Best Airport for Santa Barbara
 

Is LAX the best airport to fly into for Santa Barbara? Is it about a two hour drive?
We are flying out of Detroit.
Thanks!

Burbank is another good option.

I see only one flight a day (American) into Burbank. It makes a stop somewhere and arrives about 12:30 p.m. That's a good time to hit the freeway for Santa Barbara.

If you fly into LAX, there are connecting flights to Santa Barbara at not quite once an hour during the main part of the day. If you drive from LAX, there are two ways to go: North on the 405, then west on the 134 to the ocean -OR- driving along the coast from Venice, through Santa Monica and Malibu. Depending on the time of day, day of week, driving times are about the same.

Why not fly directly to Santa Barbara???
:)>-

I have had to fly from the East Coast into Santa Barbara innumerable times. I have yet to have a situation where I would save money by landing in a Los Angeles airport (LAX, Burbank, Ontario) and then driving up to Santa Barbara. The fares to fly into SBA have invariably been not that much more than those into LAX -- and then, when you add the cost of a rental car, this cost advantage (if any) disappears.

I have had to fly from the East Coast into Santa Barbara innumerable times. I have yet to have a situation where I would save money by landing in a Los Angeles airport (LAX, Burbank, Ontario) and then driving up to Santa Barbara. The fares to fly into SBA have invariably been not that much more than those into LAX -- and then, when you add the cost of a rental car, this cost advantage (if any) disappears.

> Is it about a two hour drive?

ONLY if you can arrive into Los Angeles on a day and time with no traffic -- in other words, never. Plan on a bit more than two hours.

Thanks, I'll start looking into it - I just thought the Santa Barbara airport might be really tiny.

Hello jallard, do you have the official website for the Santa Barbara Airport? If not is is:
http://www.flysba.com/

It is very small and very lovely imo. It reminds me of flying into Mexico. A very easy airport user wise.

Although, I have never flown into SB, I would try to find a flight there rather than deal with the traffic from LAX. As PaulRabe says the traffic is usually horrific in that direction. Yes, it is a 2 hr or so drive, but I have not made the trip there in 2 hrs in years. In fact, the traffic is so heavy, it discourages us from driving north on the 5 period. Enjoy Santa Barbara. It's a lovely town when you get there!

Except you don't take the 5 from either airport...

I live a couple of minutes south of LAX, and my brother lives in Santa Barbara so I've made that drive many times. As I said in a previous post, the driving times depend on the day of the week and time of day. If you start out at rush hour, hit Oxnard or Santa Barbara at rush hour, it can be truly awful. It generally takes us between 2 and 2 1/2 hours unless it's a holiday or summer weekend. We like the drive up the coast, so it doesn't seem so bad.

But if you can find a good connecting flight at a reasonable cost from LAX to SB, go for it.

Sorry, I meant the 101. Jean, you obviously have more experience driving the route than I do, but I've tried driving it at so-called "off hours," and have always sat in traffic. Maybe, I just have been unlucky.

jallard, Santa Barbara airport really is tiny. But I fly in there frequently from Las Vegas. I usually fly on a regional jet.

If you can get a flight right to Santa Barbara go for it. They have all the services there..car rental, short security line and such.

The airport is a little bit north of Santa Barbara.

I really like the Santa Barbara airport because it's so small and easy to navigate for travelers. Definitely fly there, if you can. I was on United, nonstop from Denver. No problem.
:)>-

It looks like flying into Santa Barabra will not be a good option for us - most fights are +1 day.
I am thinking maybe we will stay in LA one night then drive the next morning.
Thanks for your help!

Are you sure about the flights to SB? I see a daily flight (AA/Alaska) as late as 9:00 p.m. Or are you not leaving Detroit until the late afternoon?