- Must visit
USS Midway Museum
Museum aboard the historic aircraft carrier USS Midway with restored aircraft, flight deck exhibits, and audio tours on San Diego Bay.
Flights from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA depart on average 53 times per day, taking around 2h 4m. Cheap flight tickets for this journey start at $53 (€44) if you book in advance.
There are 12 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 35m. January is the cheapest month to fly.
Distance 458 miles (738 km) |
Average flight duration 2h 4m |
Cheapest ticket price $53 (€44) |
Flights per day 53 |
Direct flights 12 |
Fastest flight 1h 35m |
First flight 12:17 AM |
Last flight 11:58 PM |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 56 days |
Cheapest price
$257
Average price
$591
Fastest journey
1 h 39 m
Average duration
1 h 40 m
Flights per day
78
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 $591 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $257.
Of the 78 flights that leave San Francisco, CA for San Diego, CA onFri, Jun 19, 25 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Fri, Jun 19 the direct flights cover the 738 km distance in an average of 1 h 40 m but if you time it right, some flights will get you there in just 1 h 39 m .
On Fri, Jun 19 the longest flights will take 1 h 44 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.
AS3479
AS2058
AS3337
AS3482
AS3455
AS2058
AA9340
AS1557
AA9306
UA444Omio 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 prices starting from $60. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 4m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.2 - 0.7kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $60, and a flight costs an average of $53.
Distance: 458 miles (738 km)
| Flight | Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$267 Average price | $96 Average price | $90 Average price Cheapest | $102 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 4m Average total duration Fastest 2h 4m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 13h 18m Average total duration 12h 48m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 13h 20m Average total duration 12h 50m 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 $5 (€4) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average $96 (€78).
A bus is $177 (€145) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA costing on average $267 (€219).
Other travel options to San Diego, CA take longer:
Train takes on average 12h 48m.
Bus takes on average 12h 50m.
The table below shows live departures for San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA flights for today, Thursday, June 18. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated flight journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UA500 · UA5718 · UA5415 | 10:05 AM San Francisco International Airport | 9h46 | 7:51 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA2177 | 10:05 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h46 | 11:51 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA2115 · UA2187 · UA5529 | 10:23 AM San Francisco International Airport | 10h20 | 8:43 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA2115 · UA2187 · UA540 | 10:23 AM San Francisco International Airport | 10h23 | 8:46 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA643 · UA2132 · UA5529 | 10:23 AM San Francisco International Airport | 10h20 | 8:43 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA611 · UA2184 · UA5415 | 10:42 AM San Francisco International Airport | 9h09 | 7:51 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
AA7408 | 11:52 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h47 | 1:39 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1257 | 12:21 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h47 | 2:08 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA2548 · AA2466 | 12:21 PM San Francisco International Airport | 5h58 | 6:19 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2548 · AA559 | 12:21 PM San Francisco International Airport | 9h13 | 9:34 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA3258 · AA1011 | 12:36 PM San Francisco International Airport | 10h03 | 10:39 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA3258 · AA2568 | 12:36 PM San Francisco International Airport | 11h23 | 11:59 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA540 · UA5529 | 12:43 PM San Francisco International Airport | 8h00 | 8:43 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA9328 | 1:21 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h44 | 3:05 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA5464 · UA5647 · UA594 | 1:50 PM San Francisco International Airport | 10h04 | 11:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA2610 · UA5415 | 1:55 PM San Francisco International Airport | 5h56 | 7:51 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1265 · UA1730 · UA594 | 2:00 PM San Francisco International Airport | 9h54 | 11:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
AA2387 · AA2568 | 2:03 PM San Francisco International Airport | 9h56 | 11:59 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2387 · AA1011 | 2:03 PM San Francisco International Airport | 8h36 | 10:39 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA2855 | 2:20 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h47 | 4:07 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1596 · UA5529 | 2:20 PM San Francisco International Airport | 6h23 | 8:43 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1596 · UA540 | 2:20 PM San Francisco International Airport | 6h26 | 8:46 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA2421 · UA2282 · UA594 | 2:21 PM San Francisco International Airport | 9h33 | 11:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
AS776 · AS2219 | 3:49 PM San Francisco International Airport | 4h50 | 8:39 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS776 · AS2251 | 3:49 PM San Francisco International Airport | 3h47 | 7:36 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA1321 · AA559 | 3:54 PM San Francisco International Airport | 5h40 | 9:34 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1430 · UA1835 | 4:10 PM San Francisco International Airport | 6h15 | 10:25 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA5862 · UA5647 · UA594 | 4:10 PM San Francisco International Airport | 7h44 | 11:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA1754 · UA5415 | 4:11 PM San Francisco International Airport | 3h40 | 7:51 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA7441 | 4:24 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h45 | 6:09 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1434 · UA5908 · UA594 | 4:45 PM San Francisco International Airport | 7h09 | 11:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA1561 | 4:47 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h52 | 6:39 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA5796 · UA5628 · UA594 | 5:08 PM San Francisco International Airport | 6h46 | 11:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA5508 | 6:37 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h50 | 8:27 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AS2058 | 6:42 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h39 | 8:21 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA9340 | 6:42 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h39 | 8:21 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA5425 · UA594 | 6:45 PM San Francisco International Airport | 5h09 | 11:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2544 · AA2461 | 6:56 PM San Francisco International Airport | 14h01 | 8:57 AM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1343 | 7:00 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h53 | 8:53 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA2409 · UA594 | 7:45 PM San Francisco International Airport | 4h09 | 11:54 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1863 | 9:00 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h49 | 10:49 PM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA2142 | 10:42 PM San Francisco International Airport | 1h48 | 12:30 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA2228 · AA2462 | 11:29 PM San Francisco International Airport | 8h53 | 8:22 AM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2228 · AA2476 | 11:29 PM San Francisco International Airport | 10h40 | 10:09 AM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2228 · AA3102 | 11:29 PM San Francisco International Airport | 12h42 | 12:11 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1479 · UA5507 | 5:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 8h00 | 1:00 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA1198 · AA2459 | 5:23 AM San Francisco International Airport | 8h57 | 2:20 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2470+ AA6404 | 5:40 AM San Francisco International Airport | 9h47 | 3:27 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2477+ AA6404 | 5:40 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h10 | 11:50 AM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA2127 · UA4643 | 6:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 4h08 | 10:08 AM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS3455 | 6:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h44 | 7:44 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA7421 | 6:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h44 | 7:44 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
UA1233 · UA5507 | 6:15 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h45 | 1:00 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA1233 · UA1940 | 6:15 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h26 | 12:41 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA5465 | 6:20 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h49 | 8:09 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA2305 · AA2459 | 6:45 AM San Francisco International Airport | 7h35 | 2:20 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS68 · AS467 | 7:03 AM San Francisco International Airport | 5h58 | 1:01 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS1410 · AS1394 | 7:20 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h07 | 1:27 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AS718 · AS2416 | 7:25 AM San Francisco International Airport | 5h04 | 12:29 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA9306 | 7:55 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h40 | 9:35 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AS1557 | 7:55 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h40 | 9:35 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA2904 · AA2485 | 8:00 AM San Francisco International Airport | 7h43 | 3:43 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2414 · AA2466 | 8:15 AM San Francisco International Airport | 10h04 | 6:19 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA444 | 8:15 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h44 | 9:59 AM San Diego International Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
AA2414 · AA559 | 8:15 AM San Francisco International Airport | 13h19 | 9:34 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
AA2414 · AA2470 | 8:15 AM San Francisco International Airport | 7h12 | 3:27 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA2348 · UA1302 | 8:31 AM San Francisco International Airport | 6h24 | 2:55 PM San Diego International Airport | 1 transfer | |
UA2363 · UA2187 · UA5529 | 8:33 AM San Francisco International Airport | 12h10 | 8:43 PM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA2363 · UA2187 · UA540 | 8:33 AM San Francisco International Airport | 12h13 | 8:46 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA2382 · UA2184 · UA5415 | 8:42 AM San Francisco International Airport | 11h09 | 7:51 PM San Diego International Airport | 2 transfers | |
UA5510 | 9:15 AM San Francisco International Airport | 1h47 | 11:02 AM McClellan–Palomar Airport | 0 transfersDirect | |
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 — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect San Diego trip today.
Museum aboard the historic aircraft carrier USS Midway with restored aircraft, flight deck exhibits, and audio tours on San Diego Bay.
Balboa Park art museum known for Spanish old masters, South Asian works, and rotating exhibitions in a landmark building.
Leading contemporary art museum with major postwar and current works, especially strong in Southern California and Pacific Rim artists.
Vast cultural park with gardens, museums, Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, walking paths, and some of San Diego's best photo spots.
Scenic cove known for sea lions, clear water, coastal cliffs, and highly shareable sunset and ocean-view walks.
Wide sandy beach beside the Hotel del Coronado, popular for walking, photography, and classic Southern California scenery.
Beer-battered or grilled local fish in tortillas, usually topped with cabbage, crema, and salsa. A signature coastal San Diego staple with strong Baja influence.
A San Diego original burrito filled with carne asada, fries, cheese, and salsa. It is one of the city’s most iconic late-night and casual foods.
French fries topped with carne asada, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa. This indulgent dish is strongly associated with San Diego taco shop culture.
Popular waterfront seafood restaurant serving fresh local catch, fish tacos, and sandwiches in a relaxed harbor setting near the fishing fleet.
Historic, no-frills Mexican restaurant famous for house-made tortillas, rolled tacos, and comforting traditional plates. A beloved local institution with a classic atmosphere.
Iconic casual spot in Ocean Beach known for oversized burgers, fries, and a lively beach-town vibe. A long-standing San Diego favorite.
Prices are high by U.S. standards, especially for hotels, dining, and parking near the coast and downtown.
Tip 18-20% at restaurants, 20%+ for great service. Tip USD 1-2 per drink at bars, round up taxis, and tip hotel staff and valet.
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