Flying from San Jose to San Diego: what you need to know
Many exciting adventures take off from San Jose's main airport, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). Check out your options for catching a flight from San Jose to San Diego departing from this base.
The primary gateways to San Diego are San Diego International Airport (SAN) and McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD).
Take a direct San Jose to San Diego flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 1 hour 25 minutes.
San Diego's timezone is UTC-7, which is the same as San Jose.
The busiest route for flights from San Jose to San Diego is from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) to San Diego International Airport (SAN). Take your pick of 72 weekly services between these two airports. If you'd like to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from SJC to SAN is the 06:15 Alaska Airlines option. If you prefer travelling later, the last available departure is at 21:40 with Southwest Airlines.
To ensure you catch your San Jose to San Diego flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
If you're heading away during a peak month like August, get to the airport even earlier. It's smart to arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours ahead of a domestic departure. Expect lines to be longer during peak periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Jose to San Diego
R 720 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from San Jose to San Diego. Return flights start at R 1,440. These fares can change depending on demand and availability.
Get cheap San Jose to San Diego flights by booking two months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for bagging a bargain.
May is the best month for landing an awesome deal on a plane ticket from San Jose to San Diego. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for each month.
Cut down on the time spent looking for cheap flights from San Jose to San Diego by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or push notification on the app when a new discounted fare appears.
Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops by using the filters. Alternatively, sort your San Jose to San Diego flight results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
Flying from San Jose
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
If you're looking for a direct flight from San Jose to San Diego, you can depart from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). Get from SJC to San Diego International Airport (SAN) in one seamless trip.
Popular carriers that offer direct San Jose to San Diego plane tickets from SJC include:
Located around 5 kilometres from the centre of San Jose, SJC can be reached in about 10 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport will take roughly 45 minutes.
Booked an early flight from San Jose to San Diego? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport:
84.69% of flights departing from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport reach their destination according to schedule. With its impressive on-time stats, you're unlikely to experience delays when flying out of SJC.
You'll find SJC at 1701 Airport Boulevard, Suite B-1130.
Arriving in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego takes about 10 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 3 kilometres away.
It typically takes 20 minutes to get there on public transport.
If you have a late flight from San Jose to San Diego, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these hotels near SAN:
Explore without limits with a San Diego International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Thrifty, Dollar or Budget and venture far and wide through San Diego and beyond.
Lock in the best rate by booking your vehicle from San Diego International Airport around two weeks before your trip.
SAN is situated at N Harbour Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
Once your flight from San Jose to San Diego has hit the tarmac, you can reach the city centre in about 40 minutes by car. Central San Diego is roughly 48 kilometres from McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD).
If you're catching public transport, it'll take around 2 hours 15 minutes.
Budget, Hertz and Avis make collecting a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car simple. These trusted companies are located around or in the terminal and will have you ready to go in a flash.
Get your ideal vehicle, not just what's left over, by booking your ride from CLD before your arrival. You can also avoid paying extra, especially during peak travel times.
Best time to go to San Diego
It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from San Jose to San Diego. July is the busiest month to travel to San Diego. If you want a quieter atmosphere, go in May.
The warmest month in San Diego is August, with temperatures ranging between 17ºC (63ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). Lock in your San Jose to San Diego ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from San Jose to San Diego in February when temperatures average between 7ºC (45ºF) and 23ºC (73ºF).
More about San Diego
Start your San Diego trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from San Jose to San Diego, check out our selection of hotels including:
San Diego Zoo and USS Midway Museum are just a couple of the major attractions to add to your San Diego itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at SeaWorld San Diego.
Explore more of United States
You've seen San Diego, now it's time to explore other parts of United States. Travel around 177 kilometres north-west to Los Angeles to tick off its top attractions. From Griffith Observatory to The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
Phoenix is another essential stop in United States and is around 483 kilometres east of San Diego. No journey is complete without dropping by Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park.