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$119+ Cheap flights from Santa Barbara (SBA) to Illinois

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 3/24. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SBA — ORD
Feb 21 — Feb 281
Sat 2/21
Sat 2/28
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap flight deals from Santa Barbara to Illinois

Cheapest flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Santa Barbara to Illinois. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 22, 2026.

This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 4/1812:39 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop6h 56m
Delta
Tue 4/217:20 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 39m
Delta
Deal found 1/21$237
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 2/1412:38 pm
SBA
-
STL
1 stop8h 44m
American Airlines
Tue 2/177:00 am
STL
-
SBA
1 stop6h 48m
American Airlines
Deal found 1/21$257
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 3/612:40 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop7h 12m
Delta
Tue 3/107:20 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 40m
Delta
Deal found 1/20$263
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 2/186:23 am
SBA
-
STL
2 stops8h 35m
United Airlines
Wed 2/256:25 am
STL
-
SBA
2 stops8h 53m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/21$268
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/94:50 pm
SBA
-
ORD
2 stops13h 40m
Delta
Wed 3/117:20 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 40m
Delta
Deal found 1/21$268
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/22. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 8/2512:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
Nonstop4h 20m
United Airlines
Tue 9/158:50 am
ORD
-
SBA
Nonstop4h 48m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/22$269
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/912:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
Nonstop4h 00m
United Airlines
Sun 4/127:00 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop8h 39m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/21$279
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 2/145:00 am
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop7h 50m
United Airlines
Sat 2/216:20 pm
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop7h 32m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/21$285
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 4/1812:39 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop6h 56m
Delta
Mon 4/207:20 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 39m
Delta
Deal found 1/21$288
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 3/62:10 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop7h 28m
United Airlines
Mon 3/92:45 pm
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop8h 28m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/20$289
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 4/1712:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
Nonstop4h 00m
United Airlines
Mon 4/208:45 am
ORD
-
SBA
Nonstop4h 30m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/21$290
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 2/154:40 pm
SBA
-
STL
1 stop5h 19m
American Airlines
Tue 2/177:00 am
STL
-
SBA
1 stop6h 48m
American Airlines
Deal found 1/20$316

Find flight deals from Santa Barbara to Illinois

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Santa Barbara to Illinois flight deals. Data was last updated January 22, 2026.

Most accurate provider

Justfly.com
3 stars

Most trusted provider

Justfly.com
3 stars

Round-trip from

$237
(Delta)

One-way from

$119
(Delta)

Popular in

January

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$369

Good round-trip deal

$348 or less

Good one-way deal

$273 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Los Angeles-Chicago (CHI) flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Los Angeles-Chicago (CHI) flights.
Search Deals
From Santa Barbara to Illinois
Search Deals
One-way flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 9% potential increase in price ($32 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois.
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 22, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois that are best for you.

Fly from

Santa Barbara

Fly to

Illinois

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Sat 4/18

12:39 pm-9:35 pm

1 stop6h 56m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 4/21

12:45 pm-9:55 pm

2 stops11h 10m

$242

Santa BarbaraSt. Louis

SBA - STL

SBASTL

Santa Barbara

Sat 2/14

12:38 pm-11:22 pm

1 stop8h 44m

Lambert-St Louis

Tue 2/17

7:00 am-11:48 am

1 stop6h 48m

$257

Santa BarbaraSt. Louis

SBA - STL

SBASTL

Santa Barbara

Wed 2/18

1:12 pm-8:26 pm

1 stop5h 14m

Lambert-St Louis

Wed 2/25

2:45 pm-11:52 pm

2 stops11h 07m

$262

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Mon 3/9

2:38 pm-2:13 pm

1 stop21h 35m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/11

2:07 pm-7:51 pm

1 stop7h 44m

$263

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 4/15

12:39 pm-9:35 pm

1 stop6h 56m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/20

7:20 am-11:59 am

1 stop6h 39m

$263

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Fri 3/6

12:40 pm-9:52 pm

1 stop7h 12m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 3/10

7:20 am-12:00 pm

1 stop6h 40m

$263

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Thu 6/11

12:15 pm-6:35 pm

Nonstop4h 20m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 6/16

4:17 pm-10:18 pm

1 stop8h 01m

$279

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Sat 4/18

12:39 pm-9:35 pm

1 stop6h 56m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/20

7:20 am-11:59 am

1 stop6h 39m

$288

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 6/10

4:00 pm-11:57 pm

1 stop5h 57m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 6/16

4:17 pm-10:18 pm

1 stop8h 01m

$289

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Fri 3/6

2:10 pm-11:38 pm

1 stop7h 28m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 3/9

2:45 pm-9:13 pm

1 stop8h 28m

$289

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/20

Showing 1-10 of 39 results
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Best time to book a flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Illinois from Santa Barbara with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois?

Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois (average of $77). Flying from Santa Barbara to Illinois in October is currently the most expensive (average of $147). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SBA to IL?

Find hourly flight availability from Santa Barbara to Illinois. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated January 22, 2026.

When flying from Santa Barbara to Illinois, the time of day you decide to fly out makes little to no difference towards the overall price you’ll pay on tickets.

Weekly flight availability from Santa Barbara to Illinois

Explore weekly flight availability from Santa Barbara to Illinois. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated January 22, 2026.

The most flights from SBA to USIL are scheduled on a Thursday (2 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Monday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (1 on average).

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Santa Barbara to Illinois?

Reviews of airlines servicing Illinois

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Illinois. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Illinois. Reviews last updated January 22, 2026.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Santa Barbara to Illinois to help guide your decision. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
Delta
7.9
Good
8,087 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,190 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,174 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Santa Barbara to Illinois. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly from for flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois?

    Located just 8.0 mi from the city center, Santa Barbara (SBA) is the airport most travelers will use when flying to Illinois from Santa Barbara.

  • How long is the flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois?

    Airlines like Delta, American Airlines, and United Airlines fly from Santa Barbara to Illinois in about 5h 14m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 3h 30m. There are 1653 mi between Santa Barbara and Illinois. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Santa Barbara to Illinois one-way?

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois are Delta ($156), American Airlines ($159), and Southwest ($175).

  • What are the most popular routes from Santa Barbara to Illinois?

    The most popular flight routes from Santa Barbara to Illinois are Santa Barbara - Chicago O'Hare Intl, Santa Barbara - Lambert-St Louis and Santa Barbara - Moline Quad-City.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois? While on average our users pay $386, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $174. The most popular route (Santa Barbara - Chicago O'Hare Intl), is priced around $263.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Santa Barbara to Illinois flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Santa Barbara to Illinois by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois?

    Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Santa Barbara to Illinois (average of $77). Flying from Santa Barbara to Illinois in October is currently the most expensive (average of $147). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

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Top 4 airlines flying from Santa Barbara to Illinois

Discover the top 4 airlines that operate flights from Santa Barbara to Illinois. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 22, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
SouthwestCheapest$218Average$511FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
DeltaCheapest$250Average$356FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$299Average$460FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$344Average$526FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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