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Santa Barbara

$144+ Cheap flights from Illinois 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 2/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
ORD — SBA
Jan 9 — Jan 161
Fri 1/9
Fri 1/16
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap flight deals from Illinois to Santa Barbara

Cheapest flights from Illinois to Santa Barbara
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Illinois to Santa Barbara. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on December 10, 2025.

This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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 12/256:41 amSTL - SBA
1 stop7h 18mUnited Airlines
Thu 1/15:00 amSBA - STL
1 stop6h 20mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/9$307
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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 12/243:42 pmORD - SBA
1 stop8h 06mUnited Airlines
Sun 12/288:33 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop6h 54mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/9$339
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 12/256:32 pmORD - SBA
1 stop7h 10mUnited Airlines
Mon 12/298:33 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop6h 54mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/10$382
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/7. 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 12/313:42 pmORD - SBA
1 stop8h 06mUnited Airlines
Mon 1/58:33 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop6h 54mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/7$388
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 12/2312:45 pmORD - SBA
1 stop8h 46mUnited Airlines
Sat 12/276:30 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop8h 57mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/10$389
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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.
Thu 12/257:00 amSTL - SBA
1 stop6h 35mAmerican Airlines
Thu 1/16:54 pmSBA - STL
2 stops11h 41mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/9$397
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/8. 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 12/236:15 amORD - SBA
1 stop7h 44mUnited Airlines
Mon 12/298:33 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop6h 54mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/8$404
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/7. 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.
Wed 12/245:05 pmORD - SBA
2 stops20h 30mAmerican Airlines
Tue 12/306:54 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop8h 40mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/7$408
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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.
Thu 12/187:06 amORD - SBA
1 stop7h 29mAmerican Airlines
Sun 1/46:54 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop8h 40mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/9$424
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/8. 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 12/243:42 pmORD - SBA
1 stop8h 06mUnited Airlines
Tue 12/305:00 amSBA - ORD
1 stop6h 19mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/8$429
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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.
Thu 12/257:00 amSTL - SBA
1 stop6h 35mAmerican Airlines
Fri 1/26:12 amSBA - STL
1 stop5h 44mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/9$434
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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.
Wed 12/247:20 amSTL - SBA
1 stop6h 45mDelta
Sun 12/285:45 amSBA - STL
1 stop5h 38mDelta
Deal found 12/9$437

Find flight deals from Illinois to Santa Barbara

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Illinois to Santa Barbara flight deals. Data was last updated December 10, 2025.

Most accurate provider

CheapOair
3 stars

Most trusted provider

CheapOair
3 stars

Round-trip from

$269
(Alaska Airlines)

One-way from

$144
(Alaska Airlines)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$363

Good round-trip deal

$269 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Chicago (CHI)-Los Angeles flight deals.
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Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Chicago (CHI)-Los Angeles flights.
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From Illinois to Santa Barbara
Search Deals
One-way flight from Illinois to Santa Barbara
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 11% potential increase in price ($35 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($9 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in December 2025
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Illinois to Santa Barbara.
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Illinois 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 December 10, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Illinois to Santa Barbara that are best for you.

Fly from

Illinois

Fly to

Santa Barbara

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 4/1

10:00 am-6:18 pm

1 stop10h 18m

Santa Barbara

Mon 4/6

7:15 pm-5:00 am

1 stop7h 45m

$289

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 3/16

6:59 pm-12:03 am

1 stop7h 04m

Santa Barbara

Mon 3/23

12:35 pm-9:34 pm

1 stop6h 59m

$289

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 1/23

3:59 pm-8:52 pm

1 stop6h 53m

Santa Barbara

Sun 1/25

2:17 pm-11:14 pm

1 stop6h 57m

$289

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 1/23

8:00 am-1:53 pm

1 stop7h 53m

Santa Barbara

Fri 1/30

2:45 pm-2:38 pm

1 stop21h 53m

$289

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 1/8

12:00 pm-8:56 pm

1 stop10h 56m

Santa Barbara

Thu 1/15

1:10 pm-9:52 pm

1 stop6h 42m

$289

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 1/15

1:00 pm-5:21 pm

1 stop6h 21m

Santa Barbara

Mon 1/19

6:06 pm-5:15 am

1 stop9h 09m

$289

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 3/2

5:29 pm-1:47 pm

1 stop22h 18m

Santa Barbara

Thu 3/5

2:38 pm-12:01 pm

1 stop19h 23m

$289

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 5/29

4:17 pm-10:18 pm

1 stop8h 01m

Santa Barbara

Mon 6/1

5:00 pm-12:58 am

1 stop5h 58m

$289

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 1/31

8:00 am-1:53 pm

1 stop7h 53m

Santa Barbara

Tue 2/3

2:45 pm-2:38 pm

1 stop21h 53m

$296

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 3/2

5:29 pm-7:51 pm

2 stops28h 22m

Santa Barbara

Sat 3/7

7:21 am-12:11 pm

1 stop26h 50m

$301

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/8

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

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

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

Currently, September is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Illinois to Santa Barbara (average of $80). Flying from Illinois to Santa Barbara in January is currently the most expensive (average of $120). 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 IL to SBA?

Find hourly flight availability from Illinois 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 December 10, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Illinois to Santa Barbara at noon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 25% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the evening.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Illinois 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 Illinois?

    Most people fly into Santa Barbara (SBA) if they book a flight to Santa Barbara from Illinois. Santa Barbara is conveniently located just 8.0 mi from Santa Barbara’s city center.

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

    Airlines like Alaska Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines fly from Illinois to Santa Barbara in about 7h 04m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 3h 14m. Airlines will cover a distance of 1798 mi. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

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

    $125 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from American Airlines. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Southwest and United Airlines, with prices starting from $142 and $169, respectively.

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

    While some choose either Lambert-St Louis - Santa Barbara or Greater Peoria - Santa Barbara, Chicago O'Hare Intl - Santa Barbara is the most popular route from Illinois to Santa Barbara.

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

    The cheapest flight price from Illinois to Santa Barbara is $269. On average you can expect to pay $341. The most popular route, (Chicago O'Hare Intl - Santa Barbara), can usually be booked for $279.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Currently, September is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Illinois to Santa Barbara (average of $80). Flying from Illinois to Santa Barbara in January is currently the most expensive (average of $120). 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
Buellton
Santa Ynez

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Alternative routes for Illinois to Santa Barbara

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Top 3 airlines flying from Illinois to Santa Barbara

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Illinois 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 December 10, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
American AirlinesCheapest$288Average$400FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$312Average$518FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$317Average$479FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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