What percentage of Washington, D.C. to San Diego flights are direct?

In the trailing 90 days, approximately 25.1% of flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego were direct. For travelers opting for connecting flights, the median number of stopovers was 2. This suggests that while direct options are available, a notable portion of routes involve at least one stop.

How long does it take to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego?

A direct flight from Washington, D.C. to San Diego typically takes about 5 hours and 40 minutes, with a median duration of 340 minutes. Flights with one stop, however, have a significantly longer median duration of 8 hours and 11 minutes, or 491 minutes. The total distance covered on this route is approximately 3618 kilometers.

How often do Washington, D.C. to San Diego flight prices drop?

Historically, flight prices for the Washington, D.C. to San Diego route have shown frequent drops. This indicates that travelers may often find opportunities to secure more favorable fares. The route is characterized by consistent price fluctuations, suggesting it is beneficial to monitor prices regularly.

Flights From Washington, D.C.

To San Diego

Cheap Flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

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Washington, D.C.

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Prices updated 2 days ago

461 airlines compared

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Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Sep 14, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

2026-10-06 – 2026-10-17
WAS - San Diego
72% AI deal score
$268
$239
Round trip
2026-10-19 – 2026-10-23
WAS - San Diego
79% AI deal score
$308
$240
Round trip
2026-10-06 – 2026-10-10
WAS - San Diego
80% AI deal score
$313
$241
Round trip
2026-10-17 – 2026-10-24
WAS - San Diego
74% AI deal score
$295
$249
Round trip
2026-10-20 – 2026-10-24
WAS - San Diego
74% AI deal score
$308
$249
Round trip
2026-10-07 – 2026-10-17
WAS - San Diego
71% AI deal score
$271
$254
Round trip
2026-10-05 – 2026-10-07
WAS - San Diego
74% AI deal score
$315
$259
Round trip
2026-10-10 – 2026-10-17
WAS - San Diego
75% AI deal score
$284
$259
Round trip
2026-11-04 – 2026-11-07
WAS - San Diego
75% AI deal score
$285
$259
Round trip
2026-12-12 – 2026-12-15
WAS - San Diego
85% AI deal score
$351
$259
Round trip

Washington, D.C. to San Diego: Overview

Insights for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

A typical journey from Washington, D.C. to San Diego takes about 12h 55m including connections. This is a medium-haul route, covering a distance of 3618 kilometers. Most itineraries for this route involve at least one stopover, making the total travel time longer than a direct flight.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego? The data indicates that February is typically the most affordable month, with a median fare of $214. January also offers competitive prices, with a median fare of $228. Travelers can also find more budget-friendly options in May, where the median fare is $317.

Fares for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego typically range from $327–$555, with a median of $402. Right now, fares are above the typical level for this route. Only 2% of recent fares were classified as a good price, suggesting that finding a low fare can be challenging. New deals appear almost daily, so setting up a price alert could be beneficial for securing a better price.

Most itineraries for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego connect at least once, with only 25.1% of recent fares being non-stop. For the majority of itineraries that involve connections, the typical number of stopovers is 2. This means that if you fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego, you should generally expect a journey that includes at least one intermediate stop.

How much is a round trip from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Regular price: $247 - $449

Prices are currently within the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego is $247 to $449. The current lowest deal is $259 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Oct 13-Oct 20.

now $259

Low $247

High $449

The cheapest time to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

The cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego is February, with a median price of $214. The most expensive month is November, with a median price of $483. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

February

Cheapest

Flights from $214

November

Most Expensive

Flights from $483

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Last-minute flights going from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Mon, Sep 14

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$507

$485

One-way

Mon, Sep 14

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$514

$489

One-way

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (BWI) - San Diego (SAN)

American Airlines

$465

$468

One-way

Wed, Sep 16

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$490

One-way

Fri, Sep 18

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$487

$454

One-way

Fri, Sep 18

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$490

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

4 nights

Oct 6 - Oct 10

$312 → $219

30%

4 nights

Oct 19 - Oct 23

$308 → $241

22%

4 nights

Oct 20 - Oct 24

$308 → $251

19%

2 nights

Oct 5 - Oct 7

$313 → $261

17%

Popular Airports to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Washington, D.C. - San Diego route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level.

