$69 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Chico

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Diego to Chico departing on 2/25. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$117
Overall average: $209
Alaska Airlines
Wed 2/18Sat 2/21
SAN - SMF • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$69
Typical prices: $60-$132
Southwest
Wed 2/25
SAN - SMF • 1 stop
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Flight Deals
Useful Info
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Diego to Chico (SAN-SMF)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Diego to Chico that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from San Diego to Chico

Wed, Feb 18 - Sat, Feb 21
Alaska Airlines Logo
8:04 am - 10:05 am
SAN
-
SMF
2h 01mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
12:47 pm - 2:27 pm
SMF
-
SAN
1h 40mnonstop
$117Alaska Airlines
Thu, Feb 19 - Tue, Feb 24
Hawaiian Airlines Logo
10:15 am - 12:10 pm
SAN
-
SMF
1h 55mnonstop
Hawaiian Airlines Logo
6:15 pm - 7:55 pm
SMF
-
SAN
1h 40mnonstop
$120Hawaiian Airlines
Wed, Feb 18 - Sat, Feb 21
Southwest Logo
3:25 pm - 9:45 pm
SAN
-
SMF
6h 20m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
11:25 am - 12:55 pm
SMF
-
SAN
1h 30mnonstop
$127Southwest
Mon, Mar 9 - Tue, Mar 10
Hawaiian Airlines Logo
8:04 am - 10:05 am
SAN
-
SMF
2h 01mnonstop
Hawaiian Airlines Logo
10:42 am - 12:24 pm
SMF
-
SAN
1h 42mnonstop
$128Hawaiian Airlines
Tue, Mar 3 - Tue, Mar 10
Southwest Logo
6:50 am - 1:15 pm
SAN
-
SMF
6h 25m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
3:55 pm - 5:25 pm
SMF
-
SAN
1h 30mnonstop
$132Southwest
Tue, Feb 24 - Fri, Feb 27
Southwest Logo
6:00 pm - 7:40 pm
SAN
-
SMF
1h 40mnonstop
Southwest Logo
5:45 am - 7:15 am
SMF
-
SAN
1h 30mnonstop
$137Southwest
Tue, Mar 3 - Tue, Mar 10
Southwest Logo
9:40 am - 3:25 pm
SAN
-
SMF
5h 45m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
1:40 pm - 6:30 pm
SMF
-
SAN
4h 50m
1 stop
$142Southwest
Wed, Apr 15 - Thu, Apr 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:16 am - 9:16 am
SAN
-
SMF
2h 00mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:04 pm - 8:34 am
SMF
-
SAN
20h 30m
1 stop
$144Multiple Airlines
Tue, Feb 24 - Fri, Feb 27
Southwest Logo
9:40 am - 2:00 pm
SAN
-
SMF
4h 20m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
5:45 am - 7:15 am
SMF
-
SAN
1h 30mnonstop
$147Southwest
Thu, Feb 26 - Mon, Mar 2
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:15 am - 12:10 pm
SAN
-
SMF
1h 55mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:53 am - 1:05 pm
SMF
-
SAN
4h 12m
1 stop
$148Multiple Airlines
Useful Info

Good to know

Low seasonSeptember
Cheapest flight$69
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 1% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 2% lower on average.
Flight from San Diego to Sacramento

When to book flights from San Diego to Chico

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Diego to Chico based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

FAQs for booking flights from San Diego to Chico

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Diego to Chico?

    When flying out of San Diego you’ll be using San Diego. Chico does not have its own airport so you’ll be flying into nearby Sacramento Intl airport, which is 72.5 mi away.

  • How long does a flight from San Diego to Chico take?

    Direct flights cover the 480 miles separating San Diego and Chico in about 1h 40m.

  • How many flights are there between San Diego and Chico?

    38 direct flights run between San Diego and Chico on a daily basis. On average, there are about 271 departures each week.

  • What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly between San Diego and Chico?

    Consider leaving on a Monday and avoid Saturdays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to San Diego, you’ll find the best rates on Tuesdays and the most expensive ones on Thursdays.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Diego to Chico?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from San Diego to Chico.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from San Diego to Chico?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Chico from San Diego is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from San Diego to Chico?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Chico with an airline and back to San Diego with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San Diego to Chico?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Chico from San Diego up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from San Diego to Chico?

    In the last 72 hours, the cheapest one-way ticket between San Diego and Chico found on KAYAK was with Frontier for $28. Frontier offered a round-trip connection from $51 and Hawaiian Airlines from $68.

Top tips for finding cheap flights from San Diego to Chico

  • There is no airport in Chico. Instead, you’ll be flying into Sacramento Airport when flying between San Diego and Chico.
  • The cheapest flight from San Diego to Chico was found 60 days before departure, on average.
  • Book at least 1 week before departure in order to get a below-average price.
  • High season is considered to be November, December and January. The cheapest month to fly is October.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving San Diego to Chico

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Diego to Chico? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 11795 reviews
7.0Entertainment
7.8Comfort
8.1Boarding
7.1Food
8.5Crew
Airline reviews

Worst first/business class I have ever flown after 75 years on planes. Barely acceptable seats, terrible food, uninterested attendants, unavailable WiFi. I’ll never fly this airline again.

