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SMX to CHA: distance & flight time
Santa Maria (Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan Hancock Field) → Chattanooga (Lovell Field)
1,985 mi
3,195 km · 1,725 nm
4h 22m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading east
See live SMX→CHA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,985 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 22m 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
- SMX — Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan Hancock Field · Santa Maria, United States
- CHA — Lovell Field · Chattanooga, 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 SMX
- VBG · Vandenberg Air Force Base13 mi away
- LPC · Lompoc Airport16 mi away
- SBP · San Luis County Regional Airport26 mi away
- SQA · Santa Ynez Airport30 mi away
Near CHA
- APT · Marion County Brown Field22 mi away
- HDI · Hardwick Field25 mi away
- DNN · Dalton Municipal Airport29 mi away
- UOS · Franklin County Airport41 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SMX from CHA?
The flight distance from Santa Maria (SMX) to Chattanooga (CHA) is 1,985 miles (3,195 km, 1,725 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SMX to CHA?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 22m 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 SMX to CHA?
Nonstop service on SMX–CHA 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 22m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Santa Maria and Chattanooga?
Chattanooga is 3 hours ahead of Santa Maria.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SMX to CHA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SMX–CHA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some SMX to CHA fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain SMX–CHA 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.