There are many, many options to get into Santa Barbara, but we recommend the following airports in order:

1. Santa Barbara Airport - SBA is located in, you guessed it, Santa Barbara and will require the least amount of travel "when you get there". It is a regional airport, so chances are you will have to connect and flights might be limited but most major carriers fly here. Renting a car is not a requirement as Uber's and Lyfts are readily available!

2. Burbank Hollywood Airport - BUR is located in Burbank and is about a 1h 45m drive to Santa Barbara and about 2.5-hour direct train ride. Burbank is our favorite local airport to fly into and it has lots of flights and rental car options to get you to Santa Barbara!

3. Los Angeles International Airport - LAX is about 2 to 2.5 hours from Santa Barbara depending on traffic (2 hours by train). LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world so keep that in mind because it can be chaotic to say the least. However, it offers the most affordable flights, most direct flight options, and most rental car companies of any of the other options above. Just don't say we didn't warn you!

4. John Wayne International Airport - SNA is a 3.5 hour drive to Santa Barbara (3.5 by train) and is located closest to Disneyland. Similar in size to Burbank, it also has plenty of daily flights from major carriers and lots of rental car options.

5. Other options - Ontario, Long Beach, San Diego, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and San Francisco are all very far away but are within a days drive of Santa Barbara. Just be sure to rent a fun car!

Note: We recommend arriving or departing either early, early in the morning, in the middle of the day, or later in the evening to avoid the world-famous Southern California rush hour. Unless of course, you are taking the train.

Who doesn’t love a train adventure? If you’re flying into LAX, Long Beach, Burbank, Orange County, San Diego, or traveling from the Bay Area, the train is a fantastic way to get to Santa Barbara. A plus is that once you're in Santa Barbara Ubers are plentiful and everything is within walking distance. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner glides right along the stunning California coast, offering breathtaking views that make the journey just as memorable as the destination.

The train conveniently stops in the heart of Santa Barbara and is within a reasonable Uber ride from many Southern California airports. Plus, it might just be a more affordable option than renting a car (~$45 one way for a business class ticket 🥂)— and definitely a more relaxing option! Kick back, enjoy a cocktail, and let someone else do the driving while you soak in the scenery.

Of course, we encourage you to do your own research and find the best option for your travel needs, but we just couldn’t resist sharing our love of trains (and the chance to avoid that infamous SoCal traffic!). See you at the station! 🍸💋

Information is linked here: The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner