Modesto to San Diego flights
San Diego lies 649 km (403 mi) south-east of Modesto, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 35 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.
| Modesto | San Diego | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 211,266 | 1.4 million |
| Elevation | 29 m (95 ft) | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-7 (America/Los_Angeles) | UTC-7 (America/Los_Angeles) |
| Nearest large airport | SJC, 88 km out | SAN, 3 km out |
| Postal codes | 95350–95397 | 92101–92199 |
Airports at each end
Leaving Modesto
Modesto is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), 88 km (55 mi) from the centre, whose 11,000-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK, 35 km), Merced Regional Macready Field (MCE, 58 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
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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 Modesto?
649 km (403 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Modesto.
How long does it take to get from Modesto to San Diego by air?
About 1 h 35 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Modesto and San Diego?
No, both are on America/Los_Angeles at the moment.
Which airports are used for Modesto to San Diego flights?
Typically Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) to San Diego International Airport (SAN); San Diego also has TIJ, CLD.
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.