Travelling from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to San Diego International Airport (SAN): what you need to know
Jump on a direct flight from Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport and you'll be travelling for an average of 1 hour 35 minutes.
Sacramento and San Diego are both in the UTC-7 timezone. This means you won't have to change your watch when you arrive.
Flights from SMF to SAN start from 05:40 — the first with Southwest Airlines. The last service of the day is at 21:55 with Southwest Airlines. In total, you can choose from 83 weekly Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport flights.
For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to catch your SMF to SAN flight.
You'll likely experience longer lines during popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
A variety of airlines operate direct flights from Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport, so jetting off to San Diego (and then exploring more of United States!) is easy. The most popular carriers that fly nonstop include:
The majority of travellers choose to travel with Alaska Airlines on this route.
Spirit Airlines leads the way as the most punctual carrier for SMF to SAN flights, with 80.0% of its services landing on schedule.
If you want to include a stop along the way, simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport. These are the top stopovers between SMF and SAN:
Los Angeles International Airport
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport)
Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Currently, $56 is the cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is $112. Keep in mind that fares can change due to availability when booking.
Score cheap tickets from SMF to SAN by booking at least six months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for bagging a bargain.
May is the cheapest month for flights from Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport. If you prefer to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for every month.
You don't need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you as soon as there's a change in price on cheap flights from SMF to SAN.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport.
Handy information about Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
SMF is located at 6900 Airport Boulevard.
Sacramento International Airport has an excellent on-time performance, so flight disruptions are less likely. Departures from SMF touch down on schedule 82.15% of the time.
To get to Sacramento International Airport from central Sacramento, it'll take around 15 minutes by car. This depends on traffic, however. It's approximately 19 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
The trip on public transport takes about 25 minutes.
Get your flight from Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport off to a hassle-free start. Just a quick ride from SMF, spend the night in Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sacramento Airport Natomas and be well-rested for the trip ahead.
Arriving at San Diego International Airport (SAN)
The last thing you need is a long trip to your hotel if you're arriving on a late Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport flight. Book one of these accommodation options near SAN instead:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a San Diego International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Thrifty, Dollar or Budget to explore San Diego and beyond.
To get the best deal, book your ride from San Diego International Airport about two weeks ahead.
Getting from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego
You'll find SAN at Airport Drive.
San Diego International Airport is approximately 5 kilometres from central San Diego. The drive time takes around 10 minutes.
If you're taking public transport, expect a journey time of about 20 minutes.
When to fly to San Diego International Airport (SAN)
It's time to choose your dates for your flight from Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport. July is the busiest month to head to San Diego. If you like a more laid-back vibe, go in May.
Book your flight from Sacramento International Airport to San Diego International Airport for August if you want to explore San Diego during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 17ºC and 28ºC.
Search for cheap tickets from SMF to SAN in February if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between 7ºC and 23ºC on average.
Explore more of United States
Los Angeles is just one of the many places in United States waiting to be discovered once you've seen San Diego. Around 177 kilometres away to the north-west, check out popular attractions including Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.
If you're ready to explore another corner of United States, consider Phoenix, about 483 kilometres east of San Diego. Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park are the start of reasons to visit.