Travelling from San Jose to San Diego: what you need to know
Many great adventures kick off from San Jose's main airport, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). Explore your options for booking a flight from San Jose to San Diego departing from this terminal.
The primary gateways to San Diego are San Diego International Airport (SAN) and McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD).
Around 1 hour 25 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct San Jose to San Diego flight.
San Jose and San Diego are both in the UTC-7 timezone. This means there's no time difference to consider.
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the most traveled route between these two cities. There are 72 flights a week to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from San Jose to San Diego is with Southwest Airlines at 21:45. Go for the first SJC to SAN departure operated by Alaska Airlines at 06:15 to make the most of your arrival in San Diego.
To ensure you don't miss your San Jose to San Diego flight, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule to follow.
During popular months like August, you'll want to get to the airport well in advance. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're flying during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Jose to San Diego
R 770 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from San Jose to San Diego. Return flights start at R 1,385. 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)
Depart from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) on a nonstop flight from San Jose to San Diego. From SJC, you can travel directly to San Diego International Airport (SAN).
Leading carriers that offer direct San Jose to San Diego plane tickets departing from SJC include:
The journey from central San Jose to SJC takes around 45 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 5 kilometres in 10 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Have an early flight from San Jose to San Diego? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these hotels near Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport:
84.69% of flights departing from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport arrive at their destination as planned. With its impressive on-time stats, you're unlikely to experience delays when flying out of SJC.
SJC is located 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 by car. The centre is roughly 5 kilometres away.
Getting to the centre by public transport takes roughly 20 minutes.
Book a hotel near SAN if you have a late flight from San Jose to San Diego. Settle into one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Grab a San Diego International Airport rental car and discover San Diego and beyond with your own wheels. Thrifty, Dollar and Budget are top providers to choose from here.
To get the best deal, book your vehicle from San Diego International Airport about two weeks ahead of your San Jose to San Diego flight.
The street address for SAN is N Harbour Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) is roughly 48 kilometres from central San Diego. Once you've hopped off your flight from San Jose to San Diego, it takes approximately 40 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
If you choose to travel on public transport, the journey will take you 2 hours 15 minutes or so.
The fastest way to reach your destination is with a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car. Collect your wheels from Budget, Hertz or Avis and hit the road in a heartbeat.
In general, the sooner you book, the better the prices and selection of vehicles. Reserve your ride from CLD as soon as you know your dates.
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
Once you've booked your flight from San Jose to San Diego, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring San Diego:
San Diego Zoo and USS Midway Museum are a couple of leading attractions to add to your San Diego itinerary. Continue your sightseeing adventures 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.
