IAD - SAN

$167 Find Cheap Flights from Washington Dulles Airport to San Diego - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$337
Typical prices: $347-$568
Delta
Sat 10/13Sat 10/20
IAD - SAN • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$337
Typical prices: $348-$571
United Airlines
Sat 10/13Sat 10/20
IAD - SAN • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Average duration is 5h 36m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 26 weeks in advance save around 49% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 20% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $216 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 6h 39m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to San Diego!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Dulles Intl to San Diego (IAD-SAN)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Dulles Intl to San Diego

Tue, Oct 13 - Tue, Oct 20
Delta Logo
7:05 am - 3:04 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
10h 59m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
Delta Logo
11:02 am - 10:49 pmSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
8h 47m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
$337Delta
Tue, Oct 13 - Tue, Oct 20
United Airlines Logo
6:00 pm - 8:29 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
5h 29mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
9:45 pm - 5:41 amSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
4h 56mnonstop
$337United Airlines
Sat, Oct 10 - Thu, Oct 15
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 4:49 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
13h 49m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Frontier Logo
3:14 pm - 6:20 amSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
12h 06m2 stops San Francisco Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$346Frontier
Wed, Oct 21 - Sat, Oct 24
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:24 pm - 9:53 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
5h 29mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
9:20 am - 11:59 pmSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
11h 39m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
$347Alaska Airlines
Sat, Oct 24 - Tue, Oct 27
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:24 pm - 9:53 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
5h 29mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
11:10 am - 11:59 pmSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
9h 49m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
$347Alaska Airlines
Fri, Oct 23 - Sat, Oct 24
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 7:49 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
16h 49m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Frontier Logo
5:44 pm - 6:20 amSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
9h 36m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$347Frontier
Thu, Nov 5 - Wed, Nov 11
United Airlines Logo
6:39 am - 11:31 amIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
7h 52m1 stop Los Angeles
United Airlines Logo
9:45 pm - 5:27 amSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
4h 42mnonstop
$347United Airlines
Tue, Oct 20 - Sat, Oct 24
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:02 am - 2:38 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
10h 36m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:44 pm - 6:20 amSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
9h 36m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$348Multiple Airlines
Sat, Oct 10 - Tue, Oct 13
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:24 pm - 9:53 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
5h 29mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:10 pm - 6:20 amSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
9h 10m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$348Multiple Airlines
Wed, Oct 7 - Wed, Oct 14
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 11:13 amIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SAN San Diego
8h 13m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Delta Logo
2:10 pm - 12:42 amSAN  San Diego-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
7h 32m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$354Delta
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego with more confidence.

How much is a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

Round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego start at $337. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from $347 to $568. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $337 on Delta.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

Saturday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego, it is 9% cheaper than the average day. Sunday is the most expensive day with flight prices 19% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

  • January is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego at $350 round-trip.
  • June ($523) and December ($482) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 49% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are prices from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego the cheapest?

Flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego are cheapest 26 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 49% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Dulles Intl to San Diego

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines and IAD

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on Alaska Airlines

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Brandon Schultz

Brandon Schultz

Expert on SAN

Brandon Schultz is an award-winning food and travel writer based in New York City. His work has appeared in Forbes, AAA, Thrillist, Travel + Leisure, and The Daily Meal, among many others, and he is the author of 6 books, including 3 cookbooks.

Key details for Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flights

Low season

September

Cheapest flight

$167
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 3% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 20% increase in price.
Flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego

When to book flights from Dulles Intl to San Diego

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

Your Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flight questions, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.

  • How can you connect from SAN to the city center?

    You need have no reason to worry about how you will get to the city center after landing at SAN. Taxis offer the fastest means of transport from the airport to the city center, taking about 12 minutes. Apart from this, you can use car rentals or public buses to connect to the city center from the airport.

  • How friendly are flights to San Diego from IAD to kids?

    The presence of kid-friendly meals and video games on many of the flights on this route will keep the child comfortable and upbeat during the ride. Kids can play in the play areas, slides, and aviation games at both SAN and IAD.

  • Are there car rentals at SAN?

    Consider renting a car when planning for your flight from IAD to San Diego to ease your movement around the city. On level 1 of the main Terminal of the airport, you will access the on-site car rentals. The process of renting a car at this airport is, therefore, easy for you.

  • Is it safe to land at SAN from IAD late at night?