Recent fares from Washington, D.C. to San Diego are above the typical level at $259.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in February for the lowest prices.

Historically, February offers the lowest median prices at $214 for this route.

⏱️ Flight duration

Flights typically take 12h 55m.

The median flight duration from Washington, D.C. to San Diego is 12 hours 55 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route.

Only 25.1% of flights are direct, with connecting flights typically having 2 stopovers.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines offers a recent deal.

A recent deal from Washington, D.C. to San Diego was found on Frontier Airlines for $259.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent for this route.

Deals for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego are frequent, occurring often.

Washington, D.C. main airports to depart from

Baltimore–Washington International (BWI)

Cheapest

Consider Baltimore–Washington International for potentially cheaper flights from the Washington, D.C. area to San Diego.

📍 ~44 km from Washington, D.C. (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$216

San Diego main airports to arrive at

San Diego International (SAN)

Cheapest

San Diego International Airport is a convenient arrival choice for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego.

📍 ~3 km from San Diego (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$216

Airports nearby San Diego used as alternative

Tijuana International (TIJ)

Tijuana International is a useful alternative for Mexico-bound travelers due to its direct access via CBX.

📍 ~25 km from San Diego (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$460

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Diego

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego.

Elite

Best Elite deals to San Diego

Exclusive daily First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy flight deals, refreshed every 24 hours.

From IAD

Elite

Nov 04

San Diego, United States

92% AI deal score

$2,407

$1,179

Save $1,228

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 11

San Diego, United States

92% AI deal score

$2,431

$1,179

Save $1,252

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 15

San Diego, United States

92% AI deal score

$2,479

$1,198

Save $1,281

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 23

San Diego, United States

92% AI deal score

$2,555

$1,198

Save $1,357

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 18

San Diego, United States

91% AI deal score

$2,940

$1,157

Save $1,783

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 11

San Diego, United States

91% AI deal score

$3,018

$1,157

Save $1,861

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 12

San Diego, United States

91% AI deal score

$2,431

$1,198

Save $1,233

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 02

San Diego, United States

91% AI deal score

$2,412

$1,198

Save $1,214

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 09

San Diego, United States

91% AI deal score

$2,431

$1,198

Save $1,233

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 13

San Diego, United States

91% AI deal score

$2,426

$1,198

Save $1,228

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 11

San Diego, United States

91% AI deal score

$2,431

$1,202

Save $1,229

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Nov 18

San Diego, United States

91% AI deal score

$2,444

$1,202

Save $1,242

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Diego

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego is typically 28-59 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was $381. Prices tend to increase significantly for last-minute bookings; for example, flights booked 0-6 days out averaged $979. Even booking 7-13 days in advance saw an average price of $749, indicating a clear advantage to planning ahead within the recommended window.

Across the trailing quarter, a good deal for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Diego was considered to be $327 or less. The median price for this route over the same period was $402. Prices exceeding $555 typically fell into the higher end of the spectrum. Therefore, if you find a fare at or below $327, it represents a favorable price based on historical trends.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego have been February and January, with median prices of $214 and $228 respectively. May also offered a comparatively lower median price of $317. These prices are notably below the annual median of $402 for this route, indicating significant savings potential during these months.

Related routes

More routes from Washington, D.C.

