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Flights from San Francisco to San Diego

What to know about flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

The distance between San Francisco and San Diego is approximately 720.29 km. It takes around 1 hour 42 minutes on average to fly from San Francisco to San Diego. Based on Trip.com's data, travel demand peaks in July. The cheapest month to book is August.

Cheapest one-way
$19
Frontier Airlines Frontier Airlines SFO-SAN 1h 41m · Nonstop Tue, Nov 3
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Cheapest round-trip
$30
Frontier Airlines Frontier Airlines SFO-SAN 1h 48m · Nonstop Wed, Oct 7 - Sat, Oct 10
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Recommended airlines
Frontier Airlines Frontier Airlines Cheapest · From $19 Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines Most booked
When to travel
October
Cheapest
July
Peak season for travel
Route details
720.29 km
Flight distance
1h 42m
Average flight time

Explore the cheapest one-way and round-trip flights from San Francisco to San Diego over the next 90 days, with one-way fares from $19 and round-trip from $30. Based on Trip.com's latest 7-day flight data.

      • Cheapest nonstop
        SFO 4:21 PM
        1h 48m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:09 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Wed, Oct 7 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 3:14 PM
        1h 49m
        Nonstop
        SFO 5:03 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Sat, Oct 10 | Frontier Airlines
        $30 $76
        61% off
        61% off
        $76 $30
      • SFO 4:21 PM
        1h 48m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:09 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Tue, Oct 6 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 1:38 PM
        1h 55m
        Nonstop
        SFO 3:33 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Wed, Oct 7 | Frontier Airlines
        $31 $76
        59% off
        59% off
        $76 $31
      • SFO 4:17 PM
        1h 49m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:06 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Wed, Oct 14 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 10:27 AM
        1h 50m
        Nonstop
        SFO 12:17 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Wed, Oct 21 | Frontier Airlines
        $31 $76
        59% off
        59% off
        $76 $31
      • SFO 4:17 PM
        1h 49m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:06 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Sat, Oct 24 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 10:56 AM
        1h 55m
        Nonstop
        SFO 12:51 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Tue, Oct 27 | Frontier Airlines
        $31
        59% off
        $76 $31
      • SFO 11:22 AM
        1h 54m
        Nonstop
        SAN 1:16 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Sat, Oct 17 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 3:14 PM
        1h 49m
        Nonstop
        SFO 5:03 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Sat, Oct 24 | Frontier Airlines
        $38
        50% off
        $76 $38
      • SFO 4:57 PM
        1h 41m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:38 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Sat, Oct 31 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 10:56 AM
        1h 55m
        Nonstop
        SFO 12:51 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Tue, Nov 3 | Frontier Airlines
        $38
        50% off
        $76 $38
      • SFO 4:31 PM
        1h 48m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:19 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Tue, Sep 22 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 10:28 AM
        1h 57m
        Nonstop
        SFO 12:25 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Tue, Sep 29 | Frontier Airlines
        $39
        49% off
        $76 $39
      • SFO 11:22 AM
        1h 54m
        Nonstop
        SAN 1:16 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Tue, Oct 13 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 3:14 PM
        1h 49m
        Nonstop
        SFO 5:03 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Wed, Oct 14 | Frontier Airlines
        $39
        49% off
        $76 $39
      • SFO 4:31 PM
        1h 48m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:19 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Sat, Sep 26 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 10:28 AM
        1h 57m
        Nonstop
        SFO 12:25 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Tue, Sep 29 | Frontier Airlines
        $39
        49% off
        $76 $39
      • SFO 4:31 PM
        1h 48m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:19 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Wed, Sep 30 | Frontier Airlines
        SAN 1:38 PM
        1h 55m
        Nonstop
        SFO 3:33 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Sat, Oct 3 | Frontier Airlines
        $61
        20% off
        $76 $61
      • SFO 1:00 PM
        17h 25m
        1 stop
        SAN 2:00 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Mon, Sep 7 | Normal Airline
        SAN 3:00 PM
        6h
        Nonstop
        SFO 4:00 PM
        San Diego - San Francisco | Wed, Sep 9 | Normal Airline
        Find more flights
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      • Cheapest nonstop
        SFO 4:57 PM
        1h 41m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:38 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Tue, Nov 3 | Frontier Airlines
        $19 $30
        37% off
        37% off
        $30 $19
      • SFO 4:57 PM
        1h 41m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:38 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Wed, Nov 4 | Frontier Airlines
        $19 $30
        37% off
        37% off
        $30 $19
      • SFO 11:22 AM
        1h 54m
        Nonstop
        SAN 1:16 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Tue, Oct 20 | Frontier Airlines
        $19 $30
        37% off
        37% off
        $30 $19
      • SFO 11:22 AM
        1h 54m
        Nonstop
        SAN 1:16 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Sat, Oct 24 | Frontier Airlines
        $19
        37% off
        $30 $19
      • SFO 4:31 PM
        1h 48m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:19 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Tue, Sep 29 | Frontier Airlines
        $19
        37% off
        $30 $19
      • SFO 4:31 PM
        1h 48m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:19 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Wed, Sep 30 | Frontier Airlines
        $19
        37% off
        $30 $19
      • SFO 11:22 AM
        1h 54m
        Nonstop
        SAN 1:16 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Wed, Oct 14 | Frontier Airlines
        $20
        33% off
        $30 $20
      • SFO 4:57 PM
        1h 41m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:38 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Wed, Oct 28 | Frontier Airlines
        $20
        33% off
        $30 $20
      • SFO 4:31 PM
        1h 48m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:19 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Mon, Oct 5 | Frontier Airlines
        $24
        20% off
        $30 $24
      • SFO 4:57 PM
        1h 41m
        Nonstop
        SAN 6:38 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Mon, Nov 2 | Frontier Airlines
        $24
        20% off
        $30 $24
      • SFO 1:00 PM
        17h 25m
        1 stop
        SAN 2:00 PM
        San Francisco - San Diego | Mon, Sep 7 | Normal Airline
        Find more flights
        Find more flights

