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Cheap Flights from San Diego (SAN) to Columbus (CMHA)

Compare San Diego International to Columbus flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Columbus

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Flight deals from San Diego International to Columbus

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from San Diego International Airport to Columbus? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from $427. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Columbus.$340 per passenger.Departing Thu, 3 Sep, returning Mon, 7 Sep.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 3 Sep, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 7 Sep, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $340, select.
Columbus.$340 per passenger.Departing Sun, 9 Aug, returning Fri, 14 Aug.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Sun, 9 Aug, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Fri, 14 Aug, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $340, select.
Columbus.$387 per passenger.Departing Sun, 30 Aug, returning Mon, 7 Sep.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Sun, 30 Aug, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 7 Sep, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $387, select.
Columbus.$393 per passenger.Departing Thu, 30 Jul, returning Mon, 3 Aug.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 30 Jul, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 3 Aug, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $393, select.
Columbus.$427 per passenger.Departing Mon, 20 Jul, returning Mon, 27 Jul.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Mon, 20 Jul, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 27 Jul, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $427, select.
Columbus.$444 per passenger.Departing Fri, 18 Dec, returning Mon, 21 Dec.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 18 Dec, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 21 Dec, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $444, select.
Columbus.$444 per passenger.Departing Tue, 5 Jan, returning Tue, 19 Jan.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 5 Jan, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Port Columbus on Tue, 19 Jan, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $444, select.
Columbus.$444 per passenger.Departing Fri, 30 Oct, returning Mon, 2 Nov.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 30 Oct, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 2 Nov, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $444, select.
Columbus.$445 per passenger.Departing Tue, 13 Oct, returning Tue, 20 Oct.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 13 Oct, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Port Columbus on Tue, 20 Oct, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $445, select.
Columbus.$446 per passenger.Departing Tue, 30 Jun, returning Wed, 8 Jul.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 30 Jun, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Port Columbus on Wed, 8 Jul, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $446, select.
Columbus.$493 per passenger.Departing Fri, 27 Nov, returning Mon, 30 Nov.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 27 Nov, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 30 Nov, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $493, select.
Columbus.$500 per passenger.Departing Wed, 10 Jun, returning Wed, 24 Jun.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Wed, 10 Jun, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Port Columbus on Wed, 24 Jun, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $500, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from San Diego International to Columbus

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like San Diego International to Columbus flights are currently cheapest in August.
Jun
from $500
Jul
from $427
Aug
from $340
Sep
from $340
Oct
from $445
Nov
from $493
Dec
from $444
Jan
from $444
Feb
Find prices
Mar
Find prices
Apr
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May
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Direct flights from San Diego International to Columbus

Alternative San Diego International to Columbus routes

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

Port Columbus

11km from central Columbus
ClosestCheapest
from $340
Search flights

Columbus Rickenbacker

17km from central Columbus
from $1,004
Search flights

San Diego to Columbus: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$340
Cheapest month to flySeptember
Average flight time4 hrs, 18 mins
Most popular airlineSouthwest Airlines
Average flights per week6

Finding cheap flights from San Diego International to Columbus: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in Columbus: Port Columbus and Columbus Rickenbacker.
The best price we found for a return flight from San Diego International to Columbus is $340. 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.
4 hours and 18 minutes is the average flight time from San Diego International to Columbus.
Southwest Airlines flies direct from San Diego International to Columbus.
As of June 2026, there are 6 flights per week flying from San Diego International to Columbus.
The cheapest month to fly from San Diego International to Columbus is usually September.
If you're flying from San Diego International Airport, the cheapest airport near Columbus is Port Columbus – which is 10.8 km away from the centre of Columbus. We've found flights into this airport from $340.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from San Diego International Airport to Columbus on Thursday, 3 September 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 4 hours and 18 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 Columbus 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 Columbus is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In June, the average temperature is usually around 21°C. July is typically the warmest month in Columbus, when it usually averages around 29°C. You can expect the least rain in February. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging -7°C. The rainiest month is May.
Currently, Frontier Airlines offers the cheapest flight tickets to Columbus.