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Flights to San Diego from other cities

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Washington, D.C. to San Diego: Overview

Insights for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

How much is a round trip from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Regular price: $247 - $449

Prices are currently within the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego is $247 to $449. The current lowest deal is $259 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Oct 13-Oct 20.

now $259

Low $247

High $449

The cheapest time to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

February

Cheapest

Flights from $214

November

Most Expensive

Flights from $483

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Last-minute flights going from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Mon, Sep 14

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$507

$485

One-way

Mon, Sep 14

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$514

$489

One-way

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (BWI) - San Diego (SAN)

American Airlines

$465

$468

One-way

Wed, Sep 16

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$490

One-way

Fri, Sep 18

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$487

$454

One-way

Fri, Sep 18

⌛ Last-Minute

DCA - San Diego

Washington, D.C. (DCA) - San Diego (SAN)

Frontier Airlines

$490

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

4 nights

Oct 6 - Oct 10

$312 → $219

30%

4 nights

Oct 19 - Oct 23

$308 → $241

22%

4 nights

Oct 20 - Oct 24

$308 → $251

19%

2 nights

Oct 5 - Oct 7

$313 → $261

17%

Popular Airports to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Washington, D.C. - San Diego route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level.

Recent fares from Washington, D.C. to San Diego are above the typical level at $259.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in February for the lowest prices.

Historically, February offers the lowest median prices at $214 for this route.

⏱️ Flight duration

Flights typically take 12h 55m.

The median flight duration from Washington, D.C. to San Diego is 12 hours 55 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route.

Only 25.1% of flights are direct, with connecting flights typically having 2 stopovers.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines offers a recent deal.

A recent deal from Washington, D.C. to San Diego was found on Frontier Airlines for $259.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent for this route.

Deals for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego are frequent, occurring often.

Washington, D.C. main airports to depart from

Baltimore–Washington International (BWI)

Cheapest

Consider Baltimore–Washington International for potentially cheaper flights from the Washington, D.C. area to San Diego.

📍 ~44 km from Washington, D.C. (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$216

San Diego main airports to arrive at

San Diego International (SAN)

Cheapest

San Diego International Airport is a convenient arrival choice for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego.

📍 ~3 km from San Diego (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$216

Airports nearby San Diego used as alternative

Tijuana International (TIJ)

Tijuana International is a useful alternative for Mexico-bound travelers due to its direct access via CBX.

San Diego, United States

91% AI deal score

$2,444

$1,202

Save $1,242

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Diego

Cheap Flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Today’s best flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Washington, D.C. to San Diego: Overview

Insights for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

How much is a round trip from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

The cheapest time to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Last-minute flights going from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Popular Airports to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Washington, D.C. - San Diego route insights

Recent fares are above the typical level.

Fly in February for the lowest prices.

Flights typically take 12h 55m.

Connecting flights are dominant on this route.

Frontier Airlines offers a recent deal.

Deals are frequent for this route.

Washington, D.C. main airports to depart from

San Diego main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby San Diego used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Diego

Best Elite deals to San Diego

Nov 04

Nov 11

Nov 15

Nov 23

Nov 18

Nov 11

Nov 12

Nov 02

Nov 09

Nov 13

Nov 11

Nov 18

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Diego

When should I buy Washington, D.C. to San Diego tickets?

How do I know if a Washington, D.C. to San Diego flight is a good deal?

Which months have the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego?

What percentage of Washington, D.C. to San Diego flights are direct?

How long does it take to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego?

How often do Washington, D.C. to San Diego flight prices drop?

Related routes

More routes from Washington, D.C.

Flights to San Diego from other cities

Washington, D.C. to San Diego: Overview

Insights for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

How much is a round trip from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

The cheapest time to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Last-minute flights going from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Popular Airports to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Diego

Washington, D.C. - San Diego route insights

Recent fares are above the typical level.

Fly in February for the lowest prices.

Flights typically take 12h 55m.

Connecting flights are dominant on this route.

Frontier Airlines offers a recent deal.

Deals are frequent for this route.

Washington, D.C. main airports to depart from

San Diego main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby San Diego used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Diego

Best Elite deals to San Diego

Nov 04

Nov 11

Nov 15

Nov 23

Nov 18

Nov 11

Nov 12

Nov 02

Nov 09

Nov 13

Nov 11

Nov 18

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Diego

When should I buy Washington, D.C. to San Diego tickets?

How do I know if a Washington, D.C. to San Diego flight is a good deal?

Which months have the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Diego?