    If you’re likely to arrive at SAN late at night after your long flight from IAD to San Diego, there is no reason to panic. Several hotels with 24h operational front desks surround this airport. Wyndham Garden San Diego near SeaWorld is one of the hotels you may consider checking in if you arrive at SAN late at night. The hotel’s airport shuttles will ensure your safety and convenience.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flights?

    Among airlines operating Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flights:

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

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

  • What airlines are available from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    2 airlines operate flights between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport and San Diego. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

    • United Airlines
    • Alaska Airlines

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    Flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego usually depart from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl (IAD) and arrive at San Diego (SAN).

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flights?

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

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

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

  • What cabin classes can I book on flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    Four cabin classes are available on flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego:

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

    Prices vary by airline.

  • How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $216 round-trip via Seattle/Tacoma Intl (SEA), compared to $439 for nonstop.

  • What is the standard checked-bag allowance on flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    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.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

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

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego pass through?

    One-stop flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego most commonly connect through:

    • Denver Intl (DEN) - 26% of one-stop connections
    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 19% of one-stop connections
    • Charlotte Douglas (CLT) - 16% of one-stop connections
    • Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - 12% of one-stop connections

    Denver Intl (DEN) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    On the Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 24%. Saturday is the cheapest day at $398 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $521: a $123 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

  • How are flight departures from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego spread across the day?

    Evening is the busiest departure period on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flights, with 50% of flights leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 25%, afternoon flights for 25%, and night flights for 0%.

  • What popular places can I visit in San Diego?

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

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego:

    • Earliest: departs at 8:35 am and lands at 2:11 pm
    • Latest: departs at 7:47 pm and lands at 1:23 am.

    The flight takes about 5h 36m.

  • How expensive are last-minute Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 67% above the route average of $436. Book 26 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How long is a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    A nonstop flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego takes 5h 36m, covering 2,248 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    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.

  • Have flight prices from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $337 to $2,889. That means the highest observed fare was about 9x higher than the lowest one.

  • How are flight prices from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego looking right now?

    One-way fares from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $187, which is 31% below the typical average for this route.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    Flying via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 6h 39m, compared with 7h 19m via Denver Intl (DEN) and 7h 24m via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD).

  • What is the time difference between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport and San Diego?

    San Diego is 3 hours behind Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport (Pacific Time vs Eastern Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What car rental options are available at San Diego Airport (SAN)?

    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

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flight?

    Round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego range from $347 to $568, with an average of $436 over the past 12 months. Anything below $347 counts as a good deal.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flights?

    Alaska Airlines is the only airline on the Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego route offering in-flight Wi-Fi. Pricing depends on fare class.

Your guide to booking Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates can be flexible, aim for a Saturday departure instead of Sunday. On this route, Saturday flights average $398 - about $123 less than Sunday (24% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 26 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 49% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego trip for January. Fares historically average $350 round-trip in that month - typically $173 less than the most expensive month, which is June (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Seattle/Tacoma Intl Airport (SEA) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $216 round-trip on this route - about $223 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to San Diego Airport.
    - Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy
    - Bay Club Hotel & Marina
    - Sheraton San Diego Resort
  • Most of the flights from Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) to San Diego have San Diego International Airport (SAN) as the arrival airport. This is in spite of the city having other airports that serve flights along this route. The airport is centrally located in the city with a variety of transport options, which makes it easier for travelers arriving there to connect to various destinations.
  • When connecting to IAD from downtown Washington, you have several transport options. Metro Buses offer the most cost-effective and convenient means of transport from downtown to the airport. However, if you want to take the shortest time to connect to the airport, consider using a taxi, which takes about 15 minutes.
  • If you have limited mobility or traveling with someone who depends on a wheelchair, you have nothing to worry about when booking one of the flights from IAD to SAN. At IAD, you can access cab-to-aircraft wheelchair services from your respective airline. Similarly, you can get a wheelchair readily available at SAN if you communicate in advance with your airline.
  • You can conveniently catch up with the earliest flight from IAD to SAN, by spending the night before travel at one of the hotels near the airport. IAD Marriott, which is located about 0.6 miles from the airport, will be a good option.
  • If you are planning to travel from IAD to San Diego with your pet, you need knowledge of the location of pet relief areas at both IAD and SAN. At IAD, you can access the pet relief area on the opposite ends of the Terminal on the Departures Level near ticketing and check-in. At SAN, the pet relief area is located between Gate 46 and Gate 47, near the bathroom.

Prefer to fly direct from Washington Dulles Airport to San Diego?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Diego

Monday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Friday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Diego to Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Monday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Friday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Dulles Intl to San Diego

Complete your trip to San Diego with a hotel stay or car rental