San Diego · United States
SAN — San Diego International
Almost downtown, on a single runway, with a Mexican airport as its overflow
San Diego International is remarkably close to the city — the downtown skyline is right there on approach, and the drive is a matter of minutes. It manages a very large traffic volume on a single runway, which is an operational achievement and also its constraint.
The other thing worth knowing is that for travel into Mexico, many travellers here do not use this airport at all. Tijuana's airport is reachable on foot from a terminal in Otay Mesa across a dedicated bridge, and the domestic Mexican fares on the other side are frequently a fraction of the international fares from San Diego.
Terminals and how they connect
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2
Two terminals along the same road, each with its own check-in and security. They are not connected airside — moving between them means going landside and using a shuttle or walking, then clearing security again. Terminal 1 has been undergoing a substantial replacement, so layouts and access roads change.
Getting into San Diego
Times below are realistic ranges rather than best cases. Rail journeys keep to a timetable; road journeys do not, and treating the two the same is how people miss flights.
Taxi or ride-hailing
5–15 minutes to downtown
Genuinely quick. The airport is on the edge of downtown, and this is among the shortest airport transfers of any major US city.
Route 992 bus
10–20 minutes to downtown
A city bus runs between the terminals and downtown, connecting with the trolley network. Inexpensive and perfectly usable with modest luggage.
To Cross Border Xpress at Otay Mesa
25–40 minutes by road
The CBX terminal, from which the bridge crosses into Tijuana airport, is a separate facility southeast of the city. It is not at San Diego airport and needs its own journey.
Connecting through SAN
San Diego is an origin-and-destination airport rather than a connecting one. If your itinerary involves both terminals, allow real time — there is no airside link, so it means leaving and re-entering security.
Worth knowing before you fly
Consider Tijuana for flights into Mexico
A domestic Mexican flight from Tijuana to Guadalajara, León or Los Cabos is often dramatically cheaper than the equivalent international fare from San Diego, and Tijuana serves more Mexican destinations. The Cross Border Xpress bridge makes it practical, though the CBX terminal is a separate drive from the airport.
Terminal 1 is being rebuilt
A large replacement project has been changing the terminal, its roadways and parking in stages. Check current arrangements close to your travel date rather than relying on a previous visit.
One runway means delays propagate
The airport handles heavy traffic on a single runway, so a disruption earlier in the day tends to persist. Earlier departures are more reliable here than at a multi-runway airport.
Terminal assignments, transit timetables and fares all change. Confirm the details that matter to your trip with the airport or transport operator before you travel.
FAQ
SAN — common questions
Terminals, transfers and getting into the city.
Can I fly to Mexico from San Diego airport?
There is some service, but many travellers use Tijuana airport instead, reached on foot from the Cross Border Xpress terminal in Otay Mesa. Flights within Mexico from Tijuana are domestic and priced accordingly, which is often much cheaper. The CBX terminal is a separate twenty-five to forty minute drive from San Diego airport.
Are Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 connected at San Diego airport?
Not airside. Changing terminals means exiting, travelling between the buildings landside and clearing security again. Terminal 1 is also being rebuilt in stages, so check current arrangements before travelling.
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