Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego International Airport (SAN): what you need to know
Around 1 hour 35 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport.
San Francisco and San Diego are in the UTC-7 timezone. That means you won't have to adjust your watch after you land.
Choose from 142 weekly San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport flights. The 06:00 departure with Alaska Airlines is the earliest flight available. United Airlines operates the latest service of the day at 22:20.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your SFO to SAN flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid a last-minute sprint to the gate.
During popular months such as August, it's best to get to the airport earlier than normal. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights when you fly during a peak period in general.
A variety of airlines operate direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport, so getting to San Diego (and then exploring more of United States!) is easy. Popular carriers that fly nonstop include:
Alaska Airlines tops the list for bookings on this route.
The most punctual carrier offering SFO to SAN flights is United Airlines. Its services land as scheduled 77.57% of the time.
If you'd like to split up your journey, simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. Here are the top stopovers between SFO and SAN:
Los Angeles International Airport
Sacramento International Airport
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport)
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport flight is ₹ 2,312. A return plane ticket is currently ₹ 5,178. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares can change.
To get cheap tickets from SFO to SAN, reserve your journey six months ahead of your departure.
Organise your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. If you're flexible with your dates, try out the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest airfare across every month.
Picking up cheap flights from SFO to SAN is easy with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as a new discounted fare appears.
Secure the ideal flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and journey duration.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Of the departures from San Francisco International Airport, 77.36% touch down on time at their destination.
To get to San Francisco International Airport from central San Francisco, it takes about 20 minutes if you're travelling by car. This depends on traffic though. It's approximately 21 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
The trip when using public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
Get your journey off to a relaxed start by staying near SFO. Whether you've booked an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels have you covered:
Arriving at San Diego International Airport (SAN)
If you're coming in on a late San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport flight, few things top the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting shortly after at one of these options near SAN:
Grab a San Diego International Airport rental car and explore San Diego and beyond with your own wheels. Thrifty, Dollar and Budget are top providers you can book with here.
To get the best deal, reserve your ride from San Diego International Airport around two weeks before your trip.
Getting from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego
SAN is located at Airport Drive.
From San Diego International Airport, San Diego is approximately 5 kilometres away. It takes around 10 minutes to drive to the centre.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of around 20 minutes.
When to fly to San Diego International Airport (SAN)
It's time to work out your dates for your flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. July is the most popular month to visit San Diego. If you prefer a more laid-back vibe, go in May.
When reserving your flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport, think about the type of weather you like. August is the warmest month in San Diego, with temperatures ranging from 17ºC to 28ºC.
February has average temperatures of between 7ºC and 23ºC. Search for cheap tickets from SFO to SAN sometime then if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
Explore more of United States
You've visited San Diego, now it's time to discover other corners of United States. Travel about 177 kilometres north-west to Los Angeles to check off its leading sights. From Griffith Observatory to The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, your itinerary will be busy.
If you're looking to explore another well-known destination in United States, head for Phoenix, about 483 kilometres east of San Diego. Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park are among its highlights.