Flight.News
Flights from San Francisco to San Diego operate an average of 82 times per day over the past 7 days, with a 10.5% on-time departure rate and a 50.3% on-time arrival rate.

Which airlines are the most popular for San Francisco to San Diego flights?

The most popular airlines flying from San Francisco to San Diego are Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and United Airlines, among 4 carriers on this route. Frontier Airlines offers the lowest fares. Based on Trip.com's flight booking data from the previous 12 months.
Alaska Airlines logo Alaska Airlines
Frontier Airlines logo Frontier Airlines
United Airlines logo United Airlines
American Airlines logo American Airlines
Airlines are determined based on actual purchased flight tickets from San Francisco to San Diego according to previous 12 months data from Trip.com.

Trip.com price insights on flights from San Francisco to San Diego

Which month has the cheapest one-way flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

The average price of one-way flights from San Francisco to San Diego purchased by Trip.com users by month over the past 12 months.

Based on Trip.com’s data, the cheapest month for flights from San Francisco to San Diego is October, with an average price of $98; while the month with the highest flight price is usually July, with an average price of up to $168.

$168
$133
$98
$63
    Cheapest
  • $115
    Aug
  • $117
    Sep
  • $98
    Oct
  • $143
    Nov
  • $154
    Dec
  • $141
    Jan
  • $160
    Feb
  • $163
    Mar
  • $138
    Apr
  • $122
    May
  • $160
    Jun
  • $168
    Jul

When is the cheapest day to fly from San Francisco to San Diego during Labor Day?

Data is based on the lowest one-way price from San Francisco to San Diego during Labor Day on Trip.com in the past 3 days.

Labor Day is scheduled for Sep 7. The cheapest flights from San Francisco to San Diego are available on Sep 9, with fares starting at $69.

$134
$102
$69
$37
    Cheapest
  • $86
    3
    Sep
  • $127
    4
  • $114
    5
  • $125
    6
  • $134
    7
  • $84
    8
  • $69
    9

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the cheapest flights from San Francisco to San Diego (SFO-SAN)?

