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$161+ Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara (SBA)

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 8/14. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SBA
Aug 16 — Aug 231
Sun 8/16
Sun 8/23
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Cheapest flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Chicago to Santa Barbara. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on July 17, 2026.

This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/14. 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 8/68:45 am
ORD
-
SBA
Nonstop4h 40m
United Airlines
Fri 8/1412:33 pm
SBA
-
ORD
Nonstop4h 19m
United Airlines
Deal found 7/14$329
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/14. 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 9/18:49 am
ORD
-
SBA
Nonstop4h 42m
United Airlines
Sat 9/55:00 am
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop8h 00m
United Airlines
Deal found 7/14$335
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/12. 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 8/88:45 am
ORD
-
SBA
Nonstop4h 40m
United Airlines
Sat 8/154:06 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop6h 53m
United Airlines
Deal found 7/12$339
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/16. 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 8/153:48 pm
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 06m
United Airlines
Sat 8/225:00 am
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop8h 00m
United Airlines
Deal found 7/16$344
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/12. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 8/206:01 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop10h 46m
Alaska Airlines
Tue 8/253:26 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop19h 56m
Alaska Airlines
Deal found 7/12$349
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/16. 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.
Thu 8/207:48 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 06m
Delta
Mon 8/244:47 pm
SBA
-
ORD
2 stops14h 36m
Delta
Deal found 7/16$354
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/15. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 8/196:01 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop19h 49m
Alaska Airlines
Sun 8/233:26 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop6h 33m
Alaska Airlines
Deal found 7/15$356
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/14. 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 8/2212:10 pm
ORD
-
SBA
2 stops7h 53m
American Airlines
Tue 8/259:45 am
SBA
-
ORD
2 stops8h 45m
American Airlines
Deal found 7/14$359
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/15. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 8/192:18 pm
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop11h 32m
Alaska Airlines
Tue 8/256:00 am
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop29h 22m
Alaska Airlines
Deal found 7/15$363
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/16. 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 12/2410:25 am
ORD
-
SBA
Nonstop4h 48m
United Airlines
Wed 12/302:17 pm
SBA
-
ORD
Nonstop4h 20m
United Airlines
Deal found 7/16$364
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/13. 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.
Mon 8/104:45 pm
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop8h 59m
United Airlines
Mon 8/1712:33 pm
SBA
-
ORD
Nonstop4h 19m
United Airlines
Deal found 7/13$372

Find flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara (SBA). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated July 17, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$329
(United Airlines)

One-way from

$161
(Trip.com)

Popular in

August

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$471

Good round-trip deal

$429 or less

Good one-way deal

$278 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Chicago (CHI)-Santa Barbara flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Chicago (CHI)-Santa Barbara flights.
Search Deals
From Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara
Search Deals
One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($26 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in July 2026
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara.
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara 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 July 17, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 9/1

