Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego International Airport (SAN): what you need to know
Expect to be airborne for around 1 hour 34 minutes. That's the average duration of a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. San Diego and San Francisco share the same timezone — UTC-7.
For the earliest departure, jump on the 06:00 flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. If you want to set off later, the latest flight departs at 22:20. With 142 flights each week from SFO to SAN, you can pick the timing that suits you best.
If you're flying during a major holiday or other peak period, allow for even more time. A good rule is two hours before domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Security and check-in lines will be longer.
To break up your flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport, add a stopover to your trip. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' to find a city that interests you. The top stopovers on the SFO - SAN route are:
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport)
Sacramento International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)
£17 is the best price for a one-way ticket from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. A return flight starts from £38. These prices may change based on demand.
To score cheap tickets from SFO to SAN, book your trip 9 months ahead of the departure date.
May is the cheapest month for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. If you'd like to fly during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest airfares across every month.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap tickets from SFO to SAN. You don't need to search every day to see if fares have dropped. We'll let you know when there's a change in price.
Use filters to tailor your flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. Enter your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to find the best deals.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Located around 13 miles from the centre of San Francisco, San Francisco International Airport can be reached in approximately 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport takes roughly 47 minutes.
Need a handy hotel close to SFO? If you're on an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure lounge:
Arriving at San Diego International Airport (SAN)
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. Stay at one of these accommodation options near SAN instead:
Getting from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego
San Diego International Airport is approximately 3 miles from the centre of San Diego. With a car rental or if you're catching a cab, the drive is about 9 minutes.
It takes around 20 minutes if you're travelling on public transport.
When to fly to San Diego International Airport (SAN)
July is the busiest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport. To steer clear of the crowds, visit San Diego in May.
When reserving your flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport, consider the kind of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in San Diego, with temperatures ranging from 17ºC to 28ºC.
Search for cheap tickets from SFO to SAN in February if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between 7ºC and 23ºC on average.
More about San Diego
Start your San Diego trip right by finding a wonderful stay. After booking your flight from SFO to SAN, have a look at our accommodation options including:
Every great holiday has to include a little sightseeing. San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum and SeaWorld San Diego are essential stops on your San Diego itinerary.
Complete your San Diego trip with hotels and a car rental
Once you've secured your cheap ticket to San Diego International Airport, explore the lowest prices and exclusive offers on hotels. You can also compare hundreds of car rental companies in one go to find the best car rental price for your San Diego getaway.
