Do you need help finding the closest airport to Santa Barbara, California? We will solve your problem and help you escape that tension bubble. You must surf the internet to get the best guide describing all the airports closest to Santa Barbara, but don’t worry; we will send you the ultimate guide to end your search. Grab a coffee, open your notes, and get ready to give this information a full read to make your next travel plan unforgettable and fun.
Where Is Santa Barbara And Why Is It Famous?
Santa Barbara is a world-renowned city along the Californian coast, with the majestic Santa Ynez mountains as the ultimate backdrop. With palm-lined streets, Mediterranean-styled white stucco buildings with red-tiled roofs showcase the extreme natural beauty and rich Spanish heritage. It is the best place for sun-seekers and nature worshippers alike, as they witness a unique combination of architectural marvels lying in the lap of nature.
There is much to see apart from the palm trees and beaches. The Spanish-inspired architecture, such as the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, which has Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, is a real testament to the city’s rich history. SB showcases the best cultural scene with several art and music galleries, museums, theaters, and boutiques.
Santa Barbara perfectly blends breathtaking natural beauty, wine country allure, and architectural marvels. This combination attracts tourists from around the globe to book tickets and visit ‘The American Riviera.’
Closest Airport To Santa Barbara
Several airports can land you on the Mediterranean coast. This coastal gem attracts millions of tourists worldwide, but it is essential to understand the closest airport to Santa Barbara. Here is a list of all the nearest airports.
1. Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA):
It is one of the major airports located 7 miles west of downtown Santa Barbara. SBA serves this region, and several airlines operate to and from this airport. Because of its proximity to the city, it is the first choice of the maximum tourist crowd. SBA has significant airlines operating in several major domestic hubs, including Sam Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.
Alaska Airlines and United Airlines operate out of SBA. These airlines are essential in transferring tourists from Santa Barbara to other major destinations. Despite being a small airport, SBA has all the facilities a big airport offers, including several dining options, substantial parking areas, shops, rental cars, bike services, etc. You will not feel the shortage of anything, plus the airport staff is supportive and cooperative.
So whenever you’re traveling to Santa Barbara or another major destination, you now have the option of SBA, which can be perfect if you want to save time.
2. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX):
LAX is another very famous option among tourists. It is about 90 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. Being the busiest airport in the world, LAX has several domestic and international flights operating to and from the airport, giving endless options for choosing the best flights with better deals.
LAX is a primary gateway to Southern California, and travelers have various flights and airlines operating to and from several destinations. It has all the basic and essential facilities to reach Santa Barbara, whether rental cars or bikes, shuttle services, shops, dining options, and public transportation. Traveling from LAX to SB takes around 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the traffic. Though it is not a short road trip, the scenic allure is enough to mesmerize the people.
3. Burbank Hollywood Airport (BUR):
Burbank Airport is located 85 miles southeast of Santa Barbara and is an alternative among most tourists. It has domestic flights to major destinations, and despite being smaller than LAX, Burbank Airport offers the best airport experience away from all kinds of rush and confusion.
Travelers can take domestic flights with the famous Alaska and Southwest Airlines. All the necessary facilities are available in and around the airport, including rental cars, shuttle services, a shop, ride-sharing services, and public transportation. The road journey takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on traffic conditions. This airport is the best alternative; you should try the services offered in your future travel plans.
4. San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP):
This airport is a good option for all travelers wishing to travel to California’s central coast. It is about 90 miles southwest of Santa Barbara and is a less crowded and more relaxed airport. Several domestic flights operate to and from this airport to major destination hubs, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc.
This airport has all the basic facilities, including all the cars, shuttle service, and other transportation options for a smooth journey from the airport to Santa Barbara. Road trips usually take 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on traffic conditions. It is a good option for all travelers who want to visit the central coast.
5. John Wayne Airport (SNA):
John Wayne Airport is about 140 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. It serves Orange County and also provides a gateway to travelers going on to explore Southern California. It is not too close to Santa Barbara but is an essential option as it is much more relaxed and less crowded than LAX and BUR.
Travelers can easily reach Santa Barbara by rental cars, shuttle service, or arranged transportation. The journey is usually 2.5 to 3.5 hours, depending upon the traffic at that particular time. If you have the energy to travel extra to reach Santa Barbara, check out the John Wayne Airport.
Travelers should remember that this airport is far from Santa Barbara compared to SBA, LAX, and BUR, so you should choose the airport according to your travel plan and schedule.
Airlines That Operate To And From Santa Barbara
Now that you’ve got the information about the closest airport to Santa Barbara, it is time to look at the airlines that operate direct, seasonal, connecting flights into and out of all the airports mentioned above.
