- Must visit
San Diego Museum of Art
Major Balboa Park museum with works from Spanish old masters to modern art, plus strong regional and international exhibitions.
Flights from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA depart on average 68 times per day, taking around 4h 11m. Cheap flight tickets for this journey start at €27 if you book in advance.
There are 17 flights per day. The earliest flight runs at 00:17, the last at 23:58. The fastest flight covers the 458 miles (738 km) distance in 1h 30m. July is the cheapest month to fly.
Distance 458 miles (738 km) |
Average flight duration 4h 11m |
Cheapest ticket price €27 |
Flights per day 68 |
Direct flights 17 |
Fastest flight 1h 30m |
First flight 12:17 AM |
Last flight 11:58 PM |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Best time to book 42 days |
Cheapest price on Sep 17
€114
Average ticket price on Sep 17
€504
Fastest journey on Sep 17
1 h 40 m
Average journey duration on Sep 17
1 h 42 m
Flights on Sep 17
70
Distance
738 km
The best way to find a cheap flight ticket from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA will cost around €504 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €114.
On Thu, Sep 17, we found 70 flights from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA, including 18 direct services.
On Thu, Sep 17 the direct flights cover the 738 km distance in an average of 1 h 42 m but if you time it right, some flights will get you there in just 1 h 40 m .
On Thu, Sep 17 the longest flights will take 1 h 43 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
AS3310
AS426
AS424
AS3007
UA444
AA9306
AS426
UA2177
UA1980
AS424Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €92 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 6h 11m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.2 - 0.7kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €92, while a flight costs an average of €462.
Distance: 458 miles (738 km)
| Flight | Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€462 Average price | €127 Average price | €92 Average price Cheapest | €85 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 11m Average total duration Fastest 4h 11m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 15h 36m Average total duration 15h 6m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 14h 42m Average total duration 14h 12m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 33m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
2.2 - 4.4kg CO2 emissions | 0.2 - 0.7kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.7 - 1.8kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA:
A bus is €35 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average €127.
A bus is €370 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average €462.
Other travel options to San Diego, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 14h 12m.
Train takes on average 15h 6m.
The table below shows live departures for San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA flights for today, Wednesday, September 16. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated flight journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UA2610 · UA582 | 1:56 PM San Francisco International Airport | 3h30 | 5:26 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA2610 · UA1100 | 1:56 PM San Francisco International Airport | 6h06 | 8:02 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2387 · AA1511 | 2:00 PM San Francisco International Airport | 7h48 | 9:48 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1668 | 2:10 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h44 | 3:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA2352 · UA1649 · UA1100 | 2:10 PM San Francisco International Airport | 5h52 | 8:02 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA1596 · UA5529 | 2:20 PM San Francisco International Airport | 6h32 | 8:52 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1596 · UA540 | 2:20 PM San Francisco International Airport | 6h14 | 8:34 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA7408 | 3:25 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h45 | 5:10 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1430 · UA2395 | 4:18 PM San Francisco International Airport | 6h10 | 10:28 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1754 · UA1100 | 4:25 PM San Francisco International Airport | 3h37 | 8:02 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1561 | 4:47 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h48 | 6:35 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA7441 | 5:16 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h44 | 7:00 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1577 | 6:55 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h50 | 8:45 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA5508 | 6:55 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h50 | 8:45 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA442 | 9:00 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h47 | 10:47 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA9341 | 9:13 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h46 | 10:59 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Thursday, September 17 | |||||
UA1479 · UA5507 | 5:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 8h04 | 1:04 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2116 · AA2266 | 5:30 AM San Francisco International Airport | 12h16 | 5:46 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2116 · AA2361 | 5:30 AM San Francisco International Airport | 10h10 | 3:40 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2116 · AA1769 | 5:30 AM San Francisco International Airport | 8h41 | 2:11 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA6404+ AA1951 | 5:50 AM San Francisco International Airport | 9h32 | 3:22 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA6404+ AA480 | 5:50 AM San Francisco International Airport | 12h26 | 6:16 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA6404+ AA2122 | 5:50 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h13 | 12:03 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1599 · UA1940 | 6:15 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h46 | 1:01 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1599 · UA5507 | 6:15 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h49 | 1:04 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS620 · AS697 | 7:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h21 | 1:21 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1980 | 7:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h43 | 8:43 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1260 · UA1068 | 7:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 4h35 | 11:35 AM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA9306 | 7:08 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h40 | 8:48 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AS426 | 7:08 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h40 | 8:48 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AS1410 · AS1394 | 7:23 AM San Francisco International Airport | 5h53 | 1:16 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2414 · AA1951 | 8:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 7h22 | 3:22 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2414 · AA2122 | 8:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 4h03 | 12:03 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2414 · AA559 | 8:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 13h35 | 9:35 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2414 · AA480 | 8:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 10h16 | 6:16 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS424 | 8:25 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h43 | 10:08 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA9390 | 8:25 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h43 | 10:08 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA444 | 8:27 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h50 | 10:17 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1469 · UA1302 | 8:45 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h05 | 2:50 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA2431 · UA2187 · UA5529 | 8:50 AM San Francisco International Airport | 12h02 | 8:52 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA2431 · UA2187 · UA540 | 8:50 AM San Francisco International Airport | 11h44 | 8:34 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