    Based on Trip.com data, Frontier Airlines offers one-way fares as low as $19 on Cheapest nonstop routes (e.g. SFO to SAN on Tue, Nov 3), while Frontier Airlines offers Cheapest nonstop round-trips from $30 departing on Wed, Oct 7 and returning on Sat, Oct 10.
  • At the moment, you can catch a nonstop flight from San Francisco to San Diego with the following airlines, including: Alaska Airlines Frontier Airlines United Airlines American Airlines Selected airlines are based on historical data collected from flight bookings users made on Trip.com within the last 90 days.
  • It takes around 1 hour 42 minutes to fly from San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego (SAN).
  • By analyzing data from all airlines on the Trip.com flight calendar, it looks like the best time to book a flight from San Francisco to San Diego is around 40 days (6 weeks) in advance, and the best time to fly is usually on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Tuesday typically offers the cheapest flights for departure, while Saturday offers the best return deals.
  • Based on Trip.com data in the past 4 weeks, there is 125 flight per week flying from San Francisco to San Diego. You can check the weekly schedule for popular airlines on this route below: Alaska Airlines: S/M/T/W/T/F/S -- AS426 (07:27) American Airlines: S/M/T/W/T/F/S -- AA9390 (09:12)
  • To find best deals on flights from San Francisco to San Diego, you can use various tools on Trip.com:
    · Be flexible with your travel dates to get the cheapest flight deal. Now the cheapest flight deal is on Tue, Nov 3, with one-way flights priced at just $19.
    · Compare airlines strategically. Budget carriers often provide the lowest base fares, while we found the most affordable airline currently operating on this route is Frontier Airlines.
    · Set up price alerts to easily monitor ticket prices without having to check every day.
    · Check Trip.com flight deals and promo codes frequently.
    · Avoid peak season unless you book very early. It seems the peak season for San Diego travel is around July.
    · Get exclusive promo codes for Trip.com app users.
  • The cheapest months to fly from San Francisco to San Diego is August, when demand for travel is lower.
  • After crunching the numbers on our September flight calendar, it's currently cheapest to fly from San Francisco to San Diego on September 15, 2026 with Frontier Airlines, with prices starting at $10.
  • You can arrive at any of the following airports in San Diego: San Diego International Airport (SAN), McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD), and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (NKX). Flights from San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport (SFO-SAN) are by far the most popular option for this route.
  • The time difference between San Diego and San Francisco is 0m.
  • Tickets can only be changed or canceled if permitted by airline policy. To submit a change or cancellation request, go to the flight bookings page, select the option to change or cancel your booking, choose the relevant passengers and segment, and submit a request. Please note that additional charges may apply according to the airline ticket policy. However, if the flight has been rescheduled and you would like to change or cancel your ticket, you can submit an involuntary cancellation request. For more details about change and cancellation policies, please check the customer support pages.
  • Based on Trip.com data for flights departing in the next 30 days, the average one-way fare from San Francisco to San Diego is $130. Fares vary by travel date, airline and availability.
  • Based on Trip.com data for travel in the next 30 days, the average round-trip fare from San Francisco to San Diego is $189. The final price depends on the outbound and return dates, airline and fare conditions.
  • Enter San Francisco and San Diego, choose your travel dates and passengers, then compare flights by price, duration and baggage. Select a fare, review the change and cancellation rules, enter traveler details and complete payment to receive your confirmation.
  • Frontier Airlinesare the most popular budget airlines flying from San Francisco to San Diego. Check baggage, seat and payment fees before comparing the final price.

Traveling from San Francisco to San Diego: Everything You Need to Know

The nonstop flight lasts approximately 1.5 hours and covers about 450 miles. There is no time difference to be concerned about because both cities are in the Pacific Time Zone.

The majority of flights take off from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), but if you're in the Bay Area, Oakland (OAK) is also a practical choice. San Diego International Airport (SAN), which is close to the city center and the waterfront, is where you will land.

Are you trying to find some comfort? If you're looking for a more laid-back flying experience, Alaska Airlines and Delta have first-class seats and early boarding. On a tight budget? Southwest is a well-liked, inexpensive choice, but to get the greatest deals, make your reservation directly on their website. If you don't mind paying more for seats and bags and fewer extras, Frontier Airlines is even more affordable. Do you like something in the center? Hawaiian and United Airlines both provide good service at affordable costs. Hawaiian even makes the journey a little more pleasurable by introducing some island-style friendliness on the mainland route.

