- Must visit
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
A renowned fusion of zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and natural history museum focused on the Sonoran Desert. It is one of Tucson’s signature attractions and excellent for understanding local desert
Flights from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ depart on average 27 times per day, taking around 3h 40m. Cheap flight tickets for this journey start at $194 (€159) but you can travel from only $63 (€52) by bus.
There are 1 flights per day. The earliest flight runs at 05:00, the last at 21:14. The fastest flight covers the 415 miles (669 km) distance in 3h 12m. November is the cheapest month to fly.
Distance 415 miles (669 km) |
Average flight duration 3h 40m |
Cheapest ticket price $194 (€159) |
Flights per day 27 |
Direct flights 1 |
Fastest flight 3h 12m |
First flight 5:00 AM |
Last flight 9:14 PM |
Cheapest Month Nov |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $72. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 3h 40m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $72, and a flight costs an average of $194.
Distance: 415 miles (669 km)
| Flight | Most popular Bus | Train |
|---|---|---|
$317 Average price | $101 Average price | $85 Average price Cheapest |
6h 40m Average total duration Fastest 3h 40m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 9h 35m Average total duration 9h 5m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 11h 1m Average total duration 10h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ:
A train is $16 (€13) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ costing on average $101 (€82).
A train is $232 (€190) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ costing on average $317 (€259).
Other travel options to Tucson, AZ take longer:
Bus takes on average 9h 5m.
Train takes on average 10h 31m.
The table below shows live departures for Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ flights for today, Sunday, June 21. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated flight journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AA628+ AA4935 | 7:45 AM John Wayne Airport | 5h23 | 1:08 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA628+ AA6370 | 7:45 AM John Wayne Airport | 12h14 | 7:59 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA628+ AA6368 | 7:45 AM John Wayne Airport | 9h08 | 4:53 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA628+ AA6369 | 7:45 AM John Wayne Airport | 3h20 | 11:05 AM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA628+ AA6373 | 7:45 AM John Wayne Airport | 6h42 | 2:27 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA628+ AA4126 | 7:45 AM John Wayne Airport | 10h09 | 5:54 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2372 · AA584 | 8:45 AM John Wayne Airport | 6h23 | 3:08 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2660+ AA6370 | 9:46 AM John Wayne Airport | 10h13 | 7:59 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2660+ AA6373 | 9:46 AM John Wayne Airport | 4h41 | 2:27 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2660+ AA4935 | 9:46 AM John Wayne Airport | 3h22 | 1:08 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2660+ AA6368 | 9:46 AM John Wayne Airport | 7h07 | 4:53 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2660+ AA4126 | 9:46 AM John Wayne Airport | 8h08 | 5:54 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2655 · AA2622 | 12:33 PM John Wayne Airport | 10h03 | 10:36 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2655+ AA6368 | 12:33 PM John Wayne Airport | 4h20 | 4:53 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2655+ AA6370 | 12:33 PM John Wayne Airport | 7h26 | 7:59 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2655+ AA4126 | 12:33 PM John Wayne Airport | 5h21 | 5:54 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2669 · AA1207 | 1:01 PM John Wayne Airport | 7h05 | 8:06 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA3171 · AA2622 | 1:24 PM John Wayne Airport | 9h12 | 10:36 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA3171+ AA4126 | 1:24 PM John Wayne Airport | 4h30 | 5:54 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA3171+ AA6370 | 1:24 PM John Wayne Airport | 6h35 | 7:59 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA3171+ AA6368 | 1:24 PM John Wayne Airport | 3h29 | 4:53 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2659 · AA2622 | 4:30 PM John Wayne Airport | 6h06 | 10:36 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2659+ AA6370 | 4:30 PM John Wayne Airport | 3h29 | 7:59 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2688 · AA1109 | 4:39 PM John Wayne Airport | 6h36 | 11:15 PM Tucson International Airport | 1 transfer | |
This is the last flight of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Discover the best of Tucson — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Tucson trip today.
A renowned fusion of zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and natural history museum focused on the Sonoran Desert. It is one of Tucson’s signature attractions and excellent for understanding local desert
One of the largest non-government aviation museums in the world, displaying hundreds of aircraft indoors and outdoors. It is especially popular with aviation enthusiasts and families visiting Tucson.
The city’s leading art museum, with collections spanning Latin American, Western, Indigenous, and contemporary art in the historic El Presidio area. A strong choice for both major exhibitions and a
A scenic desert canyon area with paved and unpaved trails, mountain views, and classic Sonoran scenery. It is one of Tucson’s top outdoor destinations and especially popular for walking and photograp
A spectacular desert landscape filled with iconic saguaro cacti, scenic drives, and hiking trails. It is one of the defining Tucson experiences and a priority for first-time visitors.
Known for dense saguaro forests and excellent sunset views, this section of the park is especially photogenic and widely featured on social media. It is a top outdoor stop near the Arizona-Sonora Dese
A bacon-wrapped hot dog in a bolillo roll, typically topped with beans, onions, tomatoes, mustard, mayo, and jalapeo salsa. It is one of Tucsons signature borderlands street foods.
Air-dried beef, often shredded and served with eggs, chiltepin, or in burritos and plates. It is a hallmark of Sonoran cooking and strongly associated with Tucson.
An open-faced flour tortilla baked until crisp and topped with melted cheese, sometimes with green chiles. This simple dish is a long-standing Tucson and Arizona favorite.
Upscale dining with desert views, known for Southwestern ingredients, polished service, and a romantic hacienda setting. Good choice for a fine dining meal in Tucson.
Well-known downtown spot celebrated for refined Mexican cooking, colorful presentations, and an intimate atmosphere. A long-time favorite for distinctive regional flavors.
Popular casual venue serving regional Mexican dishes with Sonoran influences, including tacos, bowls, and breakfast. Relaxed atmosphere and consistently well-liked food.
Tucson is generally affordable by U.S. city standards, with reasonable food costs and many mid-priced hotels.
Tip 15-20% in restaurants; 20% for great service. Tip bartenders USD 1-2 per drink, taxi and rideshare drivers 10-15%, and round up for cafes.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Santa Ana, CA to Tucson, AZ by flight. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest flight, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Tucson, AZ, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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