San Diego, CA

San Diego travel guide

70 degrees, 70 miles of coastline

Find flights to San Diego See fares from $52

Airports: SAN San Diego International Airport
Region: US West
Best time to visit: September–November is the warmest ocean and clearest skies.
Shortest flight: 1h 35m from San Francisco
Round trips from: $52 (live)
Time zone: America/Los Angeles

About San Diego

The city stretches along the coast from the Mexican border to Oceanside. Downtown's Gaslamp Quarter and the Embarcadero are walkable; Balboa Park (museums, gardens and the zoo) is just north; La Jolla, Pacific Beach and Coronado are the beach neighborhoods; North Park and Hillcrest have the restaurants and breweries.

Getting in: San Diego International is 3 miles from downtown — a $15–$20 rideshare or the 992 bus ($2.50) in 15 minutes. The airport's new Terminal 1 opened in 2025. A car is useful for La Jolla, Coronado and the beaches, but the trolley and buses cover downtown, Old Town and the border.

Stay downtown or Little Italy for walkability, Coronado for the beach resort feel, La Jolla for upscale coastline or Pacific Beach for a budget surf-town base. Fish tacos, California burritos and craft beer (the county has 150+ breweries) keep meals at $12–$20; La Jolla dinners run $40–$70 per person. Tip 18–20%.

Best time to visit

September–November is the warmest ocean and clearest skies. Spring is pleasant but 'May gray' fog is common at the coast; summer is peak for families. Winter is mild and inexpensive.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: Gaslamp / Downtown, Little Italy, La Jolla, Coronado, North Park.

Flights to San Diego: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to SAN usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
New York (JFK)	6h	$228	$191 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	4h 20m	$168	$129 · Wed, Oct 14	Search dates →
Dallas (DFW)	3h 15m	$128	$112 · Tue, Nov 3	Search dates →
Denver (DEN)	2h 30m	$108	$77 · Tue, Oct 13	Search dates →
Seattle (SEA)	2h 55m	$128	$106 · Wed, Nov 4	Search dates →
San Francisco (SFO)	1h 35m	$98	$52 · Wed, Oct 14	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in San Diego

San Diego International Airport (SAN)San Diego · Large hubSAN

What to do in San Diego

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo
1,200 acres with 17 museums, Spanish colonial architecture and one of the world's great zoos.
2
La Jolla Cove
Sea lions on the rocks, snorkeling in the marine reserve and the tide pools at sunset.
3
Coronado
Ride the ferry across the bay to the Hotel del Coronado and one of the best beaches in the country.
4
USS Midway Museum
The aircraft carrier on the Embarcadero with 30 restored aircraft and volunteer veteran guides.
5
Torrey Pines
Cliff-top hiking above the Pacific, gliders at the port, and a beach at the bottom.

San Diego weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

66° / 50°

Mild and mostly sunny; occasional rain.

Spring

68° / 56°

Coastal fog mornings ('May gray').

Summer

76° / 65°

Warm, dry, busy beaches.

Fall

76° / 60°

Warmest water; best time to visit.

Travel tips for San Diego

The airport is so close to downtown that a rideshare costs less than airport parking for a day.
Buy zoo tickets online for a small discount, and go early — the animals are most active in the morning.
The Coronado ferry ($8) beats driving the bridge and hunting for parking.
Tijuana is a 20-minute trolley ride to the border; bring your passport and cross on foot via PedWest or San Ysidro.
Beach fog burns off by early afternoon in spring; plan mornings inland.

San Diego flights: frequently asked questions

How far is San Diego airport from downtown?

Three miles — about 10–15 minutes. Rideshares cost $15–$20 and the 992 bus runs every 15 minutes for $2.50.

Do I need a car in San Diego?

Downtown, Balboa Park, Old Town and Coronado are easy by trolley, bus, ferry and rideshare. Rent a car for La Jolla, the northern beaches and Torrey Pines if you plan to move around a lot.

Can I visit Mexico from San Diego?

Yes — the trolley's Blue Line ends at the San Ysidro border crossing, and you can walk into Tijuana in minutes. US citizens need a passport (or passport card) to return.