AS3007 | 9:27 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h49 | 11:16 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA9340 | 9:27 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h49 | 11:16 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA5251 · UA5307 · UA1100 | 10:05 AM San Francisco International Airport | 9h57 | 8:02 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA5251 · UA5307 · UA582 | 10:05 AM San Francisco International Airport | 7h21 | 5:26 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA2115 · UA2187 · UA540 | 10:13 AM San Francisco International Airport | 10h21 | 8:34 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA2115 · UA2187 · UA5529 | 10:13 AM San Francisco International Airport | 10h39 | 8:52 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA5510 | 10:17 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h47 | 12:04 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1595 · UA2184 · UA582 | 10:30 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h56 | 5:26 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA2177 | 10:35 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h43 | 12:18 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1578 · UA5994 · UA1100 | 10:40 AM San Francisco International Airport | 9h22 | 8:02 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA1578 · UA5994 · UA582 | 10:40 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h46 | 5:26 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA1604 · UA1281 | 10:43 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h35 | 5:18 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS718 · AS2410 | 10:44 AM San Francisco International Airport | 5h27 | 4:11 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS3310 | 11:38 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h50 | 1:28 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA7548 | 11:38 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h50 | 1:28 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AS235 · AS425 | 11:57 AM San Francisco International Airport | 5h39 | 5:36 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1257 | 12:00 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h44 | 1:44 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA4790 · UA5259 · UA1100 | 12:05 PM San Francisco International Airport | 7h57 | 8:02 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA6050 · UA5307 · UA1100 | 12:16 PM San Francisco International Airport | 7h46 | 8:02 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA6050 · UA5307 · UA582 | 12:16 PM San Francisco International Airport | 5h10 | 5:26 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
AA2334 · AA559 | 12:19 PM San Francisco International Airport | 9h16 | 9:35 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2334 · AA480 | 12:19 PM San Francisco International Airport | 5h57 | 6:16 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1506 · UA582 | 12:29 PM San Francisco International Airport | 4h57 | 5:26 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA540 · UA5529 | 12:35 PM San Francisco International Airport | 8h17 | 8:52 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS68 · AS635 | 1:45 PM San Francisco International Airport | 6h09 | 7:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
This is the last flight of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare bus, train, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Discover the best of San Diego, CA — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect San Diego, CA trip today.
Major Balboa Park museum with works from Spanish old masters to modern art, plus strong regional and international exhibitions.
Acclaimed contemporary art museum in La Jolla featuring oceanfront settings, modern works, and rotating global exhibitions.
Museum aboard a historic aircraft carrier with restored aircraft, naval exhibits, and immersive views of life at sea.
Balboa Park is San Diego's grand cultural park, packed with gardens, architecture, museums, and walkable plazas worth lingering in.
Historic Gaslamp Quarter offers Victorian-era streets, nightlife energy, and preserved downtown architecture for an atmospheric walk.
Dramatic seaside cliffs and walking paths in La Jolla, famous for waves, sea lions, and sweeping Pacific views.
A San Diego staple: grilled fish in a soft tortilla with cabbage, crema, and salsa. Popularized by Baja influence and coastal seafood culture.
French fries, carne asada, cheese, guacamole, and crema wrapped in a flour tortilla. A late-night local favorite born in San Diego taquerias.
Fresh local sea urchin served raw, prized for its rich, buttery taste. It reflects San Diego's access to Pacific seafood and sushi culture.
Celebrated sushi restaurant specializing in omakase and pristine seafood, including uni. Intimate, polished, and highly respected by locals.
Iconic casual seafood counter known for fish tacos, smoked fish, and harbor views. A classic stop for San Diego's Baja-inspired seafood style.
Refined fine-dining restaurant showcasing local seafood and seasonal California ingredients. Elegant room with one of the city's strongest reputations.
San Diego is pricey for US travel, with higher hotel rates, dining, and parking than many cities, though casual food and buses stay manageable.
Tip 18-20% at restaurants, 15-20% for taxis or rideshares, and $1-2 for coffee drinks or small cafe orders.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA by flight. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest flight, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at San Diego, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA flights use the San Francisco International Airport to San Diego International Airport airport pair, with some services landing at McClellan-Palomar Airport. Use this guide to compare San Francisco, CA and San Diego, CA airports on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like airport facilities and services.
San Francisco International Airport is 1 km from San Francisco city centre. Public transport options include:
San Francisco International Airport has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, Lounge, and Lost and Found Office.
Free Wi-Fi available throughout the airport. ATMs are located throughout all terminals.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at San Francisco International Airport: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at San Francisco International Airport: Elevators, ramps, toilets.
San Diego International Airport is 4 km from San Diego city centre. Public transport options include:
San Diego International Airport has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Shower, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, and Car Rental.
Food options include: Restaurants in terminals 1 and 2, including fast food and sit-down options like The Counter and Phil's BBQ
Free Wi-Fi available throughout the airport. ATMs are located in all terminals.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at San Diego International Airport: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at San Diego International Airport: Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at San Diego International Airport: Elevators, ramps.
Nearby hotels include Hotels nearby, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Mari within walking distance..
McClellan-Palomar Airport has practical services for this route, including Accessibility.
Accessibility facilities are available at McClellan-Palomar Airport: The place has an entrance that is wheelchair-accessible.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need