Traveling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego: what you need to know
The average duration of a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego is 1 hour 40 minutes.
San Diego and San Francisco (where San Francisco International Airport is located) share the UTC-8 timezone. This means you won't have to change your watch on arrival.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the most popular route, with 129 flights a week to pick from. If you have things to do before leaving, the last flight from SFO to SAN is with United Airlines at 22:53. Choose the first departure operated by Southwest Airlines at 05:40 if you want to fly out earlier.
Give yourself enough time to make your SFO to San Diego flight. As a general rule, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight when you fly during a peak period in general.
Start your trip at SFO and travel straight to San Diego International Airport (SAN). That will be your arrival point when searching for San Francisco International Airport to San Diego tickets.
Choose from a variety of airlines offering direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego. Get on board with any of these:
SFO is around 18 kilometers from central San Francisco. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the center, it'll take 25 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 35 minutes.
Want an easy start to your trip? Stay near SFO. Whether you've booked an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego or don't want departure day to feel hectic, these hotels are just the thing:
78% of flights leaving from San Francisco International Airport arrive at their destination on schedule.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego
AED 94 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to San Diego flight. A round-trip plane ticket right now is AED 197. Depending on when you want to go and the availability, these fares can change.
Booking early is often the key to finding a cheap flight from SFO to San Diego. Flight prices rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more expensive your ticket may be.
If you can be flexible with your trip dates, check out the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll show you the cheapest price across each month when looking for a San Francisco International Airport to San Diego ticket.
You don't need to check back constantly to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as there's an even bigger deal on cheap flights from SFO to San Diego.
Tailor your flights with filters. Select your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego.
Airports in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to the center of San Diego takes about 15 minutes by car. The center is roughly 5 kilometers away.
Traveling to the center on public transport will take you around 25 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego. Reserve one of these accommodation options near SAN instead:
Booking your ride from San Diego International Airport around two weeks before your flight from SFO to San Diego can help you get the lowest rate.
You'll find SAN at N Harbor Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
If you're staying in central San Diego (or just can't wait to start exploring), the city is around 48 kilometers from McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD). Look for any information desks to point you in the right direction after disembarking your flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and unwind at a hotel close to CLD. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your SFO to San Diego flight:
Avoid filling out forms on the spot and save time at the rental desk by completing your booking beforehand. Reserve your ride from CLD ahead of time so you can just get the keys and go.
Best time to go to San Diego
July is the most popular month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego. To avoid the crowds, visit San Diego in December.
When booking your San Francisco International Airport to San Diego plane ticket, think about what kind of weather you prefer. August is the warmest month in San Diego, with temperatures ranging from 16ºC (61ºF) to 27ºC (81ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SFO to San Diego in February when temperatures average between 8ºC (46ºF) and 22ºC (72ºF).
More about San Diego
Start your San Diego trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego, check out our range of hotels including:
Every great vacation has to include a little sightseeing. San Diego Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo and USS Midway Museum are must-do's during your San Diego adventure.
Explore more of the United States
Los Angeles is just one of the many cities in the United States waiting to be discovered once you've seen the sights of San Diego. Around 177 kilometers away to the northwest, top sights here include Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Bowl.
If you're looking to explore another major stop in the United States, consider Phoenix, roughly 483 kilometers east of San Diego. Camelback Mountain, Yayoi Kusama Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room and Heard Museum are the start of reasons to visit.
