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$49+ Cheap flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (SFO - 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 9/20. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — SBA
Aug 3 — Aug 101
Sun 8/3
Sun 8/10
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Santa Barbara are usually found in August or September, booked 83 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Tuesday and return on a Friday

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Francisco (SFO) 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 29, 2025.

Round-trip from

$208
(Southwest)

One-way from

$49
(United Airlines)

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$427

Good round-trip deal

$269 or less

Good one-way deal

$159 or less
From San Francisco to Santa Barbara
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One-way flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 3% potential increase in price ($14 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.
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Find flight deals from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on July 29, 2025.

This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 9/25:15 amSFO - SBA
1 stop8h 15mSouthwest
Wed 9/35:40 amSBA - SFO
2 stops7h 20mSouthwest
Deal found 7/28$208
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/27. 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 8/1610:47 pmSFO - SBA
Nonstop1h 12mUnited Airlines
Wed 8/206:30 amSBA - SFO
Nonstop1h 10mUnited Airlines
Deal found 7/27$223

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from San Francisco 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 29, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara that are best for you.

Fly from

San Francisco

Fly to

Santa Barbara

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Tue 9/2

5:15 am-1:30 pm

1 stop8h 15m

Santa Barbara

Wed 9/3

5:40 am-1:00 pm

2 stops7h 20m

$208

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Sat 8/16

10:47 pm-11:59 pm

Nonstop1h 12m

Santa Barbara

Wed 8/20

6:30 am-7:40 am

Nonstop1h 10m

$223

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Wed 9/10

8:00 am-6:41 pm

2 stops10h 41m

Santa Barbara

Wed 9/17

7:30 am-4:24 pm

1 stop8h 54m

$301

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Sat 9/20

4:30 pm-5:44 pm

Nonstop1h 14m

$49

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Sat 9/20

2:35 pm-8:15 pm

1 stop5h 40m

$76

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Tue 10/7

6:00 am-4:15 pm

2 stops10h 15m

$137

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Fri 9/26

8:19 pm-7:49 pm

2 stops23h 30m

$162

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/26

Best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

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

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. Price data was last updated on July 25, 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, you should look to book at least 83 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.

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (average of $353). Flying from San Francisco to Santa Barbara in June is currently the most expensive (average of $474). 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 SFO to SBA?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco 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 29, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from San Francisco to Santa Barbara in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 11% on the flight price compared to flying at noon, which is usually more expensive.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

Explore weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. 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 July 29, 2025.

The most flights from SFO to SBA are scheduled on a Monday (15 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (8 on average).

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 29, 2025.
See what other customers who have flown with Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and Delta from San Francisco to Santa Barbara have to say. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,238 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,979 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,896 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San Francisco 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 airports do I use to fly from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    If you book a flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, you will be flying from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. Flights to Santa Barbara (SBA) from San Francisco (SFO) take 1h 12m for a nonstop flight. There are 13 flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara per day from 1 airline.

  • How popular is this San Francisco to Santa Barbara flight route?

    Within the past month, 6 users have taken a look at flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.

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

    According to our current data, Southwest ($208), United Airlines ($223), and Alaska Airlines ($301) offers the cheapest pricing from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. These flights start at 42% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

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

    The cheapest airline one-way is United Airlines, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $49. However, be on the lookout for offers from Southwest and Delta, as they are both options that can get you from San Francisco to Santa Barbara for a low price.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    Before booking your flight to Santa Barbara from San Francisco, check out the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: Copa Airlines (100%), SkyWest Airlines (87%), United Airlines( 85%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    The cheapest flight price from San Francisco to Santa Barbara is $98. On average you can expect to pay $341. The most popular route, (San Francisco - Santa Barbara), can usually be booked for $97.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Santa Barbara?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (average of $353). Flying from San Francisco to Santa Barbara in June is currently the most expensive (average of $474). 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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Top airline flying from San Francisco to Santa Barbara

Discover the top airline that operate flights from San Francisco 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 29, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
United AirlinesCheapest$175Average$345FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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