All 23 Commercial California Airports: Map, Codes & Travel Tips

California has some of the busiest air space in the United States. In a normal year, the state serves ~190 million domestic and ~14 million international passengers. About half of that traffic is served by our 2 major California airports, which are Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). But our huge geography is supported by network of 23 domestic and international airports spread throughout California.

All major US airlines operate in California as do most airlines who service transoceanic and North American international destinations.

This guide covers all commercial airports in California and we’ve spotlighted the major airport hubs. If you are a more visual person, then we have also provided a map with all of the airport locations.

Major California Airports LAX Alaska Airlines Plane

The 5 Major Airports in California

The following are California’s major airports, by passenger traffic. They also have the most number of airlines and non-stop routes serving both CA and the world.

Los Angeles International Airport

  • Airport Code: LAX
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Breeze, Delta, United, Allegiant, Alaska, Hawaiian, Jet Blue, Southwest, Mokulele, Sun Country and Spirit.
  • International: Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet, Air Canada, Aeorflot, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nui, Alitalia, All Nippon, Asiana, Austrian, Avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Copa, El Al, Emirates, Etihad, EVA, Fiji, Finnair, Hainan, Iberia, Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Airlines, LATAM, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Norwegian Air, Philippine Airlines, Quantas, Qatar Airlines, Saudia, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, and Xiamen.
  • Destinations Served: All major US airports, most US states and 15 California airports. LAX also serves many destinations in Asia, the South Pacific, Central and South America, Europe and the Middle East.

LAX is by far California’s largest airport, serving about 1/3 of our total passenger traffic. It’s a gateway to the rest of the US and serves the west very well.

San Francisco International Airport

  • Airport Code: SFO
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Breeze, Delta, United, Frontier, Allegiant, Alaska, Jet Blue, Southwest, Hawaiian, Sun Country, Mokulele, and Spirit.
  • International: Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, Air India, ANA, Asiana, Avianca, British Air, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, COPA, Emirates, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Frenchbee, JAL, KLM, Korean, LEVEL, Lufthansa, Philippines, Qatar, SAS, Singapore, Swiss, TAP, Turkish Airlines, Virtgin Atlantic and Westjet.
  • Destinations Served: All major US airports, most US states and 16 California airports. SFO also serves many destinations in Asia, the South Pacific, Central America, Europe and the Middle East.

Use our guide to get from SFO to downtown SF or to transit between SFO and San Jose airport. Here’s our local’s only guide to San Francisco and advice on where to stay.

San Diego International Airport

  • Airport Code: SAN
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Delta, United, Frontier, Contour, Alaska, Jet Blue, Southwest, Hawaiian, Horizon, and Spirit.
  • International: Air Canada and Volaris.
  • Destinations Served: 68 US airports, including 10 California airports. SAN also serves the international destinations of Cancun, Frankfurt, London, Tokyo, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose del Cabo, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

Sacramento International Airport

  • Airport Code: SMF
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Delta, United, Frontier, Allegiant, Alaska, Jet Blue, Southwest, Hawaiian, and Spirit.
  • International: Air Canada, British Air, Edelweiss, Japan Airlines and West Jet.
  • Destinations Served: 21 US states, including 9 California airports. SMF also serves San Jose del Cabo, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Leon Mexico, Cancun and Vancouver.

Oakland International Airport

  • Airport Code: OAK
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Delta, Frontier, Allegiant, Alaska, Southwest, Hawaiian and Spirit.
  • International: Azores Airlines and Volaris.
  • Destinations Served: 15 US states, including 9 California airports. OAK also serves San Jose del Cabo, Guadalajara, Morelia and Mexico City.

The San Francisco airport may be bigger, but Oakland can be a good choice, especially if you are a fan of Southwest Airlines. We have guides for how to get from Oakland airport to downtown San Francisco and also between OAK and the SF airport.

Green woodie station wagon with surf board

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San Jose Airport exterior Terminal B

Regional Airports in Northern California

The following are the remaining 18 commercial airports in California. They are listed roughly north to south.