4.0 OkayJerry, Jan 2026
SAN - ORD
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

Worst first/business class I have ever flown after 75 years on planes. Barely acceptable seats, terrible food, uninterested attendants, unavailable WiFi. I’ll never fly this airline again.

Again, very smooth and all of the Alaska folks were great. They continue to meet all my needs.

The whole experience went smoothly with no hitches along the way.

My Alaska Airlines return flight, although worked out in the end, didn't start off well. The initial plane that my family and I boarded was grounded because of a mishap that happened to one of the engines and everyone on board had to disembark the plane. Thankfully we were accommodated with a another plane but our initial flight was supposed to have departed at 11 pm San Diego time for Orlando but instead we ended up leaving at 1:40 am San Diego time. All Passengers were informed that part of the delay was that the plane had to be inspected by the captain, the food had to be stocked and the individuals responsible for fueling the plane left for the evening and had to be summoned to return to fill up our. The Alaska Airlines crew at the airport and on the plane were awesome and apologetic. I know that the crew wasn't responsible for the mishap of the engine but I think in the future the airline should offer a complimentary drink or (1) item of food other than pretzels, nuts or chips to all passengers since we're not to blame for the extreme set backs. The airline in general is good and I recommend to all flyers.

Late leaving so threatened our connection in Vegas to Seattle. We did make up time and made our connection.

Dropping off of the checked bags took way longer than it should have. The agent for the pre-tagged and ready to drop off line was gone and didn't come back for about 15 minutes. The other bag check lines were barely moving. Agents were standing around and not much was getting done. Everything else about the flight was great.

Was late but $50 voucher was great benefit of the summit card.

See previous. It was the flight from Honolulu to Kapalua that was cancelled.

I truly appreciated the kindness and attentiveness of the staff and flight attendants. They did their best to be prompt with departure times to San Diego and back to New York! Alaska Airlines ... you are awesome!!

I've never flied them before but liked them. Weather was bad so a little scarey but they did a great job landing.

3 hour delay. Had to change plans and was still delayed.

The flight crew was extremely rude and especially not helpful when our flight was delayed.

The boarding and seat assignment system no longer works for me, but I know it is being replaced. Otherwise, I am good with the overall experience.

The lead steward kept singing about "San Francisco" and hotel California---more annoying than humorous....needs work. Flight was smooth and on time.

Still a fan of open seating. Flight was on schedule and arrived on time. The 737 MAX is very comfortable.

San Diego airport is brand new, spacious, airy and very smooth checkin at SW baggage drop.

Ever since Southwest starting charging for bags, passengers don't want to pay to check their bags, so the gate agents have to beg people to check their roller bags now because there's "not enough space". This was a terrible business move by Southwest.

Delays delays delays. Late taking off, late landing, wait for a gate, etc.

Connecting flight is on time and boarding was a breeze!

Very smooth checking in our luggage with a super pleasant SW agent. I enjoyed a fun entertaining movie.

I liked the Starlink WiFi but didn't like how they said they were the only airline to offer a free meal and it turns out to be just a standalone sandwich and then charge for snacks to go with it. Rather have the free snacks like Southwest, but have the option to purchase a decent meal for a 5+ hour flight.

I like Hawaiian, it was great that they had good internet connection across the Pacific Ocean, thanks to Star Link satellites. The seating was comfortable, ( I was in economy ). Maybe I missed it, but I only got offered a beverage once. It was a nonstop flight KOA to SMF. I would take it again next time I go that way.

Previously flown Hawaiian Airlines on similar routes, I found Alaska Airlines to be noticeably more comfortable. The seats on Alaska Airlines provided better support and cushioning, which made a significant difference on the long flight to the islands. When you’re spending 5-6 hours in the air, seat comfort really matters, and Alaska Airlines delivered where it counts. After comparing both carriers, I’ve decided to book with Alaska Airlines for all my future Hawaii trips. The superior seat comfort alone makes it worth choosing Alaska over Hawaiian Airlines. If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii and prioritizing comfort, I’d recommend giving Alaska Airlines a try. You won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended for Hawaii travel!

I received several emails about my 3:10 flight. When I showed up to the airport at 12:30 to check my bags I was told the flight was actually at 1 pm. They grudgingly rebooked me for a flight at 5:22 to Vegas to get a connecting to LAX. I did find the gate for my original 3:10 flight but they were booked. I proceeded to receive status updates and gate change information for the 3:10 flight, even though I was apparently never supposed to be on that flight

The crew was EXTREMELY helpful And sweet and the flight was smooth!

