Finding the best flight deals out there is half the fun of booking flights.
When heading to California, you have lots of options for flights and what airport to land in. Each has its perks, depending on where you go. Some airports are going to be better than others.
If you are anything like me, you will base your destination on where you can find the best deal—and that’s okay! Here are my picks for the cheapest airport in California to fly into!
Table of Contents
The Cheapest Airport in California
Don’t have time to read the whole list? Here are the top 3 cheapest airports in California!
| Airport Ranking | Airport | Search Cheap Flights |
|---|---|---|
 | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Search Flights To Los Angeles |
 | San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | Search Flights To San Francisco |
 | San Diego International Airport (SAN) | Search Flights To San Diego |
Check For Prices To The Cheapest Airport in California
Cheapest Airport in California
5: Santa Ana
Airport: John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Average Price: $200 USD (one way departing New York)
Most Popular Route: Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona
Choose This Airport If: You will spend time in Southern California and Orange Country. This is also the best option for those visiting Disneyland.
About SNA: John Wayne Airport is the only commercial airport in Orange County. It is the most convenient place to fly into for those visiting Disneyland, as there are many connections to the resort. Because of this, John Wayne is the second busiest airport in the greater Los Angeles area. The airport features three terminals and serves around 10 million passengers annually.
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4: Oakland
Airport: Oakland International Airport (OAK)
Average Price: $175 USD (one way departing New York)
Most Popular Domestic Route: Las Vegas, Nevada
Most Popular International Route: London–Gatwick, United Kingdom
Choose This Airport If: You don’t like crowds and or you will be spending time in the Bay Area.
About OAK: Oakland International is a quieter option for those staying more North. OAK has a great connection to both Oakland and San Francisco, however, due to its location expect a little longer on the BART. The good news is that OAK experiences fewer delays and weather-related issues than other airports in the area! Oakland International is also only serviced by 16 commercial airlines, so you know it will always be a little less busy than SFO.
3: San Diego
Airport: San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Average Price: $160 USD (one way departing New York)
Most Popular Domestic Route: San Francisco
Most Popular International Route: London Heathrow
Choose This Airport If: You plan on staying in Southern California or crossing the border into Mexico.
About SAN: San Diego International Airport’s claim to fame is that it has the busiest single runway in the United States. SAN sees foot traffic from around 24 million passengers per year, and these passengers are bought in by the 18 commercial airlines that service the airport.
Looking to Save Some Money on Travel?
We have put together the cheapest airports to fly into for all countries, so you splash your cash on what really matters!
2: San Francisco
Airport: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Average Price: $150 USD (one way departing New York)
Most Popular Domestic Route: LAX
Most Popular International Route: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Choose This Airport If You plan to spend your trip in San Francisco or Northern California.
About SFO: San Francisco is the fifth-largest hub for United Airlines and is served by 54 airlines. This helps keep ticket prices down! SFO is also the seventh busiest airport in the USA. The airport has great connections to the city and can cost as little as $10 for the local BART system.
1: Los Angeles
The Cheapest Airport in California!
Airport: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Average Price: $110 USD (one way departing New York)
Most Popular Domestic Route: San Francisco
Most Popular International Route: San José del Cabo, Mexico
Choose This Airport If: You are visiting downtown LA or heading to California and want the best deal!
About LAX: You have likely heard of L A X before. It is the most popular airport on the West Coast. It sees 87 million passengers annually, making it the fourth busiest airport in the world! LAX is serviced by around 70 commercial airlines. It is only 30 miles from Downtown Los Angeles and is well connected by bus, rail, taxi, and private car services.
Author: Jayden Mckinlay
Hiya! I am Jayden. I am originally from New Zealand and am one-half of the Travelling House Sitters. During my house-sitting journey, I looked after 35 cats, 25 dogs, and one turtle!
I have cared for over 40 homes in 15 countries and even a catamaran in the Caribbean!
I want to show you how to become a professional housesitter by putting together all the resources I wish I had when I started. You can enjoy this lifestyle as well!
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thanks so much guys, I travel loooooots for my own business, I always love to find out what the cheapest cities to fly into are!
Hiya Zoe,
No worries at all! If your footing the bill as the owner you definitely want to know 🙂 What sort of biz are you in?