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

View $49 flight on Wed, Dec 3, 2025Opens in a new window

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

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

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
Mon, Feb 23 - Wed, Feb 25
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$97 Roundtrip, just found
$97
Roundtrip
just found
Select United flight, departing Mon, Feb 23 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Wed, Feb 25, priced at $97 just found
United
Tue, Jan 27 - Thu, Jan 29
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$114 Roundtrip, just found
$114
Roundtrip
just found
Select United flight, departing Tue, Jan 27 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Thu, Jan 29, priced at $114 just found
United
Thu, Jan 15 - Mon, Jan 19
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$120 Roundtrip, found 5 hours ago
$120
Roundtrip
found 5 hours ago
Select United flight, departing Thu, Jan 15 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Mon, Jan 19, priced at $120 found 5 hours ago
United
Mon, Feb 23 - Wed, Feb 25
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$124 Roundtrip, just found
$124
Roundtrip
just found
Select United flight, departing Mon, Feb 23 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Wed, Feb 25, priced at $124 just found
Southwest Airlines
Mon, Jan 26 - Wed, Jan 28
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$127 Roundtrip, found 12 hours ago
$127
Roundtrip
found 12 hours ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Mon, Jan 26 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Wed, Jan 28, priced at $127 found 12 hours ago
Southwest Airlines
Tue, Jan 27 - Thu, Jan 29
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$130 Roundtrip, just found
$130
Roundtrip
just found
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Tue, Jan 27 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Thu, Jan 29, priced at $130 just found
Southwest Airlines
Mon, Jan 26 - Wed, Jan 28
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$133 Roundtrip, found 12 hours ago
$133
Roundtrip
found 12 hours ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Mon, Jan 26 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Wed, Jan 28, priced at $133 found 12 hours ago
Hawaiian Airlines
Fri, Jan 23 - Tue, Jan 27
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$242 Roundtrip, found 12 hours ago
$242
Roundtrip
found 12 hours ago
Select Hawaiian Airlines flight, departing Fri, Jan 23 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Tue, Jan 27, priced at $242 found 12 hours ago
Alaska Airlines
Mon, Apr 27 - Wed, Apr 29
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$262 Roundtrip, just found
$262
Roundtrip
just found
Select Alaska Airlines flight, departing Mon, Apr 27 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Wed, Apr 29, priced at $262 just found
American Airlines
Tue, Dec 9 - Tue, Dec 16
SFO
San Francisco
SBA
Santa Barbara
$437 Roundtrip, found 5 days ago
$437
Roundtrip
found 5 days ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Tue, Dec 9 from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, returning Tue, Dec 16, priced at $437 found 5 days ago

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

September is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $77 - $414 per traveler.
Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Santa Barbara (SBA)
Origin airport
San Francisco Intl.
Destination airport
Santa Barbara Municipal
Airlines serving
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$97
Distance
262 mi
Average flight time
1 hour 17 mins

San Francisco to Santa Barbara Flights

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

 

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

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

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) cost?
Get a cheap one-way flight from $49 or cheap return flight from $97 from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) with Expedia. Enter your travel dates and sort by "Price (lowest to highest)" to see our cheapest flight offers on this route.
What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
February is the cheapest month to fly from SFO to SBA. Planning your trip for the off-season is often the key to finding better fares.
Which airlines fly direct from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
When departing from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO), you can board a nonstop flight to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) with United Airlines.
What is the cheapest airline that flies from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
Expedia's filter tool lets you easily compare different airlines, travel time and fares all in one place. Choose your preferences, then sort by "Price (lowest to highest)" to find the carrier with the cheapest SFO to SBA flight.
How many flights per day from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
With an average of 2 direct flights that operate from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) every day, you'll be off on your next adventure in no time.
What are the most popular departure times for flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
The 10 AM departures from SFO to SBA are the top choice for many travelers. Prices can be higher for these popular slots. If you're hoping to save money, choose a less crowded time to fly.
What day of the week has the most flights from SFO to SBA?
Friday has the most flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA). Consider leaving on this day and you'll have the best chance of finding a departure that fits your plans.
What is the earliest flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
The earliest flight departing from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) is at around 10:48AM UTC-8. Catch this flight and you'll arrive at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) at approximately 12:08PM UTC-8. The total travel time is 1h 20m.
How long does it take to fly from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
Flights from SFO to SBA have an average travel time of 1 hour and 17 minutes. The total distance between the two airports is 260 mi.
What airline has the least delays from SFO to SBA?
With 84% of journeys usually landing on schedule, United Airlines has the best on-time performance for nonstop flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA). To check your flight status and receive notifications if anything changes, simply head to the Expedia App.
What is the best time to fly from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
To avoid potential delays on the San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) route, aim to fly before 3 PM. Departures after this hour are 22% more likely to be canceled.**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 Santa Barbara from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) is the only airport in Santa Barbara with direct flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO). Compare the available options and discover affordable fares on Expedia.
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) last-minute?
Waiting until just before your trip to book your flight from SFO to SBA generally means paying more. Although you may find some last-minute discounts, they aren't always guaranteed. Keep your travel schedule open to maximize your chances of scoring a bargain.
Is it cheaper to book a SFO to SBA flight and hotel package?
You can save money by booking a SFO to SBA flight and hotel package compared to booking separately. In fact, travelers could save hundreds of dollars by bundling with Expedia. And it's easy to manage it all in one place. Once you've chosen your ideal flights and accommodations, you can add extras such as activities, car rentals and tours.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)?
If you booked your SFO to SBA flight within the last 24 hours, you may be able to modify or cancel it without fees. Depending on the airline and the type of fare you purchased, additional charges may apply for changes after that time. Airline policies and contact information can be found in your itinerary or confirmation email. Or, go to our Customer Service portal for further details.

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*Available to One Key members.