Flights to San Diego
Which airport to land at, how far each is from the centre, and where the routes go. Live fares are booked here.
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 |
Runway length is a practical tell: at 9,401 ft, SAN handles short and medium-haul aircraft, so a long-haul trip will connect somewhere else first. The airport sits at 17 ft; that is low enough that altitude never restricts departures.
Book a flight to San Diego
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Routes to and from San Diego
Straight-line distance and an estimated block time for the city pairs people search for most. Each opens a page with both ends’ airports, the time-zone shift and what changes on arrival.
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego to Los Angeles | United States | 179 km (111 mi) | about 59 min |
| San Diego to Phoenix | United States | 481 km (299 mi) | about 1 h 22 min |
| San Diego to Ciudad Juárez | Mexico | 1,013 km (629 mi) | about 2 h 3 min |
| San Diego to Mexicali | Mexico | 160 km (100 mi) | about 57 min |
| San Diego to San Jose | United States | 670 km (417 mi) | about 1 h 37 min |
| San Diego to Chihuahua | Mexico | 1,152 km (716 mi) | about 2 h 14 min |
| San Diego to San Francisco | United States | 737 km (458 mi) | about 1 h 42 min |
| San Diego to Hermosillo | Mexico | 716 km (445 mi) | about 1 h 40 min |
| San Diego to Culiacán | Mexico | 1,295 km (805 mi) | about 2 h 25 min |
| San Diego to Denver | United States | 1,341 km (833 mi) | about 2 h 28 min |
| San Diego to El Paso | United States | 1,009 km (627 mi) | about 2 h 3 min |
| San Diego to Las Vegas | United States | 427 km (265 mi) | about 1 h 18 min |
| San Diego to Albuquerque | United States | 1,005 km (624 mi) | about 2 h 2 min |
| San Diego to Tucson | United States | 588 km (365 mi) | about 1 h 30 min |
| San Diego to Fresno | United States | 508 km (315 mi) | about 1 h 24 min |
| San Diego to Sacramento | United States | 760 km (472 mi) | about 1 h 43 min |
| San Diego to Long Beach | United States | 151 km (94 mi) | about 57 min |
| San Diego to Mesa | United States | 504 km (313 mi) | about 1 h 24 min |
| San Diego to Colorado Springs | United States | 1,303 km (810 mi) | about 2 h 25 min |
| San Diego to Oakland | United States | 731 km (454 mi) | about 1 h 41 min |
| San Diego to Mazatlán | Mexico | 1,491 km (926 mi) | about 2 h 40 min |
| San Diego to Bakersfield | United States | 341 km (212 mi) | about 1 h 11 min |
| San Diego to Shanghai | China | 10,610 km (6,593 mi) | about 14 h 21 min |
| San Diego to Chongqing | China | 11,698 km (7,269 mi) | about 15 h 45 min |
| San Diego to Chengdu | China | 11,740 km (7,295 mi) | about 15 h 48 min |
| San Diego to Beijing | China | 10,241 km (6,363 mi) | about 13 h 53 min |
| San Diego to Guangzhou | China | 11,822 km (7,346 mi) | about 15 h 54 min |
| San Diego to Shenzhen | China | 11,811 km (7,339 mi) | about 15 h 54 min |
| San Diego to Istanbul | Turkey | 11,111 km (6,904 mi) | about 15 h |
| San Diego to Tianjin | China | 10,258 km (6,374 mi) | about 13 h 54 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into for San Diego?
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the closest large airport at 3 km (2 mi). The others, TIJ, CLD, are further out and worth it only when the fare or the airline makes them so.
How far is SAN from San Diego city centre?
3 km (2 mi) in a straight line; the road or rail distance is somewhat longer.
Can I book flights to San Diego on this site?
Very soon: our airline partner is switching live fares on for this site. Hotels can be booked now.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
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.