Flying from New York to San Diego: what you need to know
Start planning your trip by checking out the departure points for your flight from New York to San Diego. Explore your options for taking off from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), 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.
The average duration of a direct New York to San Diego flight is 6 hours 5 minutes.
San Diego is three hours behind New York and observes the UTC-7 timezone.
The busiest route for flights from New York to San Diego is from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to San Diego International Airport (SAN). You can select from 45 weekly services between these two airports. If you'd like to set off at the first opportunity, the earliest flight from JFK to SAN is the 06:00 JetBlue Airways service. If you have other commitments or plans on your day of travel, the latest available service is at 21:00 with Delta Air Lines.
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 New York to San Diego flight.
Be prepared for longer lines during popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for domestic departures will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from New York to San Diego
To secure cheap New York to San Diego flights, book your trip two months ahead of your planned departure.
Organize your trip for May. That's the best month for scoring an incredible deal on plane tickets from New York to San Diego. If you're open to different travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
You don't need to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you when a better deal is available on cheap flights from New York to San Diego.
Tailor your trip using filters. Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' New York to San Diego flights.
Flying from New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
You can get a direct flight from New York to San Diego taking off from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Begin your trip at JFK and touch down at San Diego International Airport (SAN).
Choose from a variety of airlines that offer direct New York to San Diego plane tickets out of JFK. Book your journey with one of these:
The journey from central New York to JFK takes around 1 hour 20 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 19 kilometers in 50 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Booked an early flight from New York to San Diego? Avoid rushing to the airport (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels near John F. Kennedy International Airport:
When it comes to John F. Kennedy International Airport's on-time performance, 74.1% of flights meet their scheduled arrival time.
JFK is located at JFK Airport.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
You can book a direct flight from New York to San Diego out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Nonstop services from EWR will take you to San Diego International Airport (SAN).
Book your direct New York to San Diego plane ticket with United Airlines. This is one of the top airlines that operates this route out of EWR.
You can reach EWR from the center of New York in about 30 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The ride by public transport will take roughly 1 hour 10 minutes to cover the 14 kilometers or so.
Get a head start on your vacation with an extra night away from home. Before catching your flight from New York to San Diego, unwind in one of these hotels close to Newark Liberty International Airport:
When it comes to keeping flights punctual, Newark Liberty International Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 73%.
You'll find EWR at Building 1, Conrad Road.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
LGA is around 13 kilometers from central New York. Driving from the city center to the airport takes about 25 minutes. If you're planning to take public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour.
Set yourself up for a smooth departure — stay near LaGuardia Airport and know you'll make it to the terminal with time to spare. Get settled at one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early New York to San Diego flight:
LGA has an on-time performance rating of 80.0%. This means most of its flights arrive at their destination as expected and your trip runs like clockwork.
LaGuardia Airport is located at Hangar 7 Center.
Arriving in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
The distance from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego is approximately 5 kilometers. It'll take you around 10 minutes to get to the center driving.
If you're taking public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 20 minutes.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from New York to San Diego. Reserve one of these accommodation options near SAN instead:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a San Diego International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Thrifty, Dollar or Budget and see more of San Diego and beyond.
To get the best deal, reserve your vehicle from San Diego International Airport around two weeks ahead of your New York to San Diego flight.
SAN is situated at N Harbor Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
After your flight from New York to San Diego has arrived, you can make your way to the city center in about 40 minutes by car. Central San Diego is approximately 48 kilometers from McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD).
You can expect the journey to take approximately 2 hours 15 minutes on public transport.
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or cab lines. Grab a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car and let the journey unfold your way. Check out the availability and rates from Budget, Hertz and Avis.
Typically, the sooner you book, the better the prices and selection of vehicles. Lock in your ride from CLD as soon as your plans are confirmed.
Best time to go to San Diego
May is the quietest month for flights from New York to San Diego, while July is the most popular. Figure out the best time to go to San Diego based on whether you like a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in San Diego is August, with temperatures ranging between 17ºC (63ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). Lock in your New York to San Diego ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
If you like traveling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from New York to San Diego in February when temperatures average between 7ºC (45ºF) and 23ºC (73ºF).
More about San Diego
Start your San Diego trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from New York to San Diego, check out our range of accommodation options including:
San Diego Zoo and USS Midway Museum are a couple of major attractions to add to your San Diego to-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to SeaWorld San Diego.
Explore more of United States
San Diego has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of United States you'll want to see. Around 177 kilometers north-west of San Diego, a visit 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.
Around 483 kilometers east of San Diego, Phoenix is another essential stop in United States. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park.