Skyscanner

Cheap Flights from Washington D.C. (IAD) to San Diego (SANA)

Compare Washington Dulles to San Diego flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to San Diego

Book the best San Diego fare with no extra fees

Flight deals from Washington Dulles to San Diego

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Washington Dulles to San Diego? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
San Diego.$303 per passenger.Departing Tue, 26 Aug, returning Wed, 3 Sep.Return flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Washington Dulles on Tue, 26 Aug, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with United departs from San Diego International on Wed, 3 Sep, arriving in Washington Dulles.Price includes taxes and charges.From $303, select.
San Diego.$303 per passenger.Departing Tue, 16 Sep, returning Wed, 24 Sep.Return flight with Hawaiian Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Hawaiian Airlines departs from Washington Dulles on Tue, 16 Sep, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with Hawaiian Airlines departs from San Diego International on Wed, 24 Sep, arriving in Washington Dulles.Price includes taxes and charges.From $303, select.
San Diego.$303 per passenger.Departing Wed, 20 Aug, returning Wed, 27 Aug.Return flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Washington Dulles on Wed, 20 Aug, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with United departs from San Diego International on Wed, 27 Aug, arriving in Washington Dulles.Price includes taxes and charges.From $303, select.
San Diego.$303 per passenger.Departing Wed, 22 Oct, returning Sat, 25 Oct.Return flight with Hawaiian Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Hawaiian Airlines departs from Washington Dulles on Wed, 22 Oct, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with Hawaiian Airlines departs from San Diego International on Sat, 25 Oct, arriving in Washington Dulles.Price includes taxes and charges.From $303, select.
San Diego.$328 per passenger.Departing Wed, 16 Jul, returning Sat, 19 Jul.Return flight with Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Washington Dulles on Wed, 16 Jul, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Sat, 19 Jul, arriving in Washington Dulles.Price includes taxes and charges.From $328, select.
San Diego.$343 per passenger.Departing Sat, 26 Jul, returning Sat, 2 Aug.Return flight with Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Washington Dulles on Sat, 26 Jul, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Sat, 2 Aug, arriving in Washington Dulles.Price includes taxes and charges.From $343, select.
San Diego.$365 per passenger.Departing Sat, 26 Jul, returning Sat, 16 Aug.Return flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Washington Dulles on Sat, 26 Jul, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with United departs from San Diego International on Sat, 16 Aug, arriving in Washington Dulles.Price includes taxes and charges.From $365, select.
San Diego.$365 per passenger.Departing Thu, 23 Oct, returning Sat, 1 Nov.Return flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Washington Dulles on Thu, 23 Oct, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with United departs from San Diego International on Sat, 1 Nov, arriving in Washington Dulles.Price includes taxes and charges.From $365, select.

The cheapest month to fly from Washington Dulles Airport to San Diego

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, to help you find the lowest one in seconds. Check out the Washington Dulles Airport to San Diego flight prices forecast over the next 12 months.
Jun
from $590
Jul
from $328
Aug
from $303
Sep
from $303
Oct
from $303
Nov
from $367
Dec
from $507
Jan
from $492
Feb
from $507
Mar
Find prices
Apr
Find prices
May
Find prices
Cheapest month:August
Most expensive month:June

Direct flights from Washington Dulles to San Diego

Alternative Washington Dulles to San Diego routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from Washington Dulles to San Diego? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Washington D.C. to San Diego: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$302
Cheapest month to flySeptember
Average flight time5 hrs, 30 mins
Most popular airlineUnited
Average flights per week81

Finding cheap flights from Washington Dulles to San Diego: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in San Diego: San Diego International and McClellan-Palomar.
The best price we found for a return flight from Washington Dulles to San Diego is $302. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
5 hours and 30 minutes is the average flight time from Washington Dulles to San Diego.
United, Qatar Airways and Alaska Airlines fly direct from Washington Dulles to San Diego.
As of June 2025, there are 81 flights per week flying from Washington Dulles to San Diego.
The cheapest month to fly from Washington Dulles to San Diego is usually June 2025.
If you're flying from Washington Dulles Airport, the cheapest airport near San Diego is San Diego International – which is 4.1 km away from the centre of San Diego. We've found flights into this airport from $302.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Washington Dulles Airport to San Diego on Tuesday, 16 September 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 5 hours and 30 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to San Diego but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to San Diego is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In June, the average temperature is usually around 19°C. August is typically the warmest month in San Diego, when it usually averages around 28°C. You can expect the least rain in June. The coldest month is December, with temperatures averaging 10°C. The rainiest month is February.
Currently, Hawaiian Airlines offers the cheapest flight tickets to San Diego.

