Travelling from Houston to San Diego: what you need to know
Begin your trip planning by checking out the ideal departure point for your flight from Houston to San Diego. Explore the options for taking off from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) or William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), two of the city's main airports.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) and McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) are the chief entry points to San Diego.
Around 3 hours 20 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Houston to San Diego flight.
San Diego's timezone is UTC-7, which makes San Diego two hours behind Houston.
The most popular route for flights from Houston to San Diego is from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to San Diego International Airport (SAN). You can select from 34 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to set off at the first opportunity, the earliest flight from IAH to SAN is the 07:25 United Airlines option. If you prefer travelling later, the final departure is at 20:17 with United Airlines.
Leave enough time to get on your Houston to San Diego flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights when you travel during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Houston to San Diego
Right now, $91 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Houston to San Diego. The cheapest price for a return flight is $221. Remember fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
To snag cheap Houston to San Diego flights, book your trip two months before your departure date.
May is the best month for scoring an awesome deal on a plane ticket from Houston to San Diego. If you're looking to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
There's no need to search every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you when there's a better deal on cheap flights from Houston to San Diego.
Tailor your trip using filters. Select your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' Houston to San Diego flights.
Flying from Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
If you're after a direct flight from Houston to San Diego, you can depart from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Fly from IAH to San Diego International Airport (SAN) without any stops.
United Airlines is a well-known carrier that offers direct Houston to San Diego plane tickets leaving from IAH.
IAH is about 21 kilometres from central Houston. 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 the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 50 minutes.
Want a hassle-free start to your holiday? Stay near George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from Houston to San Diego or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are the answer:
78.42% of flights that depart George Bush Intercontinental Airport make it to their destination on time.
You'll find IAH at 16930 JFK Boulevard.
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Prefer to jet off from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)? This popular hub offers direct flights from Houston to San Diego, seamlessly connecting to San Diego International Airport (SAN).
You can book a direct Houston to San Diego plane ticket with Southwest Airlines. This is one of the main airlines operating this route out of HOU.
On public transport, you can travel from central Houston to HOU in around 1 hour 40 minutes. The airport is roughly 16 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 20 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before your flight from Houston to San Diego? Unwind in a hotel near William P. Hobby Airport before your adventure officially starts. Here's where you can stay:
The majority of flights that leave William P. Hobby Airport reach their destination right on cue. It boasts a strong on-time performance rate of 81%.
The street address for HOU is 7800 Airport Boulevard.
Arriving in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is approximately 5 kilometres from central San Diego. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take around 10 minutes.
Getting to the centre on public transport typically takes 20 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Houston to San Diego, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these hotels near SAN:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a San Diego International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Thrifty, Dollar or Budget and experience the lesser-explored corners of San Diego and beyond.
Reserving your ride from San Diego International Airport around two weeks in advance can help you get the lowest rate.
SAN is situated at N Harbour Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) is around 48 kilometres from the centre of San Diego. Once you've disembarked your flight from Houston to San Diego, it takes approximately 40 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
If you hop on public transport, you'll reach the centre in 2 hours 15 minutes or so.
Budget, Hertz and Avis make picking up a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car quick and easy. These trusted companies are located around or in the terminal and will have you behind the wheel before you know it.
Avoid the slow-moving lines and paperwork at the rental desk by completing your booking beforehand. Secure your ride from CLD a few weeks in advance so you can simply collect the keys and drive away.
Best time to go to San Diego
It's time to figure out your travel dates for your flight from Houston to San Diego. July is the busiest month to travel to San Diego. If you like a quieter vibe, go in May.
When booking your Houston to San Diego tickets, consider what kind of weather works for you. August is the warmest month in San Diego, with temperatures ranging from 17ºC to 28ºC.
February has average temperatures of between 7ºC and 23ºC. Look for cheap flights from Houston to San Diego around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about San Diego
Start your San Diego trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Houston to San Diego, check out our range of hotels including:
San Diego Zoo and USS Midway Museum are a couple of big attractions to add to your San Diego must-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to SeaWorld San Diego.
Explore more of United States
San Diego is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other corners of United States just waiting to be explored. About 177 kilometres north-west of San Diego, a trip to Los Angeles will fill your itinerary to the brim. Don't miss top 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 trip is complete without visiting Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park.