Mexicali to San Diego flights
San Diego lies 160 km (100 mi) west of Mexicali, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 57 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Mexicali | San Diego | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | United States |
| Population | 1 million | 1.4 million |
| Elevation | 4 m (13 ft) | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-7 (America/Tijuana) | UTC-7 (America/Los_Angeles) |
| Nearest large airport | MXL, 20 km out | SAN, 3 km out |
| Postal codes | 21396–22703 | 92101–92199 |
What changes when you arrive in San Diego
Crossing from Mexico into United States: money changes from the Peso to the Dollar (USD); the dialling code becomes +1; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Airports at each end
Leaving Mexicali
Mexicali is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport (MXL), 20 km (12 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,530 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Imperial County Airport (IPL, 26 km), Yuma International Airport / Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (YUM, 79 km).
Arriving in San Diego
San Diego is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is San Diego International Airport (SAN), 3 km (2 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,401 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (TIJ, 27 km), McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD, 47 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego International Airport | SAN | 3 km (2 mi) | 9,401 ft | 17 ft |
| General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport | TIJ | 27 km (17 mi) | 9,711 ft | 489 ft |
| McClellan-Palomar Airport (regional) | CLD | 47 km (29 mi) | 4,897 ft | 331 ft |
Book a flight to San Diego
Our airline partner is activating live fares for this site; the search below opens the moment that is done. Hotels can be booked now.
Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in San Diego
Our booking partner lists 1,392+ places to stay in San Diego (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 706 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (469), and 9 are five-star. Across 294 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.2 out of 10. Guests have left 286,439 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in San Diego
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is San Diego from Mexicali?
160 km (100 mi) in a straight line, west of Mexicali.
How long does it take to get from Mexicali to San Diego by air?
About 57 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Mexicali and San Diego?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
Which airports are used for Mexicali to San Diego flights?
Typically General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport (MXL) to San Diego International Airport (SAN); San Diego also has TIJ, CLD.
What currency do I need in San Diego?
The Dollar (USD).
Where can I stay in San Diego?
Our booking partner lists 1,392+ places to stay in San Diego, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.