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

Southwest Airlines

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Flight deals from San Diego to Columbus

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from San Diego to Columbus? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from $323. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Columbus.$323 per passenger.Departing Thu, 1 Oct, returning Fri, 16 Oct.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 1 Oct, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Fri, 16 Oct, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $323, select.
Columbus.$323 per passenger.Departing Fri, 11 Sep, returning Mon, 14 Sep.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 11 Sep, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 14 Sep, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $323, select.
Columbus.$390 per passenger.Departing Mon, 28 Sep, returning Mon, 5 Oct.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Mon, 28 Sep, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 5 Oct, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $390, select.
Columbus.$395 per passenger.Departing Fri, 28 Aug, returning Mon, 31 Aug.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 28 Aug, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 31 Aug, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $395, select.
Columbus.$395 per passenger.Departing Wed, 19 Aug, returning Wed, 2 Sep.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Wed, 19 Aug, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Wed, 2 Sep, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $395, select.
Columbus.$435 per passenger.Departing Thu, 29 Oct, returning Sun, 8 Nov.Return flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 29 Oct, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Sun, 8 Nov, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $435, select.
Columbus.$455 per passenger.Departing Thu, 26 Nov, returning Thu, 3 Dec.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 26 Nov, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Port Columbus on Thu, 3 Dec, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $455, select.
Columbus.$455 per passenger.Departing Thu, 19 Nov, returning Thu, 26 Nov.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 19 Nov, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Port Columbus on Thu, 26 Nov, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $455, select.
Columbus.$456 per passenger.Departing Tue, 22 Dec, returning Fri, 25 Dec.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 22 Dec, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Port Columbus on Fri, 25 Dec, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $456, select.
Columbus.$462 per passenger.Departing Fri, 21 May, returning Mon, 24 May.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 21 May, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 24 May, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $462, select.
Columbus.$1,311 per passenger.Departing Fri, 14 Aug, returning Mon, 17 Aug.Return flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from San Diego International on Fri, 14 Aug, arriving in Port Columbus.Inbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Port Columbus on Mon, 17 Aug, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,311, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Columbus

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like San Diego to Columbus flights are currently cheapest in September.
Aug
from $395
Sep
from $323
Oct
from $323
Nov
from $455
Dec
from $456
Jan
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
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May
from $462
Jun
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Jul
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Direct flights from San Diego to Columbus

Southwest Airlines

Alternative San Diego to Columbus routes

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

Port Columbus

11km from central Columbus
ClosestCheapest
from $323
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Columbus Rickenbacker

17km from central Columbus
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San Diego to Columbus: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$323
Cheapest month to flySeptember
Average flight time4 hrs, 14 mins
Most popular airlineSouthwest Airlines
Average flights per week5

Finding cheap flights from San Diego 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 to Columbus is $323. 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 14 minutes is the average flight time from San Diego to Columbus.
Southwest Airlines flies direct from San Diego to Columbus.
As of August 2026, there are 5 flights per week flying from San Diego to Columbus.
The cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Columbus is usually September.
If you're flying from San Diego, 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 $323.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from San Diego to Columbus on Friday, 11 September 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 4 hours and 14 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 August, the average temperature is usually around 23°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.
The cheapest airline that flies to Columbus is Frontier Airlines. And the cheapest airline that flies to Columbus Rickenbacker Airport is Southwest Airlines.

Flying from San Diego to Columbus: what you need to know

  • Many great adventures start at one of San Diego's main airports, San Diego International Airport (SAN) or McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD). Explore the options for booking a flight from San Diego to Columbus leaving from either of these.

  • When it comes to landing in Columbus, Port Columbus Airport (CMH) is a key hub. Columbus Rickenbacker Airport (LCK) is another.

  • Book a direct San Diego to Columbus flight and you'll be in the air for an average of 4 hours 20 minutes.

  • Columbus's timezone is UTC-5, making Columbus three hours ahead of San Diego.

  • The most popular route for flights from San Diego to Columbus is from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Port Columbus Airport (CMH). Choose from three services every week between these two airports. If you want to maximise your time on arrival, the earliest flight from SAN to CMH is the 08:40 Southwest Airlines service. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final departure is at 14:15 with Southwest Airlines.

  • For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. That way, you can comfortably catch your San Diego to Columbus flight.

  • During popular months like August, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight when you travel during peak periods in general.

How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Columbus

  • Booking ahead of time is often the key to finding a cheap San Diego to Columbus flight. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend on your ticket.

  • If you're willing to be flexible with your trip dates, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll give you the lowest price in each month when looking for your plane ticket from San Diego to Columbus.

  • Finding a cheap flight from San Diego to Columbus is easy with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when the price has dropped.

  • Find an affordable San Diego to Columbus flight with the help of our filters. Select your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.

Flying from San Diego

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

  • You can book a direct flight from San Diego to Columbus taking off from San Diego International Airport (SAN). Begin your journey at SAN and touch down at Port Columbus Airport (CMH).

  • Keep an eye out for promotions with Southwest Airlines. This carrier offers direct San Diego to Columbus plane tickets from SAN.

  • The journey from central San Diego to SAN takes around 25 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a taxi, you'll cover the 5 kilometres in 15 minutes or so, depending on traffic.

  • Need a handy hotel close to San Diego International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from San Diego to Columbus, these stays will put you moments from check-in:

  • 74% of flights leaving from San Diego International Airport arrive at their destination on schedule.

  • You'll find SAN at N Harbour Dr.

Arriving in Columbus

Port Columbus Airport (CMH)

  • Port Columbus Airport (CMH) to central Columbus takes around 20 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 10 kilometres away.

  • When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 40 minutes.

  • Consider booking a hotel close to CMH if you're coming in on a late flight from San Diego to Columbus. Choose one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:

  • Get on the fast track to adventure by picking up a Port Columbus Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Alamo, Budget or Avis to explore Columbus and beyond.

  • To get the lowest possible price, book your ride from Port Columbus Airport at least a couple of weeks ahead. Prices typically increase closer to your day of departure.

  • CMH is located at 4600 International Gateway.

Columbus Rickenbacker Airport (LCK)

  • The centre of Columbus is located around 16 kilometres from Columbus Rickenbacker Airport (LCK). Once your flight from San Diego to Columbus has landed and you've navigated your way to arrivals, expect a drive of about 25 minutes.

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

  • Baymont by Wyndham Columbus/Rickenbacker is one accommodation option within an easy drive of LCK. Check in here after your flight from San Diego to Columbus and then put up the 'Do not disturb' sign for some uninterrupted rest.

Best time to go to Columbus

  • March is the quietest month for flights from San Diego to Columbus, while July is the busiest. Figure out the best time to visit Columbus based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.

  • Lock in a San Diego to Columbus ticket departing in July if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Columbus to range from 15ºC (59ºF) to 31ºC (88ºF).

  • January has average temperatures of between -11ºC (12ºF) and 6ºC (43ºF). Search for cheap flights from San Diego to Columbus around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.

More about Columbus

  • When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best stays in Columbus right here. Browse these hotels once you've locked in your flight from San Diego to Columbus:

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

Explore more of the United States

  • Columbus has plenty to offer, but there are so many other parts of the United States just waiting to be explored. Around 451 kilometres northwest of Columbus, a visit to Chicago will fill your itinerary to the brim. Don't miss top attractions like Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago and Willis Tower.

  • Around 274 kilometres west of Columbus, Indianapolis is another essential stop in the United States. No visit is complete without checking out Lucas Oil Stadium, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Plan smart, explore more

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