Crescent City Del Norte County Airport

  • Airport Code: CEC
  • Domestic Airlines: Contour.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: Twice daily service to Oakland.

Redding Municipal Airport

  • Airport Code: RDD
  • Domestic Airlines: Alaska, United and Avelo.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Burbank and Las Vegas.

This is the closest airport to Mount Shasta.

California Redwood Coast Humboldt County (Arcata-Eureka) Airport

  • Airport Code: ACV
  • Domestic Airlines: United, American and Avelo.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix and Burbank.

This is the airport closest to California’s coastal redwoods. Although SFO can sometimes be more convenient, despite the distance. Check out our guide for all of the California redwood parks and this 5-day redwoods itinerary.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (Santa Rosa)

  • Airport Code: STS
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Alaska, United and Avelo.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: Portland, Seattle, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, San Diego and Burbank.

This is the nearest airport for doing Sonoma and Napa wine country and also for flying into Fort Bragg and the Mendocino coast.

Stockton Metropolitan Airport

  • Airport Code: SCK
  • Domestic Airlines: Allegiant.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: Daily service to Las Vegas and Phoenix, but no California airports.

Morman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport

  • Airport Code: SJC
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, Jet Blue, Southwest and United.
  • International: Air Canada, British Air and Volaris.
  • Destinations Served: 18 states and 7 California acities. SJC also serves London, Vancouver, San Jose del Cabo, Zacatecas, Morelia, Leon, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport

  • Airport Code: FAT
  • Domestic Airlines: United, Allegiant, Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Southwest and American.
  • International: Volaris and Aeromexico.
  • Destinations Served: 9 US states, including 3 California cities. FAT also serves Leon, Guadalajara, Morelia and Mexico City.

FAT is the closest airport to Yosemite National Park. Check out our road trip itinerary for Yosemite and what to do in the winter.

Monterey Regional Airport

  • Airport Code: MRY
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Allegiant, Alaska and United.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: 8 US states, including 2 California cities.

This is the closest airport to Big Sur and it’s a great gateway for exploring Carmel or the Big Sur coastline.

Regional Airports in Southern California

San Luis Obisbo County Regional Airport

  • Airport Code: SBP
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Alaska, and United.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: 6 US states, including 3 California cities.

Santa Maria Airport

  • Airport Code: SMX
  • Domestic Airlines: Allegiant.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: 2-3x weekly service to Las Vegas, Phoenix and Portland, but no California airports.

Mammoth Yosemite Airport

  • Airport Code: MMH
  • Domestic Airlines: Advanced Airlines (seasonal).
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: Carlsbad, Burbank, Hawthorne (in LA).

This is the closest airport for seasonal service to Mammoth Lakes and also close to Bishop. If you are road tripping the region, be use our Highway 395 road trip guide and explore fun things to do in Bishop and Lone Pine.

Bishop Eastern Sierra Regional Airport

Airport Code: BIH
Domestic Airlines: United Airlines (seasonal).
International: None.
Destinations Served: San Francisco and Denver.

This is the closest airport to Bishop and also close to Mammoth.

Meadows Field Bakersfield Airport

  • Airport Code: BFL
  • Domestic Airlines: American and United.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: Phoenix, Dallas, Denver and San Francisco.

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport

  • Airport Code: SBA
  • Domestic Airlines: Alaska, American, United and Southwest.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: 7 US states and also San Francisco and LAX in California.

Ontario International Airport

  • Airport Code: ONT
  • Domestic Airlines: Alaska, American Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Jet Blue, Southwest and United.
  • International: Avianca, China Airlines and Volaris.
  • Destinations Served: 14 US states, including 9 California cities. ONT also serves Taipei, Guadalajara, Mexico City and San Salvador.

Hollywood Burbank Airport

  • Airport Code: BUR
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Jet Blue, Southwest, Delta, Alaska, United, Spirit, Avelo and Frontier.
  • International: Flair.
  • Destinations Served: 13 US states, including 9 California cities. BUR also serves Nogales, Edmonton and Vancouver.