Below is the list of all the individual airlines operating at the airports with their respective terminals:
| Name of the Airports | Operating Airlines | Terminal Used |
| Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) | Alaska Airlines Delta Air Lines United Airlines Southwest | Terminal 1 |
| Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Air Transat Allegiant Breeze Cayman Airways Frontier Airlines Norse Southwest Sun Country Airlines Viva Aerobus | Terminal 1 |
| Virgin Atlantic West Jet | Terminal 2 | |
| Aero Mexico Delta | Terminal 3 | |
| Spirit JetBlue | Terminal 5 | |
| Advanced Air Air Canada Alaska Airlines Horizon Air Southern Airways | Terminal 6 | |
| United Airlines | Terminal 7 | |
| Aer Lingus Air China Air France Air New Zealand Air Premia Air Tahiti Nui All Nippon Airways Asiana Airlines Austrian Airlines Avianca Airlines British Airways Cathy Pacific Airways China Airlines China Eastern China Southern Airlines Condor Copa Airlines El Al Israel Airlines Emirates Etihad Airlines EVA Air Fiji Airways Finnair Flair Airlines French Bee Hainan Airlines Hawaiian Airlines Iberia Airlines ITA Airways Japan Airlines KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Korean Airlines LAN Airlines Level Airlines LOT Polish Lufthansa Philippine Airlines Qantas Qatar Airways Saudia Airlines Scandinavian Airlines Sichuan Airlines Singapore Airlines STARLUX Airline Swiss International Airlines Ltd Turkish Airlines Volaris Volaris Costa Rica Xiamen Airlines Zipair | TBIT (Terminal B) | |
| Burbank Hollywood Airport (BUR) | Southwest Airlines JetBlue Delta Air Lines | Terminal A |
| Alaska Airlines United Airlines Spirit Airlines Avelo Airlines | Terminal B | |
| San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) | United Airlines Alaska Airlines | Terminal 1 |
| John Wayne Airport (SNA) | Air Canada Breeze Airways Delta Air Lines WestJet | Terminal A |
| Alaska Airlines United Airlines | Terminal B | |
| Allegiant Airlines Frontier Airlines Southwest Airlines Spirit Airlines | Terminal C |
10 Top Hotels/Resorts You Can Stay In Santa Barbara
A proper stay is essential during a vacation to relax the body and stay active every day. Here is a list of the ten best hotels/motels in Santa Barbara where you can enjoy excellent services. We’ll help you with the address and contact details of the respective hotels.
You can book the hotels before your travels or even in person, but it is safe that you do all the bookings in advance to avoid the rush and crowds you may encounter in person. It is always safe to go through the hotels online, chat with the hotel staff, and book in advance.
| Name of Hotels/Resorts | Address and Contact Details |
| Hotel Californian | 36 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States•+1 805-882-0100 |
| Rosewood Miramar Beach | 1759 S Jameson Ln, Montecito, CA 93108, United States•+1 805-900-8388 |
| Ritz-Carlton Bacara | 8301 Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, United States•+1 805-968-0100 |
| San Ysidro Ranch | 900 San Ysidro Ln, Montecito, CA 93108, United States•+1 805-565-1700 |
| Palihouse Santa Barbara | 915 Garden St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States•+1 805-564-4700 |
| Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort | 633 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, United States•+1 805-564-4333 |
| Kimpton Canary Hotel | 31 W Carrillo St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101,United States•+1 805-884-0300 |
| El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel | 800 Alvarado Pl, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, United States•+1 805-845-5800 |
| Drift Santa Barbara | 524 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States•+1 855-721-2658 |
| Montecito Inn | 1295 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, United States•+1 805-969-7854 |
Where To Visit And To Do In Santa Barbara?
Vacations are full of exploring the area and trying out adventure activities. Here is a list of all the must-visit places you should take advantage of when planning a vacation in Santa Barbara.
| 1. | East Beach and Leadbetter Beach |
| 2. | Santa Barbara County Courthouse |
| 3. | The Funk Zone |
| 4. | State Street |
| 5. | Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center |
| 6. | Santa Barbara Harbor |
| 7’ | Santa Barbara Zoo |
| 8. | Old Mission Santa Barbara |
| 9. | Vineyards of Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys |
| 10. | Solvang |
We hope you’ve got all the details regarding the closest airport to Santa Barbara. To plan your trip efficiently, look at the hotel and flight options from the above tables. Pack your bags, book the tickets to Santa Barbara, and get ready to enjoy the most unforgettable trip.
FAQs
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) is the closest airport to Santa Barbara and is at a distance of 7 miles.
SBA is 7 miles away from the Santa Barbara city center and is the closest airport to it.
LAX is 90 miles from Santa Barbara, a 1.5—to 3-hour road journey. It is the busiest airport for international and domestic flights.
You can book cabs, rent cars, use public transportation options, or even use the hotel shuttle service.
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Burbank Hollywood Airport (BUR), San Luis Obispo County Regional Airpot (SBP), and John Wayne Airport (SNA).
There are several average and luxury hotels/resorts in Santa Barbara. You can check more about the particular stays online.
San Luis Obispo County Regional Airpot (SBP) is 90 miles from Santa Barbara and takes a 1.5—to 2.5-hour road journey. You can rent cars, book or share carbs, use public transport services, or use the hotel shuttle service.
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is 140 miles away from Santa Barbara, and you can book a car, Uber, or use a shuttle service to complete a 2.5—to 3.5-hour road trip.
