Flying from Chicago to San Diego: what you need to know
Start planning your holiday by checking out the departure points for your flight from Chicago to San Diego. Explore your options for taking off from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), two of the city's main airports.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) and McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) are the primary entry points to San Diego.
Around 4 hours 20 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Chicago to San Diego flight.
The timezone in San Diego is UTC-7, which is two hours behind Chicago.
The most popular route for flights from Chicago to San Diego is from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN). There are 58 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from ORD to SAN is the 06:48 American Airlines service. If you prefer to travel later, the final departure is at 21:33 with American Airlines.
To ensure you make it on your Chicago to San Diego flight, leave enough time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule to follow.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months such as August. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for domestic departures will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to San Diego
At the moment, ₹ 5,568 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Chicago to San Diego. The cheapest price for a return flight is ₹ 14,903. Remember fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book two months before travelling. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Chicago to San Diego flights.
Organise your trip for May. That's the best month for scoring a great bargain on plane tickets from Chicago to San Diego. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the cheapest price across each month.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from Chicago to San Diego by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when a new low fare is offered.
Tailor your flights using filters. Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' Chicago to San Diego flights.
Flying from Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
If you're after a direct flight from Chicago to San Diego, you can leave from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Fly from ORD to San Diego International Airport (SAN) in one continuous trip.
Lock in your Chicago to San Diego plane tickets with United Airlines. This carrier is a top pick for direct flights from ORD.
Located around 26 kilometres from the centre of Chicago, ORD can be reached in about 35 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport takes roughly 55 minutes.
Want an easy start to your travels? Stay near O'Hare International Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Chicago to San Diego or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
74.85% of flights that take off from O'Hare International Airport make it to their destination on time.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Consider booking your direct flight from Chicago to San Diego out of Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Nonstop services from MDW will take you to San Diego International Airport (SAN).
Book your direct Chicago to San Diego plane ticket with Southwest Airlines. This is one of the main carriers operating this route out of MDW.
MDW is around 14 kilometres from central Chicago. It'll take 20 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not spend an extra night away from home? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport the day before your flight from Chicago to San Diego:
When it comes to flights staying on schedule, Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 78%.
You'll find MDW at 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego takes around 10 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 5 kilometres away.
It typically takes 20 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Consider staying in a hotel close to SAN if you're coming in on a late flight from Chicago to San Diego. Settle into one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a San Diego International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Thrifty, Dollar or Budget to explore San Diego and beyond.
Reserving your ride from San Diego International Airport about two weeks in advance increases your chances of getting a good deal.
SAN is located at N Harbour Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
The centre of San Diego is about 48 kilometres from McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD). Once your flight from Chicago to San Diego has hit the runway and you've made your way out of the airport, the drive should take about 40 minutes.
If you choose to travel on public transport, the ride to the centre takes 2 hours 15 minutes or so.
Forget about public transport timetables or long cab queues. Pick up a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car and go in any direction that inspires you. Compare availability and rates from Budget, Hertz and Avis.
Lock in the vehicle you want, not just what's left, by booking your ride from CLD in advance. You'll also avoid last-minute price surges, especially when demand is high.
Best time to go to San Diego
July is the most popular month for flights from Chicago to San Diego. To steer clear of the crowds, visit San Diego in May.
When booking your Chicago to San Diego tickets, consider the kind of weather forecast you're hoping for. August is the warmest month in San Diego, with temperatures ranging from 17ºC to 28ºC.
Search for cheap flights from Chicago to San Diego in February if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 7ºC and 23ºC on average.
More about San Diego
Start your San Diego trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Chicago to San Diego, check out our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to figure out where to start. San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum and SeaWorld San Diego are popular attractions which should be on any well-planned San Diego itinerary.
Explore more of United States
San Diego has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of United States you should also see. About 177 kilometres north-west of San Diego, a trip to Los Angeles will keep your itinerary packed. Start with attractions like Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.
Around 483 kilometres east of San Diego, Phoenix is another favourite stop in United States. Start your sightseeing at Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park.