Call Now: 
Cheap Flights from Chicago to San Diego
CHI → SAN • About 4h 15m nonstop • 4 airlines
Adults
+12 years old
Children
2-11 years old
Infants
Under 2 years
Fares shown are the lowest we have recorded recently on this route and are not a live quote. Run a search above for today's availability, or call (800) 399-8818 and an agent will price it with you.
Flights from Chicago (CHI) to San Diego (SAN)
The Chicago to San Diego route covers roughly 1,730 miles and takes about 4h 15m nonstop. 4 airlines compete on it — United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines — which keeps fares moving and makes it worth comparing carriers rather than defaulting to the one you usually fly. We have seen one-way fares on this route start around $132.
San Diego has the most reliable weather of any major American city and 70 miles of coastline to use it on. Balboa Park alone holds 17 museums and the zoo, and the beach towns from Coronado up to La Jolla each have their own character.
The airport sits three miles from downtown, which makes it one of the easiest arrivals in the country — you can be at the harbour fifteen minutes after landing. Tijuana is 20 miles south if you want to add a border crossing to the trip.
Airlines flying CHI to SAN
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
Airports on this route
- Departing: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Departing: Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Arriving: San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Chicago is served by 2 airports. Fares between them can differ by $50 to $150 on the same dates, so ask us to price all of them before you book.
Best time to fly to San Diego
March through May and September through November, when the crowds thin but the weather stays in the 70s.
Top things to do in San Diego
- Balboa Park
- San Diego Zoo
- USS Midway Museum
- La Jolla Cove
- Coronado Beach
- Gaslamp Quarter
- Torrey Pines State Reserve
How to save on Chicago to San Diego flights
- Shift your departure by one or two days — midweek departures on this route are consistently cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
- Book four to eight weeks ahead. Last-minute fares on CHI to SAN routinely run double the advance price.
- Compare all 4 carriers rather than checking one airline's own site.
- The airport is three miles from downtown — skip the rental car if you are staying central.
- "May Gray" and "June Gloom" bring overcast coastal mornings in late spring.
- Comic-Con week in July fills every hotel downtown and doubles rates.
About flights from Chicago to San Diego
Fares on the CHI to SAN route move with demand, so flexibility is worth more than timing tricks. Shifting your departure by a day or two, flying midweek instead of Friday or Sunday, and booking four to eight weeks ahead all reduce the fare on this route. Chicago is served by 2 airports, so ask us to price all of them — the difference is often significant. Our agents also hold consolidator and unpublished fares that do not appear in online results.
United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines all operate on this route. United Airlines typically offers the most frequencies, with American Airlines and Southwest Airlines providing competing schedules. Availability varies by season and by which Chicago airport you depart from, so it is worth comparing all carriers before booking.
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 15m. Itineraries with a connection typically add two to four hours depending on the layover city and the length of the stop.
The two cities are roughly 1,730 miles apart by air.
Departures leave from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Arrivals land at San Diego International Airport (SAN).
March through May and September through November, when the crowds thin but the weather stays in the 70s.