Cheap Flights from Columbus (CMHA) to San Diego (SANA)

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Flight deals from Columbus to San Diego

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Columbus to San Diego? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from £234. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Columbus to San Diego

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Columbus to San Diego flights are currently cheapest in August.

Direct flights from Columbus to San Diego

Alternative Columbus to San Diego routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from Columbus to San Diego? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Columbus to San Diego: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found£95
Cheapest month to flyAugust
Average flight time4 hrs, 43 mins
Most popular airlineSouthwest Airlines
Average flights per week5

Finding cheap flights from Columbus to San Diego: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in San Diego: San Diego International and McClellan-Palomar.
The best price we found for a return flight from Columbus to San Diego is £190. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
4 hours and 43 minutes is the average flight time from Columbus to San Diego.
Southwest Airlines flies direct from Columbus to San Diego.
As of June 2026, there are 5 flights per week flying from Columbus to San Diego.
The cheapest month to fly from Columbus to San Diego is usually August.
If you're flying from Columbus, the cheapest airport near San Diego is San Diego International – which is 2.5 miles away from the centre of San Diego. We've found flights into this airport from £190.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Columbus to San Diego on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 4 hours and 43 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to San Diego but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to San Diego is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In June, the average temperature is usually around 19°C. August is typically the warmest month in San Diego, when it usually averages around 28°C. You can expect the least rain in June. The coldest month is December, with temperatures averaging 10°C. The rainiest month is February.
The cheapest airline that flies to San Diego is Delta. And the cheapest airline that flies to McClellan-Palomar Airport is Southwest Airlines.

Travelling from Columbus to San Diego: what you need to know

  • Begin your travels at one of Columbus's main airports, John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) or Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK). Check out your options for booking a flight from Columbus to San Diego jetting off from either of these.

  • The major entry paths to San Diego are San Diego International Airport (SAN) and McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD).

  • Around 4 hours 40 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct Columbus to San Diego flight.

  • San Diego is three hours behind Columbus and follows the UTC-7 timezone.

  • To ensure you catch your Columbus to San Diego flight, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.

  • During popular months like July, it's best to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of international flights when you fly during high season in general.

How to find the cheapest flights from Columbus to San Diego

  • The cheapest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Columbus to San Diego is £95. For a return flight on this route, the best price is £190. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares could change.

  • Lock in cheap Columbus to San Diego flights by booking two months ahead. According to our research, that's the ideal time frame for landing a bargain.

  • Schedule your trip for May. That's the best month for landing the biggest deals on plane tickets from Columbus to San Diego. If your travel dates are flexible, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.

  • Snapping up a cheap flight from Columbus to San Diego is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal.

  • Select your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Columbus to San Diego flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best.'

Flying from Columbus

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

  • If you're looking for a direct flight from Columbus to San Diego, you can leave from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH). Fly from CMH to San Diego International Airport (SAN) in one seamless journey.

  • Southwest Airlines is a well-known carrier that offers direct Columbus to San Diego plane tickets leaving from CMH.

  • Located around 10 kms (6 miles) from central Columbus, CMH can be reached in about 10 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.

  • Want a handy hotel near John Glenn Columbus International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Columbus to San Diego, these accommodation options will have you sleeping nice and close to your departure gate:

  • When it comes to John Glenn Columbus International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 79.5% of flights meet their scheduled arrival time.

  • You'll find CMH at 4600 International Gateway.

Arriving in San Diego

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

  • The distance from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego is approximately 5 kms (3 miles). It takes about 10 minutes to get to the centre driving.

  • If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of around 20 minutes.

  • Consider staying in a hotel close to SAN if you have a late flight from Columbus to San Diego. Choose one of these options and skip the long transfer:

  • Travel at your own speed with a San Diego International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Thrifty, Dollar or Budget and chase adventure across San Diego and beyond.

  • To get the lowest price, book your ride from San Diego International Airport about two weeks in advance of your Columbus to San Diego flight.

  • You'll find SAN at N Harbour Dr.

McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)

  • McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) is around 48 kms (30 miles) from central San Diego. Once you've disembarked your flight from Columbus to San Diego, it'll take you approximately 40 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.

  • If you choose to travel on public transport, you'll reach the centre in 2 hours 15 minutes or so.

  • Forget about public transport schedules or waiting forever for a cab. Grab a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car and let your trip unfold on your terms. Compare availability and rates from Budget, Hertz and Avis.

  • In general, the earlier you book, the better the deals and selection of vehicles. Lock in your ride from CLD as soon as you know your dates.

Best time to go to San Diego

  • July is the most popular month for flights from Columbus to San Diego. To avoid the crowds, head to San Diego in May.

  • Before locking in your Columbus to San Diego tickets, consider what kind of weather works for you. August is the warmest month in San Diego, with temperatures ranging from 17ºC (63ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF).

  • February has average temperatures of between 7ºC (45ºF) and 23ºC (73ºF). Look for cheap flights from Columbus to San Diego around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.

More about San Diego

  • Start your San Diego trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Columbus to San Diego, check out our range of hotels including:

  • There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be tricky to work out where to begin. San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum and SeaWorld San Diego are top sights which should feature on every San Diego itinerary.

Explore more of United States

  • Los Angeles is just one of the many places in United States waiting to be explored after you've experienced San Diego. Around 110 miles to the north-west, check out popular attractions including Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.

  • Phoenix is another must-experience destination in United States and is around 300 miles east of San Diego. No journey is complete without a visit to Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 12 days.