Travelling from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) to San Diego: what you need to know
The timezone in San Diego is UTC-7. The city is 18 hours behind Sydney, where Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport is located.
For hassle-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to board your SYD to San Diego flight.
Heading off during a peak time like a bank holiday? Expect longer queues at check-in and security. To play it safe, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to break up your trip and maybe even explore a different city. When browsing for flight tickets from SYD to San Diego, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Some popular options include:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
SYD is around 8 kilometres from central Sydney. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take you 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 25 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to San Diego? Avoid rushing to the airport (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these hotels near SYD:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, data shows 69.62% of flights arrive within the expected time frame.
How to find the cheapest flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) to San Diego
R 6,622 is the cheapest price we've found for a one-way Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to San Diego flight. A return flight ticket right now is R 12,357. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares can change.
Don't leave everything to the last moment. You're more likely to land cheap flights from SYD to San Diego if you book early. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird rates.
The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest tickets from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to San Diego across every month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your trip dates aren't set in stone.
Picking up a cheap flight from SYD to San Diego couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic notifications and we'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal.
Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with our filters. Then, sort the results for your flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to San Diego by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Airports in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
The distance from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego is roughly 5 kilometres. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're taking public transport, expect a journey time of around 20 minutes.
Think about booking a hotel close to SAN if you're coming in on a late flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to San Diego. Choose one of these options and make arrival day easier:
Travel at your own pace with a San Diego International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Thrifty, Dollar or Budget and see more of San Diego and beyond.
To lock in the lowest price, reserve your vehicle from San Diego International Airport around two weeks ahead of your flight from SYD to San Diego.
The street address for SAN is N Harbour Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) is about 56 kilometres from central San Diego. Following your flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to San Diego, it'll take you around 40 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
The journey will take roughly 2 hours 15 minutes on public transport.
There are some great places to park your luggage (and yourself) near CLD. Kick back and get cosy after your SYD to San Diego flight at one of these perfectly located options:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or waiting forever for a cab. Grab a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car and let your trip unfold on your terms. Check out the availability and rates from Budget, Hertz and Avis.
Avoid filling out forms at the rental desk by having everything prearranged. Reserve your ride from CLD a few weeks in advance so you can just grab the keys and be on your way.
Best time to go to San Diego
Before locking in your flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to San Diego, consider which time of year works best for you. High season in San Diego offers a bustling atmosphere and plenty of activities, while the off-season means you'll get better hotel deals and smaller crowds.
Before locking in your Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to San Diego flight ticket, think about what kind of weather works for you. August is the warmest month in San Diego, with temperatures ranging from 17ºC (63ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF).
If you like cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SYD 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 Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to San Diego, find a hotel that offers both comfort and a great location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring San Diego:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to work out where to begin. USS Midway Museum, San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego are top attractions which should feature on any well-planned San Diego itinerary.
Explore more of United States
San Diego has its own special appeal, but there are so many other parts of United States just waiting to be explored. About 177 kilometres north-west of San Diego, a trip to Los Angeles will keep you on the go. Check out popular attractions like Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.
Phoenix is another well-known destination in United States and is around 483 kilometres east of San Diego. No journey is complete without experiencing Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park.