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SMO to LGA: distance & flight time
Santa Monica (Santa Monica Municipal Airport) → New York (La Guardia Airport)
2,464 mi
3,966 km · 2,141 nm
5h 18m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading northeast
See live SMO→LGA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,464 miles nonstop takes roughly 5h 18m gate to gate, flying northeast. 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
- SMO — Santa Monica Municipal Airport · Santa Monica, United States
- LGA — La Guardia Airport · New York, 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 SMO
- LAX · Los Angeles International Airport6 mi away
- HHR · Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport9 mi away
- BUR · Bob Hope Airport14 mi away
- VNY · Van Nuys Airport14 mi away
Near LGA
Frequently asked questions
How far is SMO from LGA?
The flight distance from Santa Monica (SMO) to New York (LGA) is 2,464 miles (3,966 km, 2,141 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SMO to LGA?
A nonstop flight takes about 5h 18m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Santa Monica and New York?
New York is 3 hours ahead of Santa Monica.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SMO to LGA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SMO–LGA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.