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SAN San Diego International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

San Diego International Airport (SAN) serves San Diego. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATASAN
ICAOKSAN
Non-stop55
Airlines29
TimezoneAmerica/Los Angeles
Elevation5 m

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The airport in numbers

San Diego International Airport — facts & history

We pulled San Diego International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 25M passengers in 2025.

Opened
1928
98 years ago
Passengers / year
25M
as of 2025
Elevation
5 מ׳
above sea level
Passengers per year, 1949–2025

Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia

Airport to city

Getting from San Diego International Airport to San Diego

Train & bus: Many big airports connect via AirTrain + rail/metro (JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO, ATL, BOS, SEA, DCA, MIA). Others are taxi/car only.

Taxi & apps: A metered yellow cab, with a flat downtown fare at some airports. Uber and Lyft are legal nationwide, picked up from a set zone.

Tipping: 15–20% is effectively expected for a taxi/Uber driver.

Distances

From SAN to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
San Diego3 km10 min$8–$13
Choose and book

Which way suits you from San Diego International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in San Diego ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from San Diego International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 55 destinations, operated by 29 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Alaska Airlines · Southwest Airlines · American Airlines · AirTran Airways · US Airways · United Airlines · Delta Air Lines · Spirit Airlines · JetBlue Airways · Alitalia

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at San Diego International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sailing from here?

San Diego International Airport is the airport nearest San Diego's cruise terminal. Cruises from San Diego — which lines and where ›

Sleep nearby

Hotels near San Diego International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in San Diego shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — San Diego International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near San Diego

Same country

Other airports in United States

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from San Diego International Airport to the centre of San Diego?
Many big airports connect via AirTrain + rail/metro (JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO, ATL, BOS, SEA, DCA, MIA). Others are taxi/car only.
Can I use a ride app from San Diego International Airport?
A metered yellow cab, with a flat downtown fare at some airports. Uber and Lyft are legal nationwide, picked up from a set zone.
What's the cheapest way from San Diego International Airport to San Diego?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Many big airports connect via AirTrain + rail/metro (JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO, ATL, BOS, SEA, DCA, MIA). Others are taxi/car only.
Can I get from San Diego International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Many big airports connect via AirTrain + rail/metro (JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO, ATL, BOS, SEA, DCA, MIA). Others are taxi/car only. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from San Diego International Airport?
About 55 destinations, including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth. 29 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is San Diego International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on San Diego International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at San Diego International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
San Diego city guide← United States travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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