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SBA to RDU: distance & flight time
Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Municipal Airport) → Raleigh-durham (Raleigh Durham International Airport)
2,304 mi
3,708 km · 2,002 nm
4h 59m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading east
See live SBA→RDU fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,304 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 59m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SBA — Santa Barbara Municipal Airport · Santa Barbara, United States
- RDU — Raleigh Durham International Airport · Raleigh-durham, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near SBA
- SQA · Santa Ynez Airport18 mi away
- OXR · Oxnard Airport39 mi away
- LPC · Lompoc Airport39 mi away
- NTD · Point Mugu Naval Air Station (Naval Base Ventura Co)46 mi away
Near RDU
- POB · Pope Field50 mi away
- RWI · Rocky Mount Wilson Regional Airport50 mi away
- FBG · Simmons Army Air Field52 mi away
- SOP · Moore County Airport56 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SBA from RDU?
The flight distance from Santa Barbara (SBA) to Raleigh-durham (RDU) is 2,304 miles (3,708 km, 2,002 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SBA to RDU?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 59m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from SBA to RDU?
Nonstop service on SBA–RDU depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 4h 59m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Santa Barbara and Raleigh-durham?
Raleigh-durham is 3 hours ahead of Santa Barbara.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SBA to RDU?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SBA–RDU that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some SBA to RDU fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain SBA–RDU tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.