$165+ Cheap flights to Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA climate

Sunny days and mild evenings are the norm here, so booking a Santa Barbara flight is easy any time of the year. Its unique location allows it to sneak passed inclement weather almost all year round. With mountains to the east, and surrounding coastlines running east and west, Santa Barbara typically sits pretty at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, raising slightly in the summer, and dipping slightly in the winter. Its coastal climate allows for undying sunlight and soft breezes that create the perfect beachside getaway. 

Best Time to Fly to Santa Barbara, CA

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, there’s really better time to book flights to Santa Barbara than the present.

Peak Season:

If you plan on spending most of your time on the beach, then book your Santa Barbara flight in the summer time (June to August), when temperatures reach in the high 70s, and there’s little rainfall. 

Off-peak Season:

Since there is no real off-season here, it’s easy to find cheap flights to Santa Barbara any time of the year.

Getting around Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara doesn’t have much of a public transportation system, so you’ll want to rent a car or ride your bike to get around. Alternatively, board a waterfront shuttle along State Street. You can head out to Stearns Wharf, or take another route from Santa Barbara Zoo to the Harbor Way. The buses are mostly used by commuters, but they run all over the city and to surrounding towns for a reasonable price.      

Santa Barbara, CA Travel Information

Botanic Garden: If you’re booking flights to Santa Barbara and are aching to spend some quality time traipsing in the natural world, look no further than the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Set on a glorious 65-acre garden, the entire area is full of native flora and fauna for strollers to see. Five trails of cacti, redwoods, and wildflowers are arranged for different experiences, depending on your physical abilities. Easy flat walks are supplemented by narrower, hilly trails. If you’re spending the entire afternoon, make sure to take a tour of Lotusland, where explanations of each species and arrangement are given. Canine friends are welcome, as long as they are well behaved and on leashes. 

Zoo: If the kids are restless after the long flight to Santa Barbara, then the zoo is the perfect place to unleash some energy. From preying cats to lively monkeys and slow-moving elephants to and graceful giraffes, animals of all sorts will captivate travelers of any age. It’s the penguins, however, that seem to steal the show as they flap around their territories. The squeamish should probably avoid the interactive insect room (with bugs like cockroaches and African millipedes). Intertwined with beautiful gardens, the zoo can also be a nice place for a peaceful walk in the daytime. 

Stearn’s Wharf: Just right for any time of day, Stearn’s Wharf can be serene in the morning, bustling in the afternoon, and thrilling in the evening. Jutting out of the southern part of the city, the coastal hot spot was built in 1872 by John Peck Stearn and is known today to be the oldest continuously operating wharf on the West Coast. Partially destroyed by fires in 1998, it has been fully restored and perfected for visitors. If you book a flight to Santa Barbara craving a little ocean side fun, then Stearn’s Wharf is the quintessential place to walk around for hours, and watch the lights come on at dusk. 

Beaches: Whether you’re planning your Santa Barbara travel alone, with friends, or with the whole family, everyone can agree on spending a day at the beach. For fun in the sun, Carpinteria State Beach is a great place to sunbathe, fly a kite, or go swimming. Known for its shallow, calm waters that run for hundreds of feet, Carpinteria has always been deemed one of the safest beaches for children and families to visit. Stroll the mile-long shoreline and back in the sun’s rays to truly enjoy the outdoors.