HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
Santa Barbara

$157+ 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 5/14. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SBA
abr. 6 — abr. 131
dom. 4/6
dom. 4/13
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Chicago to Santa Barbara are usually found in January or September, booked 46 days in advance, depart on a Monday or Friday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap 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 abril 1, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$313
(Delta)

One-way from

$157
(Delta)

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$431
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. 4% potential increase in price ($19 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($9 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in April 2025
Search Deals

Find 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 abril 1, 2025.

This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/1. 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.
mié. 5/141:30 pmORD - SBA
1 stop9h 00mDelta
mié. 5/218:30 amSBA - ORD
1 stop8h 20mDelta
Deal found 4/1$313
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. 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.
vie. 4/256:30 amORD - SBA
1 stop7h 31mUnited Airlines
mar. 4/2910:57 amSBA - ORD
1 stop8h 20mUnited Airlines
Deal found 3/31$346
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/1. 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.
lun. 9/228:42 pmORD - SBA
1 stop15h 50mAlaska Airlines
jue. 9/257:30 amSBA - ORD
1 stop19h 34mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 4/1$350
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/1. 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.
vie. 5/308:28 amORD - SBA
1 stop6h 06mAmerican Airlines
lun. 6/27:24 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop7h 49mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 4/1$354
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. 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.
jue. 6/195:25 pmORD - SBA
1 stop8h 00mSouthwest
sáb. 6/2110:45 amSBA - ORD
2 stops10h 55mSouthwest
Deal found 3/31$432
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 4/106:45 amORD - SBA
1 stop8h 25mMultiple Airlines
sáb. 4/128:00 amSBA - ORD
1 stop9h 39mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 3/31$661

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 abril 1, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara that are best for you.

Fly from

Chicago

Fly to

Santa Barbara

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

mié. 5/14

1:30 pm-8:30 pm

1 stop9h 00m

Santa Barbara

mié. 5/21

8:30 am-6:50 pm

1 stop8h 20m

$313

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

vie. 4/25

6:30 am-12:01 pm

1 stop7h 31m

Santa Barbara

mar. 4/29

10:57 am-9:17 pm

1 stop8h 20m

$346

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

lun. 9/22

8:42 pm-10:32 am

1 stop15h 50m

Santa Barbara

jue. 9/25

7:30 am-5:04 am

1 stop19h 34m

$350

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

vie. 5/30

8:28 am-12:34 pm

1 stop6h 06m

Santa Barbara

lun. 6/2

7:24 pm-5:13 am

1 stop7h 49m

$354

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

jue. 6/19

5:25 pm-11:25 pm

1 stop8h 00m

Santa Barbara

sáb. 6/21

10:45 am-11:40 pm

2 stops10h 55m

$432

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

mié. 5/14

1:30 pm-8:30 pm

1 stop9h 00m

$157

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

jue. 5/15

6:00 am-12:34 pm

1 stop8h 34m

$176

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

jue. 7/31

7:00 am-2:50 pm

2 stops9h 50m

$219

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

dom. 5/11

6:30 am-12:16 pm

1 stop7h 46m

$235

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

jue. 5/15

6:00 am-5:37 pm

1 stop13h 37m

$265

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 4/1

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 April.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
eDreamsPrice 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

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara. Price data was last updated on March 28, 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara, you should look to book at least 46 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 Chicago to Santa Barbara?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara (average of $353). Flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara in June is currently the most expensive (average of $506). 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 abril 1, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from Chicago to Santa Barbara in the morning. Doing so could potentially save you 4% on the flight price compared to flying in the afternoon, which is usually more expensive.

Rainfall in Santa Barbara by month

Plan your trip to Santa Barbara by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Santa Barbara ranges from 0.0 - 3.5 inches per month. January is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 3.5 in. May is typically the driest time to visit Santa Barbara when rainfall is around 0.0 in.

Temperature in Santa Barbara by month

Plan your trip to Santa Barbara by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Santa Barbara, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 62.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 51.8 F).

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 abril 1, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Alaska Airlines, Southwest and Delta from Chicago to Santa Barbara to help guide your decision. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,820 reviews

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Seleste,Dec 2024

FAT - SAN

The attention and efficiency of the staff and the good handling of the pilot
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,820 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,820 reviews

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Seleste,Dec 2024

FAT - SAN

The attention and efficiency of the staff and the good handling of the pilot
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,277 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,820 reviews

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Seleste,Dec 2024

FAT - SAN

The attention and efficiency of the staff and the good handling of the pilot
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,898 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,820 reviews

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Seleste,Dec 2024

FAT - SAN

The attention and efficiency of the staff and the good handling of the pilot
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,615 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,820 reviews

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Seleste,Dec 2024

FAT - SAN

The attention and efficiency of the staff and the good handling of the pilot
American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,820 reviews

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Seleste,Dec 2024

FAT - SAN

The attention and efficiency of the staff and the good handling of the pilot

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. 4 airlines have flights to Santa Barbara from Chicago on a regular basis.

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

    Delta, at $313, was found to be the cheapest airline from Chicago to Santa Barbara.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. These flights start at 31% 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 $157. American Airlines flights start at $176 while deals on Southwest start at $219 one-way.

  • 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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara (average of $353). Flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara in June is currently the most expensive (average of $506). 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 Chicago?

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

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for Chicago to Santa Barbara

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
O'Hare Intl to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to Los Angeles flights
O'Hare Intl to San Francisco flights
O'Hare Intl to San Diego flights
O'Hare Intl to Santa Ana flights
Midway to Las Vegas flights
St. Louis to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to Ontario flights
Midway to San Francisco flights
O'Hare Intl to Burbank flights
Midway to Los Angeles flights
Midway to San Diego flights
O'Hare Intl to Palm Springs flights
O'Hare Intl to Sacramento flights
O'Hare Intl to Oakland flights
O'Hare Intl to San Jose flights
O'Hare Intl to Reno flights
Midway to Ontario flights
St. Louis to Los Angeles flights
St. Louis to San Francisco flights
Midway to Santa Ana flights
St. Louis to San Diego flights
Rockford to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to Fresno flights
Midway to Palm Springs flights
Midway to Reno flights
Midway to Sacramento flights
Midway to Burbank flights
St. Louis to Ontario flights
Moline to San Diego flights
Peoria to San Diego flights
O'Hare Intl to Long Beach flights
Midway to San Jose flights
Moline to Las Vegas flights
St. Louis to Sacramento flights
O'Hare Intl to Santa Barbara flights
Peoria to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to San Luis Obispo flights
St. Louis to Santa Ana flights
St. Louis to San Jose flights
Midway to Oakland flights
Peoria to Santa Ana flights
Midway to Long Beach flights
Moline to Ontario flights
St. Louis to Burbank flights
Midway to Fresno flights
St. Louis to Palm Springs flights
O'Hare Intl to Medford flights
St. Louis to Long Beach flights
Bloomington to Las Vegas flights

Top 4 airlines flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Discover the top 4 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 abril 1, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
American AirlinesCheapest$306Average$430FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$318Average$431FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$343Average$504FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$357Average$496FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

100% Free

Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.

Book with Flexibility

Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees

Travel Smart

Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.