$171 Cheap Flights from Orange County (SNA) to Santa Barbara (SBA)

Popular airlines from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)

Find available prices by choosing your travel dates.

Cheap Flights from Orange County to Santa Barbara (SNA-SBA)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $171 for one-way flights and $363 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

United
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Bargain Flight
Alaska Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Alaska Airlines
United
Southwest Airlines
Flights from Orange County (SNA) to Santa Barbara (SBA)
Origin airport
John Wayne
Destination airport
Santa Barbara Municipal
Airlines serving
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$363
Distance
124 mi

Orange County to Santa Barbara Flights

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

The best time to book a flight from Orange County to Santa Barbara

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from Orange County 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 Orange County 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 Orange County to Santa Barbara in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $171 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 Orange County 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 Orange County 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

Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from SNA to SBA last minute?
Booking your flight from John Wayne Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) at the last minute could save you some dough if you happen to find a good deal. However, fares typically don’t come down in price as the departure date nears. If you hold off, flights could also be booked out or the best seats taken (because who wants the middle seat?). If you’d rather err on the side of caution, book well ahead of the date you want to leave. Keep in mind that some of the best deals can be found up to 12 months in advance. If your preferred carrier hasn’t released its fares yet, check back regularly as deals are updated on Expedia all the time.
What airports do you fly into for Santa Barbara from Santa Ana?
With Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), Oxnard, CA (OXR) and Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) to select from, connecting from Santa Ana to Santa Barbara is simple. The city’s main gateway, Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), is approximately 8 mi west of the downtown area. As well as ticket prices, consider factors like train or bus options from the airport and the distance to your hotel when deciding where to fly into. Get your Santa Barbara trip off on the right foot by checking out Santa Barbara Zoo and Lotusland.
Can I change the date of my flight from John Wayne Airport to Santa Barbara Airport?
It’s a cinch to make changes to your SNA to SBA trip yourself. Simply log in to the Expedia Trips portal and click on “change flight.” Search for new flights and secure the one that fits your plans. You’ll see an estimate of applicable flight change costs. You can also find your way to our Customer Service portal to chat to our Virtual Agent and quickly get answers to your questions.

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*Available to One Key members.