The Kayak confirmation number did not work for checking in the day before. I checked in at 8.30 using my ticket number. When I arrived at the airport, I was informed that the flight was overbooked, and since I had checked in late, I did not have a seat. The Next flight was not until ten PM. I called my wife, who had been taking care of our kids all weekend, and she was upset, calling me a liar and telling me to stay in SD. It turned my weekend getaway into a nightmare! I blame the Kayak website and will not book flights using your app in the future.

comfortable but the food is horrible. I have flown Hawaiian several times now and no matter what they say the food is its the same squashed bread with melted goop inside. Tastes fake and isnt what they represent, its quite nasty. What happend to real food? And there is NO entertainment!! so not sure why they are asking for a review on that.

One hour waiting time after boarding, but arrived in time. I am satisfied

3 hour wait on customer service after flight was cancelled. Was bumped to a flight where I wouldnt have gotten to my destination for another 2 days. Had to fully refund flight and book a new one the following morning. Paid twice the amount for the flight than I had originally booked. Very disappointed I was not offered any sort of discount or points for all of the frustration, in fact the airline profited twice as much off of me by cancelling my flight and and changing my entire trip.

Flying with Hawaiian Airlines is a treat! They have the best crew, food and drinks! I’ve always enjoyed flying with Hawaiian Airlines and will continue to use them!

The flight was delayed by 2 hours and we had no food or water or chargers

Horribly late because they had no crew!!! And then jet bridge didn’t work!! Then we arrived at a gate at lax miles away that we had to take a shuttle to a terminal!! I was over 3 hours late to getting the LA! Should have been here at 8:30 and at an appointment at 10:30 and arrived and left lax at 11 am!! Horrible experience!!!

Once again, the staff seem to think they are above the customers and treat everyone with disdain, belittling people.

Flight was canceled 8 hours before departure for lack of operational control and prepositioning of a plane. Then had the audacity to say it was because of weather, however there was no weather here in California or New Orleans or in between. It was the weather in Florida, Florida it had nothing to do with our flight path just the plane was supposed to fly us. 8 hours is more than enough time to move a plane anywhere in the US. That left me with a bill of 1200 dollars to re book a flight oh and kayaks insurance what a joke. Probably will never use kayak or spirit ever again terrible companies terrible customer service. I’ll also let everyone and anyone know this was an abomination and only for the customer. Also will be making a report to the DOT on bad business practices on behalf of kayak and spirit as well as the BBB. Do better, take care of your customers and don’t suck

The airplane had a strange noise that was constant throughout the flight. Thankfully I had noise-cancelling over-ear headphones that muted much of it.

it was terrible. flight was cancelled hours before the flight without a given reason and no other booking available .

The plane was freezing and everyone had on their winter coats. I pulled out my sweaters out of my carryon to cover myself and put on an extra pair of socks. They offered NO FREE drinks or snacks on a 6 hour flight. The seats don’t have plugs or charges or any form of entertainment- so I just played my one downloaded game on my phone because I couldn’t sleep because I was too cold. Miserable flight though we landed safely.

Always comes in handy when I want a quick weekend getaway.

My luggage didn’t arrive at LAX, so that wasn’t a good experience.

I was never aware that I had to pay $100 per luggage to them on the plane that are simply carry-ons. This is discriminatory and I’m going to be alerting my entire family and friends and my Instagram following up over 75,000 of this issue and misunderstanding, including mismanaging.

It was ok. It was expensive to check 2 bags ($75.00 per bag), and then it took a long time to wait for shuttle to take us from one terminal to the terminal where the plane was taking off at LAX. And all of this for a flight where we had to pay for any food or drink that was not water.

When I wanted to check in 3 hours prior to boarding time, the employees mentioned “a little over an hour delay” so I waited for an hour then I went to go look for food in the terminal and most people from that flight were in the same area looking for food. Finally I decided after food to check to see if it’s anytime closer and now it’s 2 mins until boarding closes?! What are you kidding me? I didn’t receive anything via sms about boarding now nor via email or on the intercom. I luckily made it through, barely, and then there’s no room for my carry on mind you I’m in the very first row so I had to place my purse in one further row back and my carry on sections down. Not sure who pays for better seats to get your stuff placed all over the plane but that was the worst experience I’ve ever had flying with anyone.

Terrible. The canceled my entire flight when I requested a refund for a trip frontier canceled trip one way.

i was unable to check in the flight. refund requested

I think Frontier was very good at communication. Their app worked very well. Loading was great and the flight was nice and easy.

This airline sucks. They offer low rates then charge you for everything, the app does not work well, the seats are the most uncomfortable. Maintenance issues on the flight, and you still have to sit through their credit card commercials. People are nice enough but does not make up for overall poor experience.

Great for the price. No wifi or entertainment, but gate agents and crew were fantastic and we boarded quickly and left on time.

Decent clean onboard experience. Okay discount airline experience. Unfortunately, any customer service interactions are difficult and unhelpful. There is no service. Also, a premium seat only gets you premium boarding if you line up first. Once they start general boarding you must go to the back of the line. Not very premium

The crew was mostly okay. The flight attendant who answered our questions was curt and unhelpful unfortunately. He seemed upset and I understand having off days.

Very bad! No good service delayed my second connection flight

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Diego to Chico

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