara to San Francisco with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from Santa Barbara to San Francisco: 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 Santa Barbara to San Francisco

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 Santa Barbara to San Francisco in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $49 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 Santa Barbara to San Francisco 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 Santa Barbara to San Francisco 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.

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) cost?
Book cheap return tickets starting from $77 from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO). This information is based on the cheapest price found on Expedia for this return journey departing within the next three months. This airfare is for a United flight leaving SBA on August 13 2025 and touching down at SFO. The price was last updated on July 23 2025 and has not changed since.
What is the cheapest month to fly from SBA to SFO?
The cheapest flights from SBA to SFO are usually during off-peak season, when demand is lower. To save money, avoid flying during public holidays, school breaks and major local events.
Which airlines fly direct from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
Board a direct flight with United Airlines and travel straight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO).
What is the cheapest airline that flies from SBA to SFO?
Currently, the cheapest airline operating one-way flights from SBA to SFO is United. You can jet off on this route from $39. This fare is based on the lowest price found on Expedia departing within the next three months. The flight takes off from SBA on September 15 2025. Prices were last updated on July 23 2025 and have not changed since.
How many flights per day from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
Every day on average, 2 direct flights take off from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO). Choose the departure that fits your schedule best.
What are the most popular departure times for flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
More people fly between SBA and SFO at 6 PM than at any other time. Prefer a quieter experience? Consider flying outside peak hours and you could save on your ticket as well.
What day of the week has the most flights from SBA to SFO?
Fly on a Sunday if you're after the best choice of flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO).
What is the earliest flight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)'s first flight to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) is at approximately 6:00AM UTC-8. With a total journey time of 1h 15m, you'll touch down at around 7:15AM UTC-8.
How long does it take to fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
Flights from SBA to SFO have an average travel time of 1 hour and 19 minutes. The total distance between the two airports is 260 mi.
What airline has the least delays from SBA to SFO?
Consider traveling with United Airlines if you'd like to go straight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) without any interruptions. This carrier has the best track record for punctuality, with an on-time performance of 87%. Want to get notified of any changes? You can keep an eye on your flight status using the Expedia App.
What is the best time to fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
Book a flight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) that takes off before 3 PM to reduce the risk of cancellations. Departures after this time have a 22% higher chance of being canceled, on average.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG's global flight data platform.
What airports do you fly into for San Francisco from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
Board a direct flight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco and touch down at San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO). Another convenient point of entry into this city is Oakland Intl. Airport (OAK).
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) last-minute?
Last-minute fares from SBA to SFO are usually more expensive. To secure the cheapest rates, start searching for flights as early as possible. That being said, if you can play around with your travel dates, you may score a cheap fare right before you leave.
Is it cheaper to book a SBA to SFO flight and hotel package?
Compared with arranging flights and hotels separately, booking a SBA to SFO flight and hotel package with Expedia could result in significant savings. Better yet, having everything in one convenient place takes the hassle out of travel planning. Just pick your flights and choose from our wide range of hotels, then tailor your trip with other add-ons like car rentals and activities.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
If you booked your SBA to SFO flight within the last 24 hours, you may be able to cancel or modify it without any fees. Depending on the airline and the type of fare you have, additional charges may apply for changes beyond this timeframe. Airline policies and contact information can be found in your itinerary or confirmation email. Or, visit our Customer Service portal if you want more information.

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*Available to One Key members.