Travelling from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Diego: what you need to know

  • Approximately 4 hours 55 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego.

  • San Diego is three hours behind Washington DC, where Washington Dulles International Airport is located. San Diego follows the UTC-7 timezone.

  • Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the most popular route, with 28 flights a week to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from IAD to SAN is with United Airlines at 18:20. Go for the first departure with United Airlines at 08:30 if you want to fly out earlier.

  • For a relaxed start to your IAD to San Diego flight, leave plenty of time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.

  • Heading off during a peak period like a bank holiday? Expect longer queues at check-in and security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.

  • Start your trip at IAD and fly straight to San Diego International Airport (SAN). That will be your arrival point when searching for Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego tickets.

  • Keep your eyes peeled for offers from United Airlines. This airline operates direct flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego.

  • The journey from central Washington DC to IAD takes around 1 hour 10 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 40 kilometres in 50 minutes or so, depending on traffic.

  • Have an early flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to IAD:

  • Of all flights leaving Washington Dulles International Airport, 74.39% land on schedule at their destination.

  • The address for IAD is 1 Saarinen Circle.

How to find the cheapest flights from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Diego

  • The best price we've seen for a one-way Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego flight is $149. The cheapest price for a return flight is $303. Remember fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.

  • Book two months before your departure date. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from IAD to San Diego.

  • Plan your trip for June. That's the best month for scoring the biggest deals on Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego tickets. If you're flexible on when you fly, use the 'Whole month' tool to access the lowest price across every month.

  • Locking in a cheap flight from IAD to San Diego is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic notifications and we'll let you know as soon as a deal gets even better.

  • Tailor your flights with filters. Select your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego.

Airports in San Diego

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

  • San Diego International Airport (SAN) is around 5 kilometres from central San Diego. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take roughly 10 minutes.

  • Travelling by public transport takes about 20 minutes.

  • Consider booking a hotel close to SAN if you have a late flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego. Check in to one of these accommodation options and make your first night all about rest:

  • Fast-track your adventure by picking up a San Diego International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Thrifty, Dollar or Budget and explore beyond San Diego's main sights.

  • To lock in the lowest price, book your vehicle from San Diego International Airport about two weeks ahead of your flight from IAD to San Diego.

  • The street address for SAN is N Harbour Dr.

McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)

  • McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) is roughly 56 kilometres from the centre of San Diego. After your flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego, it'll take you around 40 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.

  • Public transport will get you there in around 2 hours 15 minutes.

  • Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and unwind at a hotel close to CLD. Here are a few options where you can put your feet up after your IAD to San Diego flight:

  • The fastest way to reach your destination is with a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car. Collect your wheels from Budget, Hertz or Avis and be on your way in a flash.

  • Generally speaking, the earlier you book, the better the deals and choice of vehicles. Secure your ride from CLD as soon as you know your dates.

Best time to go to San Diego

  • Before you book your flights from Washington Dulles International 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 low season means you'll get better hotel deals and fewer crowds.

  • The warmest month in San Diego is August, with temperatures ranging between 17ºC (63ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). Lock in your Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego flight ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.

  • February has average temperatures of between 7ºC (45ºF) and 23ºC (73ºF). Search for a cheap ticket from IAD to San Diego around that time if you like cooler conditions.

More about San Diego

  • Start your San Diego trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego, explore our range of accommodation options including:

  • Every great adventure has to include a little sightseeing. USS Midway Museum, San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego are essential stops on your San Diego itinerary.

Explore more of United States

  • San Diego has plenty to offer, but there are so many other corners of United States just waiting to be discovered. About 177 kilometres north-west of San Diego, a trip to Los Angeles will keep your itinerary packed. Start with leading attractions like Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.

  • If you're eager to discover another major destination in United States, head for Phoenix, roughly 483 kilometres east of San Diego. Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park are key reasons to visit.

Plan the rest of your trip from Washington D.C. to San Diego

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.