San Bernardino International Airport

  • Airport Code: SBD
  • Domestic Airlines: Breeze
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: San Francisco, Hartford, Las Vegas, Provo.

Santa Ana John Wayne Airport

  • Airport Code: SNA
  • Domestic Airlines: Alaska, Allegiant, Breeze, Delta, American, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United.
  • International: Air Canada and West Jet.
  • Destinations Served: 18 US states, including 5 California cities. SNA also serves Calgary, Vancouver, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo.

This is the airport that it the closest to Disneyland.

Long Beach Airport

  • Airport Code: LGB
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Hawaiian and Southwest.
  • International: None.
  • Destinations Served: 9 US states, including 3 California cities.

Palm Springs International Airport

  • Airport Code: PSP
  • Domestic Airlines: Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Jet Blue, Southwest, Sun Country and United.
  • International: Air Canada, Flair and West Jet.
  • Destinations Served: 18 US sates, including 5 California cities. PSP also serves many Canadian destinations.

In addition to being a destination in and of itself, PSP is also the closest airport to Joshua Tree National Park. Here’s our guide for how to spend an awesome day in Joshua Tree, a JT trip planner and cool things to do in Joshua Tree town.

Las Vegas McClarran Airport welcome sign

3 Convenient Non-California Airports

The following three airports are not located in California. However, each is close enough to some popular CA destinations that they can sometimes be a very convenient choice.

General Abelardo L. Rodriguez (Tijuana) International Airport

  • Airport Code: TIJ
  • Domestic US Airlines: None.
  • Domestic Mexican Airlines: Aeromexico, Interjet, VivaAerobus and Volaris.
  • Destinations Served: 27 Mexican cities, including all of the major airports. Also, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Tijuana is only 40 minutes from San Diego. There is a convenient Cross Border Express pedestrian bridge that shortcuts the long immigration lines at the land border. And you can save money on flights to Mexican destinations by flying from Tijuana.

Las Vegas McCarran Airport

  • Airport Code: LAS
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Delta, United, Frontier, Allegiant, Alaska, Jet Blue, Southwest, Hawaiian, Sun Country, and Spirit.
  • International: Aeromexico, Air Canada, Avelo, Flair, Swoop, Volaris and West Jet.
  • Destinations Served: Serving most US states, including 19 California cities. LAS also serves the international destinations of Panama City, Cancun, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey, San Jose del Cabo, Seoul, Tel Aviv, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich.

Las Vegas is actually the closest airport to Death Valley. So, if you are planning a southwest road trip, LAS is a good choice. Here’s our full Death Valley guide and advice for how to day trip there from Vegas.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport

  • Airport Code: RNO
  • Domestic Airlines: American, Delta, United, Frontier, Allegiant, Alaska, Jet Blue and Southwest.
  • International: Volaris.
  • Destinations Served: Serving 12 US states, including 12 California cities. RNO also flies to Mexico City.

Reno is the closest airport to Lake Tahoe and the Eastern Sierra communities of Mammoth Lakes, Bishop and Lee Vining. If you are visiting Tahoe, be sure to do the scenic drive around the lake and visit all of the local breweries.

California Airport Map

California Itinerary Ideas

Use our guide to figure out the best time to visit CA, depending upon your interests.

Start with our list of the best scenic drives in CA. We have 20 suggestions that dover the whole state. We’ve also got a 5 day itinerary for the epic Pacific Coast Highway drive from SF to LA. Or plan some weekend getaways to one of these scenic NorCal coastal towns or laid back hippie towns.

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List of California Airports with map

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5 thoughts on “All 23 Commercial California Airports: Map, Codes & Travel Tips”

  1. San Bernardino International Airport is missing. Daily, non-stop flights to and from San Francisco are available, as are daily, one-stop direct flights to and from Provo, Utah. And, Breeze Airways is the carrier.

    Reply
  2. Regarding LAX, how do leave out Hawaiian Airlines but list Mokulele thar has ONE (1) route in the 48 continental states, LAX to Imperial County? Better proof readers are needed.

    Reply

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