Find cheap airlines flights from San Francisco to San Diego

Choose from 5 carriers that fly from San Francisco to San Diego, including Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines. Enjoy the cheapest tickets on this route with Frontier Airlines.

Book direct flights from San Francisco to San Diego: One way flights from $29, round trip flights from $39. Find flight deals for the next 3 months below.

Crossed out prices are calculated based on the average price of the corresponding route on Trip.com.

Flight Info | San Francisco to San Diego

The distance between San Francisco and San Diego is about 720.29 km. It takes around 1 hour 37 minutes on average to fly from San Francisco to San Diego. The most popular month to San Diego is July. The off-season for travel is August.

Cheapest one-way flight price$29
Cheapest round-trip ticket price$39
Off-season for travelAugust
Peak season for travelJuly
Flight distance720.29 km
Average flight time1 hour 37 minutes
Popular airlineAlaska Airlines

When is the cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to San Diego?

The cheapest time for San Francisco to San Diego flights: Jan 11 to Jan 18 — one way flight prices from $18.

Cheapest flights
From price
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  • 916
  • 1623
  • 2330
  • Dec

    307
  • 714
  • 1421
  • 2128
  • Jan

    284
  • 411
  • 1118
  • 1825
  • Feb

    251
Displayed prices are calculated based on the cheapest average weekly prices of the corresponding route on Trip.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which airlines offer direct flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

    At the moment, you can catch a nonstop flight from San Francisco to San Diego with the following airlines, including: Alaska Airlines Frontier Airlines Hawaiian 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 37 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 84 flight per week flying from San Francisco to San Diego. You can check the weekly schedule for popular airlines on this route below: Hawaiian Airlines: S/M/T/W/T/F/S -- HA7014 (08:20) American Airlines: S/M/T/W/T/F/S -- AA9340 (07:30)
  • 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 November flight calendar, it's currently cheapest to fly from San Francisco to San Diego on November 13, 2025 with Frontier Airlines, with prices starting at $20.
  • You can land at any one of the following hubs in San Diego, with San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport (SFO-SAN) is by far the most common option on this route: San Diego International Airport (SAN) McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (NKX).
  • The time difference between San Diego and San Francisco is 0h.
  • 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.

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.