8:49 am-11:31 am

Nonstop4h 42m

Santa Barbara

Sat 9/5

12:41 pm-7:00 pm

Nonstop4h 19m

$329
Quickest round-trip

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 8/8

8:45 am-11:25 am

Nonstop4h 40m

Santa Barbara

Fri 8/14

12:33 pm-6:52 pm

Nonstop4h 19m

$329

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 1/8

7:55 pm-2:28 pm

1 stop20h 33m

Santa Barbara

Wed 1/13

6:25 am-1:54 pm

1 stop5h 29m

$339

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 9/1

2:22 pm-7:57 pm

1 stop7h 35m

Santa Barbara

Fri 9/4

6:00 am-7:21 pm

1 stop11h 21m

$349

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 12/24

10:25 am-1:13 pm

Nonstop4h 48m

Santa Barbara

Wed 12/30

2:17 pm-8:37 pm

Nonstop4h 20m

$364

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 9/17

8:49 am-11:31 am

Nonstop4h 42m

Santa Barbara

Sat 9/19

1:11 pm-7:30 pm

Nonstop4h 19m

$401

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 7/30

6:20 am-2:02 pm

1 stop9h 42m

Santa Barbara

Mon 8/3

1:42 pm-11:36 pm

1 stop7h 54m

$419

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 7/29

6:00 am-6:38 pm

1 stop14h 38m

Santa Barbara

Wed 8/5

6:00 am-6:57 pm

1 stop10h 57m

$439

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 9/5

8:49 am-11:31 am

Nonstop4h 42m

Santa Barbara

Mon 9/7

6:35 pm-5:59 am

1 stop9h 24m

$439

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 11/5

8:55 am-4:06 pm

2 stops9h 11m

Santa Barbara

Sun 11/8

12:43 pm-10:00 pm

1 stop7h 17m

$449

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/17

Showing 1-10 of 22 resultsSorted by cheapest first
1
2
3

Compare providers for flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara in July.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-Santa Barbara flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Chicago-Santa Barbara flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Chicago-Santa Barbara flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-Santa Barbara flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Chicago-Santa Barbara flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Santa Barbara from Chicago 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 Chicago to Santa Barbara

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

Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara (average of $363). Flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara in August is currently the most expensive (average of $509). 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 CHI to SBA?

Find hourly flight availability from Chicago to Santa Barbara. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated July 17, 2026.

Regardless of the time of day you decide to fly, the ticket price will remain around the same. Book flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara as you normally would.

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

What’s the top layover airport for flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

Share of 1-stop round-trip flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, using the same layover each way.

San Diego (SAN) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 50% of 1-stop itineraries from Chicago to Santa Barbara on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest layover airport for flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

Average round-trip fare for 1-stop flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara, chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, with the same layover each way.

San Francisco (SFO) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $288.

What’s the fastest layover option from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

Shortest average travel time for 1-stop one-way flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara, based on itineraries clicked by Cheapflights users over the past 12 months, grouped by layover airport.

Flights via San Francisco (SFO) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 7h 36m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest layover for flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

Average layover duration for 1-stop one-way flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara, chosen by Cheapflights users in the last 12 months, grouped by stopover airport.

Flights via San Francisco (SFO) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 1h 43m.

How far ahead should I book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara, you should look to book at least 41 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

Reviews of airlines servicing Santa Barbara

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara. Reviews last updated July 17, 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with United Airlines and American Airlines from Chicago to Santa Barbara by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,997 reviews

Crew

8.1

Food

6.6

Comfort

7.3

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.4

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Tim,May 2023

ORD - DLH

Didn’t have to wait long for the plane and was in the lounge through that time could relax there made it nice.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,997 reviews
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,997 reviews

Crew

8.1

Food

6.6

Comfort

7.3

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.4

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Tim,May 2023

ORD - DLH

Didn’t have to wait long for the plane and was in the lounge through that time could relax there made it nice.
American Airlines
7.1
Good
11,819 reviews
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,997 reviews

Crew

8.1

Food

6.6

Comfort

7.3

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.4

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Tim,May 2023

ORD - DLH

Didn’t have to wait long for the plane and was in the lounge through that time could relax there made it nice.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Chicago to Santa Barbara. 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 into for flights to Santa Barbara from Chicago?

    For a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara, you will be flying into Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara (SBA) is just 8.0 mi from the center of the city. Santa Barbara is the only Santa Barbara airport and it handles 0 inbound flights from Chicago per day. 2 airlines have flights to Santa Barbara from Chicago on a regular basis.

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

    United Airlines and Alaska Airlines can get you from Chicago to Santa Barbara in just under 4h 42m. Your travel time can differ by up to 15h 51m. There are 1798 mi between Chicago and Santa Barbara. When browsing for deals, the options you’ll see will be for both nonstop flights and flights with stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara round-trip?

    American Airlines, at $250, was found to be the cheapest airline from Chicago to Santa Barbara. An alternate airline flying to your destination would be United Airlines. These flights start at 43% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

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

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Delta, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $92. American Airlines flights start at $168 while deals on United Airlines start at $181 one-way.

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

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara? While on average our users pay $388, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $228. The most popular route (Chicago O'Hare Intl - Santa Barbara), is priced around $329.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara 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 Chicago to Santa Barbara?

    Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara (average of $363). Flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara in August is currently the most expensive (average of $509). 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

Traveling to a place near Santa Barbara?

Book flights to Santa Barbara if you plan to visit one of these locations
Santa Ynez
Buellton

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Top 2 airlines flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Discover the top 2 airlines that operate flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara. 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 July 17, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
American AirlinesCheapest$250Average$472FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$288Average$430FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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