Airport in San Francisco

San Francisco Bay Area has three major airports serving different travel needs. The primary international gateway is SFO, while OAK serves both domestic and limited international routes.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Location: 8 miles south of downtown.
As the Bay Area's largest airport, SFO accommodates most international flights with 4 modern terminals(1, 2, 3, and International). Direct flights from Phoenix arrive here multiple times daily, with carriers like Southwest, United, and American offering frequent service. The airport's BART station provides direct rail access to the city.

Getting from SFO to Downtown

BART: fastest and reliable ($10.35, 30 minutes to downtown)
Rideshare: typically $40-60, takes ~20mins, depends on traffic.
SamTrans: slow but budgetable ($2.50, 45 mins)

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Location: 18 miles east of downtown.
Primarily serving domestic routes, airlines like Southwest and Spirit always fly out of OAK. While farther from the city center, its BART connection makes it easy too access.

Getting from OAK to Downtown

BART: $4-5, includes a short transfer at Coliseum Station (12 minutes to city)
Rideshare: $45-60, time depends on the traffic

Airports in San Diego

San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the primary commercial airport serving the city of San Diego. A few international routes (mostly to Mexico and Canada) and the majority of domestic flights are handled by SAN, but other international connections, particularly throughout Latin America, are available at adjacent airports like Tijuana International Airport (TIJ), which is reachable by the Cross Border Xpress (CBX).

International Airport in San Diego (SAN)

Only three miles northwest of San Diego's downtown is the location.

SAN is a small, effective airport that serves both domestic and a few international routes. It has two facilities, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Regular flights from San Francisco arrive here on American, Alaska, Southwestern, and United. Because the airport is so close to the city center, transfers are easy and quick.

Getting from SAN to Downtown

Ridesharing/Taxi: Quick and practical. It takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes, depending on traffic, and costs about $15 to $25.
The MTS Route 992 bus is reasonably priced at $2.50, takes 25-30 minutes, and stops at important downtown destinations.

Best Time to Go to San Diego

With warm, sunny weather and less tourists, March through May and September through November are the ideal times to visit San Diego. Comparing these months to the busiest summer months, there are less tourists and nicer temperatures.

While beach vacations are popular from June to August, be prepared for increased crowds and higher hotel rates. Moreover, be on the lookout for "May Gray" and "June Gloom," when cloudy mornings may result from coastal fog. Even though it can rain occasionally, winter (December to February) is a wonderful season to travel if you want to avoid crowds.

The Best Places to Stay in San Diego

Book the Best San Diego Hotels on Trip.com, which offer a lot of practical features!

  • Gaslamp Quarter/Downtown: Ideal for events, dining, and nightlife
  • La Jolla is a luxurious seaside town with beautiful scenery.
  • Historic appeal and convenient access to other attractions characterize Old Town.

Explore More Popular Flights

Note: Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest price and include all taxes and fees found in the last 24 hours.

Book with no extra fees

Prices displayed in this page are all-inclusive prices (incl. taxes, fuel surcharge, civil aviation development fund, etc) with all fees confirmed before payment. Fees for luggage, meals, WLAN, or other additional services are also included as shown in the flight cards.

Real-time pricing updates

Prices, availability, and travel information on this page were updated within last 24 hours—even in real-time. The more popular the route, the more precise the data.

Change & Cancellation Policy

Trip.com displays flight cancellation and change policies for each flight ticket during the booking process, including fees and applicable conditions. Please check the following scenarios:
Voluntary cancellation/change:
To submit a change or cancellation request, go to the flight bookings page, select the option to change or cancel your booking, choose the relevant passengers and segment, and submit a request. Please note that additional charges may apply according to the airline ticket policy.
Cancellation/change due to a flight schedule change:
If the flight has been rescheduled and you would like to change or cancel your ticket, you can submit an involuntary cancellation request. For more details about change and cancellation policies, please check the customer support pages.