Private charter between Los Angeles and Santa Maria starts at US$10,000 aboard a turboprop.
This route runs both ways — Los Angeles (LAX) to Santa Maria (VBG) and Santa Maria to Los Angeles — timed and priced alike.
As the crow flies, Los Angeles to Santa Maria is roughly 218 kilometres — 136 miles, or 118 nautical miles.
From US$10,000 · Reply within the hour · No obligation
Guide pricing for Los Angeles–Santa Maria spans US$10,000 – US$15,500: from a turboprop (Pilatus PC-12 NGX) at the entry level to a very light jet (Embraer Phenom 100EV) at the top. All cabins are pet-friendly — travel with dogs and pets beside you.
Short-runway specialist — ideal for remote airstrips and island hops. 6-9 seats and 1,800 km of range make it a dependable fit here.
Efficient for short hops with two to four passengers. 4-6 seats and 2,180 km of range make it a dependable fit here.
| Category | Outbound | Return (±10% wind) | From (USD) | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop · rec. | 50 min | 45 min – 55 min | US$10,000 | 6-9 |
| Very Light Jet | 42 min | 38 min – 46 min | US$10,000 | 4-6 |
| Aircraft | Flight time | Cost range (USD) | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilatus PC-12 NGX | 50 min | US$10,000 – US$11,000 | 6-9 |
| King Air 350 | 48 min | US$10,000 – US$12,000 | 8-11 |
| Aircraft | Flight time | Cost range (USD) | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer Phenom 100EV | 42 min | US$10,000 – US$13,500 | 4-6 |
| Cessna Citation M2 | 41 min | US$10,500 – US$15,000 | 4-6 |
| HondaJet Elite II | 41 min | US$11,500 – US$16,000 | 4-6 |
Outbound and return are priced alike on identical aircraft; expect roughly ±10% variation in time by wind.
Guide prices are one-way estimates incl. positioning; taxes/handling extra. Round-trip and one-way both available.
On Los Angeles–Santa Maria, pricing is a function of the route distance and headwinds, fuel costs at both ends, and handling charges at origin and destination. We verify against current aircraft availability before quoting a firm price.
Private departures on this route use the following airports — we will recommend the best fit for your schedule:
Los Angeles, United States: Los Angeles International Airport, Van Nuys Airport, Long Beach International Airport, Zamperini Field, Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport and John Wayne Orange County International Airport.
Santa Maria, United States: Vandenberg Space Force Base, Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field and San Luis County Regional Airport.
Counts every airfield flown for each city — Los Angeles: Van Nuys (VNY), Santa Ana (SNA), Burbank (BUR), Torrance (TOA), Long Beach (LGB); Santa Maria: San Luis Obispo (SBP), Santa Maria (SMX), Santa Ynez (SQA).
Observed traffic makes this a weekend leisure route: departures cluster on Sat, most often around 17:00 UTC.
Block times are close to symmetrical in both directions.
Tue is the quietest day we observe on this pairing, which is usually when an aircraft is easiest to source at short notice.
| Direction | Departures observed | Typical block | Fastest seen | Aircraft observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles → Santa Maria | 88 | 35 min | 20 min | Pilatus PC-12 (15), Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (13), Cessna Citation XLS (7), Cirrus Vision (7) |
| Santa Maria → Los Angeles | 99 | 37 min | — | Pilatus PC-12 (23), Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (7), Gulfstream 4 (6), Bombardier Global 6000/6500 (6) |
187 movements observed, 2025-08-17 to 2026-08-16.
| Los Angeles International Airport | Vandenberg Space Force Base | |
|---|---|---|
| Code | KLAX / LAX | KVBG / VBG |
| Longest hard runway | 12,894 ft | 15,000 ft |
| Surface | Concrete | Concrete |
| Field elevation | 125 ft | 369 ft |
| Distance from city | in the city | 21 km |
All 21 aircraft we quote for Los Angeles to Santa Maria can use both airfields and fly the route non-stop. Los Angeles International Airport has 12,894 ft and Vandenberg Space Force Base 15,000 ft, both comfortably beyond the 6,000 ft the largest types here need, so field length is not what decides the aircraft on this route — cabin size and range are. The leg is 218 km.
Alternates within range: Van Nuys Airport (8,001 ft, 31 km) · Long Beach International Airport (10,000 ft, 28 km) · Zamperini Field (5,001 ft, 17 km) · Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (6,886 ft, 29 km) · Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field (8,004 ft, 0 km) · San Luis County Regional Airport (6,101 ft, 41 km) · Lompoc Airport (4,600 ft, 26 km) · Oceano County Airport (2,325 ft, 27 km)
Commercial adds hours in terminals. Private charter cuts the Los Angeles–Santa Maria trip to about 50 min gate to gate.
More airport choice means fewer ground miles. We match the airfield to your final address, not the nearest hub.
Guide prices are one-way and include positioning. Taxes and handling are confirmed with your final quote.
A private cabin means confidential conversations stay confidential. Ideal for executives and families alike.
Los Angeles–Santa Maria is a frequently chartered domestic sector for executives and families alike, prized for flexibility and time saved.
As a guide, charter ranges US$10,000 – US$15,500 one-way — from a turboprop (Pilatus PC-12 NGX) at the lower end. Final pricing depends on dates, group size and availability.
Roughly 50 min gate to gate across the 218 km sector — timings shift a little with winds and aircraft.
Turboprop, Very Light Jet are the usual choices here; our pick is a turboprop for value and comfort on this distance.
Yes — we handle last-minute Los Angeles–Santa Maria charters, often with as little as 4 hours' notice, subject to aircraft and crew availability.
Absolutely — pets travel in the cabin with you on this route; just tell us the details when you ask for a quote.
Yes — the route is fully bidirectional, with the same guide price and timing on the return leg.
Other flights from Los Angeles | Santa Maria | United States | North America
