California’s Quieter Coastal Airport Boasts Short TSA Wait Times, Modern Comforts, and a Historic Museum

Visiting Southern California can be the trip of a lifetime, and that doesn’t just include Los Angeles, Malibu, and San Diego. Up the coast a bit sits the charming and beautiful Santa Barbara, a place that is referred to as the “American Riviera.” Not only is it a wonderful place to visit — with the famous State Street and its antique shops and restaurants, as well as the “Funk Zone,” the Santa Barbara waterfront with creative vibes – but it also has the perfect airport to fly into. Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) is on the small side, but it’s got modern travel comforts, a historic museum about the site’s history in aviation, and some short TSA wait times. 

Yelp reviewer Shelby S. said of the hub, “This is my favorite airport! It only has 5 gates but you can typically get through security really quick and don’t need to arrive to the airport super early. … The airport was designed with the typical Santa Barbara Spanish style in mind and it’s beautiful!” Another Redditor claimed that it only takes five minutes to get through TSA. In fact, the airport’s website recommends getting there just 90 minutes early (outside of peak times and holidays) instead of the usual two hours before departure. SBA also made the top five in the Newsweek Readers’ Choice awards for the Best Small Airport in 2025 for its lovely Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, short lines, and easy-to-navigate layout.

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is on the smaller side, but it does get about 700,000 passengers flying through its terminals per year, with non-stop flights to cities like Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, Phoenix, and San Francisco. There are a number of rental car agencies inside baggage claim including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. It’s not a bad option if you want to take the scenic drive down the coast to Los Angeles, with Hollywood located about 100 miles away. It’s also a great starting point if you want to do the southern part of California’s famous Highway One drive down toward Dana Point or up past San Luis Obispo toward San Francisco.

Inside SBA, you’ll find the Costa Terraza Restaurant & Tapas Bar with its Spanish Colonial-inspired facade that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as the Santa Barbara Roasting Company for coffee, pastries, and snacks. The airport also has a Silvergreens Smart Fridge so you can grab some healthy to-go fare and blended juices, or you can pick up a bag of chips and a magazine at Santa Barbara News & Gifts. There are also free WiFi and charging stations, as well as a pet relief area. If you prefer VIP service when you fly, Santa Barbara Municipal Airport has Perq Soleil that offers curb-to-gate escorts, easy check-in, assistance with luggage, and expedited TSA processing. However, you have to book at least 24 hours in advance.