$79 Find Cheap Flights from Denver to San Diego - Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Denver to San Diego:

• Earliest: departs at 5:50 am and lands at 8:21 am
• Latest: departs at 11:55 pm and lands at 2:26 am.

The flight takes about 2h 31m.

Four cabin classes are available on flights from Denver to San Diego:

• Economy Class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

Prices vary by airline.

A nonstop flight from Denver to San Diego takes 2h 31m, covering 852 miles.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

Round-trip flights from Denver to San Diego range from $122 to $278, with an average of $199 over the past 12 months. Anything below $122 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 52% above the $199 route average. Book 5 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $179 round-trip via San Francisco (SFO), compared to $198 for nonstop.

Alaska Airlines is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Frontier has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Denver to San Diego flights are:

• Alaska Airlines: 85% on time
• Frontier: 84% on time
• United Airlines: 81% on time

Overall, flights on this route are punctual 79% of the time on average.

There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $40–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Southwest and Alaska Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A321neo variants.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Denver to San Diego flights, with 36% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 36%, evening flights for 17%, and night flights for 11%.

Alaska Airlines is the only airline on the Denver to San Diego route offering in-flight Wi-Fi. Pricing depends on fare class.

One-way fares from Denver to San Diego are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $105, which is 29% below the typical average for this route.

San Diego Airport (SAN) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $14 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Dollar
• Payless
• Europcar
• Thrifty
• Fox

Flights from Denver to San Diego usually depart from Denver Intl (DEN) and arrive at San Diego (SAN).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while evening departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Denver to San Diego route, 21% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2h 12m.

One-stop flights from Denver to San Diego most commonly connect through:

• Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 72% of one-stop connections
• Salt Lake City (SLC) - 12% of one-stop connections
• San Francisco (SFO) - 8% of one-stop connections
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - 4% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 13% on flights from Denver to San Diego. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $188 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $215, a difference of $27.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

4 airlines operate flights between Denver and San Diego. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

• Southwest
• United Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Frontier

Flying via Salt Lake City (SLC) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 25m, compared with 5h 41m via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) and 8h 51m via Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS).

San Diego is 1 hour behind Denver (Pacific Time vs Mountain Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in San Diego are Gaslamp Quarter, SeaWorld San Diego and San Diego Convention Center. These are among the most viewed places in San Diego on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating Denver to San Diego flights:

• Frontier: offers free seat selection
• Alaska Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Southwest: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Alaska Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Southwest: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Yes, Denver's A Line commuter rail service runs from Denver Union Station in downtown Denver to the airport. The trip takes just under 40 minutes and arrives at the airport's train station in the DEN Transit Center, a short walk from the terminal.

All car rental counters are off-site in the Consolidated Rental Car Center. The center is connected to SAN by a free shuttle bus service.

Yes, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Route 992 buses stop at both terminals at SAN and make regular trips to Broadway & Kettner Blvd in downtown San Diego. The trip takes less than 20 minutes.

Yes, more than three lactation rooms are located post-security in the A, B and C gate concourses, along with two nursing rooms in Jeppesen Terminal. Additional rooms are in Terminal 1 on Level 1 near baggage claim units 3 and 8 and on Level 2 across from Gate 118, across from the Dining Hall near Gate 114 and near Gate 108. In Terminal 2, the lactation room is on the second level near Gates 34-35. The rooms include a sink, comfortable seating, power outlets, wheelchair accessibility and a changing table.

Yes, travelers who need special assistance can contact their airlines before the trip to request assistance. At San Diego International Airport (SAN), all terminals are wheelchair accessible and an accessible shuttle is available.

Yes, DEN allows pets. Pet relief areas are available in each concourse, with another in Jeppesen Terminal. The relief rooms are post-security in the cores of A, B and C Gates. Each one has artificial turf flooring, a drainage system, disposal containers and bags.

There are six airline lounges at Denver International Airport. The American Airlines Admirals Club is near Gate C-32, while the Delta Sky Club is at the north end of the Gate A concourse and United has three lounges (Club East, Club West and Club Fly) in the Gate B concourse. In addition to the airline lounges, select American Express cardholders can relax in the Centurion Lounge in the Gate C concourse while US service members and their families can enjoy some time before their flight at the USO Denver, located just over the bridge to Gate A from the main terminal.