San Francisco to San Diego Flights
The San Francisco to San Diego route connects San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in US with San Diego International Airport (SAN) in US. This short-haul flight covers approximately 447 miles (719 km) with a typical flight time of 1h 5m. This route is served by 9 airlines: SkyWest, Southwest, United and others. AirportRoutes has tracked 42 unique flight numbers on this route.
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About This Route
Route Overview
The SFO → SAN route links Northern California’s tech hub with Southern California’s coastal city over 447 miles (719 km). Nonstop flights typically take about 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, making it one of the fastest ways to swap Bay Area fog for San Diego sunshine. Travelers choose this corridor for quick business trips, weekend getaways, and easy connections to conferences, beaches, and military-related travel. With multiple daily departures, the route offers flexibility for same-day returns and late-evening arrivals. It’s also a practical alternative to the 8–10 hour drive, avoiding traffic through the Central Coast and Los Angeles basin while delivering you close to downtown San Diego within minutes of landing.
Travel Tips
For the best fares on this US domestic route, book 2–6 weeks ahead and compare nearby departure times; midweek flights often price lower in USD than Friday/Sunday peaks. At SFO, confirm your terminal in advance—airlines may operate from different concourses—and allow extra time if using AirTrain between terminals, parking, and BART. At SAN, expect a compact airport with quick curb-to-gate access, but rideshare pickup areas can be busy at night. Choose a window seat for coastline views on clear days. Pack light if possible: overhead bins fill quickly on short-haul jets. If you’re heading downtown, budget 10–20 minutes by car in typical traffic from the airport.
Destination Highlights
San Diego blends beach culture with walkable neighborhoods and major attractions. Spend a day in Balboa Park for museums, gardens, and the renowned San Diego Zoo. Along the waterfront, explore the USS Midway Museum and the Embarcadero, then head to La Jolla for sea caves, coastal trails, and frequent seal sightings. Families and thrill-seekers gravitate to SeaWorld and nearby beaches like Mission Beach and Coronado. For food, try Baja-style fish tacos, California burritos, and craft beer in North Park or Little Italy, which also shines for dining and weekend markets. For a classic sunset, Sunset Cliffs delivers dramatic ocean views.
Best Time to Fly
San Diego is pleasant year-round, but March–May and September–November often bring mild weather and better flight value. Summer (June–August) is peak for beach travel, with higher prices and fuller flights, while winter can be slightly cooler with occasional rain. For events, factor in Comic-Con (July), which can spike demand and hotel rates, and December holiday travel, which also raises fares. Shoulder-season departures typically offer the best balance of weather, availability, and pricing in USD.
Airport Information
Departure Airport
San Francisco International Airport
- ICAO Code:
KSFO- IATA Code:
SFO- City:
- 🇺🇸 San Francisco
- Country:
- US
- Elevation:
- 13 ft
Destination Airport
San Diego International Airport
- ICAO Code:
KSAN- IATA Code:
SAN- City:
- 🇺🇸 San Diego
- Country:
- US
- Elevation:
- 17 ft
Route Statistics
9
Operators42
Tracked Flights447
Miles1h 5m
Flight DurationRoute Map
Operating Airlines
| Airline | ICAO | IATA |
|---|---|---|
| SkyWest |
SKW
|
OO
|
| Southwest |
SWA
|
WN
|
| United |
UAL
|
UA
|
| Horizon |
QXE
|
QX
|
| PenAir |
NLA
|
-
|
| Frontier |
FFT
|
F9
|
| Alaska Airlines |
ASA
|
AS
|
| NetJets Aviation |
EJA
|
1I
|
| Delta Air Lines |
DAL
|
DL
|
Flight Schedule Pattern
| Day | Flights Observed | Frequency | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 28 | 10% |
|
| Tuesday | 47 | 17% |
|
| Wednesday | 30 | 11% |
|
| Thursday | 59 | 22% |
|
| Friday | 28 | 10% |
|
| Saturday | 48 | 18% |
|
| Sunday | 32 | 12% |
|
Pattern Analysis
API observations used to build this analysis
Weekend: 80 flights
All Flight Routes
9 Routes| Airline | Flight Numbers | Aircraft Type | Typical Time | Days Active | Last Seen | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alaska Airlines
ASA
/ AS
|
B739 | 06:16 6:16 AM (Representative) |
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
|
Jun 16, 2026 | Active | |
|
Delta Air Lines
DAL
/ DL
|
- | B752 | - |
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
|
Jun 16, 2026 | Active |
|
Frontier
FFT
/ F9
|
A21N | 14:13 2:13 PM (Representative) |
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
|
Jun 16, 2026 | Active | |
|
Horizon
QXE
/ QX
|
|
E75L | 08:45 8:45 AM (Representative) |
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
|
Jun 16, 2026 | Active |
|
NetJets Aviation
EJA
/ 1I
|
C700 | 19:00 7:00 PM (Representative) |
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
|
Jun 16, 2026 | Active | |
|
PenAir
NLA
|
E75L | 06:40 6:40 AM (Representative) |
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
|
Jun 16, 2026 | Active | |
|
SkyWest
SKW
/ OO
|
|
E75L | 18:42 6:42 PM (Representative) |
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
|
Jun 16, 2026 | Active |
|
Southwest
SWA
/ WN
|
|
B737 | 06:00 6:00 AM (Representative) |
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
|
Jun 16, 2026 | Active |
|
United
UAL
/ UA
|
|
B739 | 10:05 10:05 AM (Representative) |
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
|
Jun 16, 2026 | Active |
Spotted Departure Times
| Departure Time | Operator | ICAO | IATA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:00 6:00 AM | Southwest |
SWA
|
WN
|
| 06:16 6:16 AM | Alaska Airlines |
ASA
|
AS
|
| 06:40 6:40 AM | PenAir |
NLA
|
-
|
| 08:45 8:45 AM | Horizon |
QXE
|
QX
|
| 10:05 10:05 AM | United |
UAL
|
UA
|
| 14:13 2:13 PM | Frontier |
FFT
|
F9
|
| 18:42 6:42 PM | SkyWest |
SKW
|
OO
|
| 19:00 7:00 PM | NetJets Aviation |
EJA
|
1I
|
Time Information
Times are shown in the departure airport's local timezone (KSFO - America/Los_Angeles).
06:00 - 19:00