Flying from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Columbus: what you need to know

  • Hop on a direct flight from San Diego International Airport to Columbus and you'll be travelling for around 4 hours 40 minutes.

  • The timezone in Columbus is UTC-5. The city is three hours ahead of San Diego, where San Diego International Airport is located.

  • The most popular route is from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH). You can select from three services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to get on your way as soon as you can, the earliest flight from SAN to CMH is the 08:40 Southwest Airlines service. If you'd rather travel later, the final departure is at 14:15 with Southwest Airlines.

  • For a relaxed start to your SAN to Columbus flight, leave enough time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.

  • Flying during a popular month like July? Public holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines and delays at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.

  • Begin your trip at SAN and fly nonstop to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH). That will be your arrival point when searching for San Diego International Airport to Columbus tickets.

  • Get on board with Southwest Airlines. This popular airline offers direct flights from San Diego International Airport to Columbus.

  • SAN is about 3 kilometres from central San Diego. If you're catching a taxi, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're taking public transport, expect the travel time to be around 25 minutes.

  • In search of a hotel close to SAN? If you've booked an early flight from San Diego International Airport to Columbus, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure gate:

  • 74% of flights that take off from San Diego International Airport reach their destination on schedule.

  • SAN is located at N Harbour Dr.

How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Columbus

  • $169 is currently the best price for a one-way San Diego International Airport to Columbus flight. Return plane tickets start at $340. These fares may change based on demand and availability.

  • Booking ahead of time is often the key to locking in a cheap flight from SAN to Columbus. Fares tend to rise as demand increases, so the nearer you get to departure, the more expensive your ticket may be.

  • The 'Whole month' tool will show you the cheapest tickets from San Diego International Airport to Columbus across the entire month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your dates are flexible.

  • Never miss a deal on cheap flights from SAN to Columbus by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a new low fare is offered.

  • Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines with our filters. Then, sort the results for your flight from San Diego International Airport to Columbus by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'

Airports in Columbus

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

  • John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) to the centre of Columbus takes about 20 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 16 kilometres away.

  • It'll take around 40 minutes if you're using public transport.

  • The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from San Diego International Airport to Columbus. Book one of these accommodation options near CMH instead:

  • To lock in the best rate, reserve your vehicle from John Glenn Columbus International Airport at least a few weeks in advance of your flight from SAN to Columbus. Prices generally rise closer to the day of travel.

  • You'll find CMH at 4600 International Gateway.

Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK)

  • Once your flight from San Diego International Airport to Columbus has landed, you can reach the city centre in around 25 minutes by car. Central Columbus is roughly 23 kilometres from Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK).

  • The trip will take roughly 1 hour 15 minutes on public transport.

  • Relax and unpack not long after your SAN to Columbus flight at Best Western Canal Winchester Inn - Columbus South East. This comfortable accommodation option is a quick drive from LCK.

Best time to go to Columbus

  • December is the quietest month for flights from San Diego International Airport to Columbus, while July is the most popular. Choose the best time to go to Columbus based on whether you like a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.

  • Before booking a San Diego International Airport to Columbus plane ticket, think about the kind of weather forecast you're hoping for. July is the warmest month in Columbus, with temperatures ranging from 15ºC (59ºF) to 31ºC (88ºF).

  • Look for cheap tickets from SAN to Columbus in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -11ºC (12ºF) and 6ºC (43ºF) on average.

More about Columbus

  • When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Columbus right here. Browse these options after locking in your flight from San Diego International Airport to Columbus:

  • There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Whetstone Park / Park of Roses, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Ohio Theatre are top sights which should feature on every Columbus itinerary.

Explore more of the United States

  • You've seen Columbus, now it's time to discover more of the United States. Travel about 451 kilometres northwest to Chicago to check off its must-visit sights. From Millennium Park to Art Institute of Chicago and Willis Tower, there's plenty to keep you on the go.

  • Around 274 kilometres west of Columbus, Indianapolis is another essential stop in the United States. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Lucas Oil Stadium, Eiteljorg Museum and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Plan the rest of your trip from San Diego to Columbus

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 12 days.