Flights
Flights to San Diego
Flying to San Diego for a game, a concert or a show? The airport you pick decides the rest of the trip more than the fare usually does. This page lists the 2 airports with scheduled flights near San Diego, how far each is from the centre and which is nearest each of the city's main venues. StubOrder lists 1,707 upcoming events in and around San Diego (counted Nov 8, 2026); fares are searched live when you pick your dates.
The closest airport to downtown San Diego is San Diego International Airport (SAN), 1.4 miles away. General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (TIJ) is 18 miles away. For Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage - The Old Globe, the nearest is SAN at 2.2 miles.
Airports serving San Diego
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the centre of San Diego, which is the fair way to compare airports with each other; the drive is always longer.
| Airport and distance from the centre | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego International Airport (SAN) 1.4 mi (2 km) | Large | Nearest we list to Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage - The Old Globe, Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre - The Old Globe, Belly Up Tavern, San Diego Civic Theatre, Petco Park, The Comedy Store - La Jolla, Music Box - San Diego and Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Center. |
| General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (TIJ) 18 mi (30 km) | Large | None |
Nearest airport to each San Diego venue
The busiest venues in and around San Diego, each with its own nearest airport. A stadium in the suburbs is often nearer a different airport than downtown is, so this is the table to book from.
| Venue | Nearest airport we list | Second option |
|---|---|---|
| Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage - The Old Globe Hotels near Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage - The Old Globe | SAN, 2.2 mi | TIJ, 17 mi |
| Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre - The Old Globe Hotels near Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre - The Old Globe | SAN, 2.2 mi | TIJ, 17 mi |
| Belly Up Tavern Hotels near Belly Up Tavern | SAN, 18 mi | TIJ, 36 mi |
| San Diego Civic Theatre Hotels near San Diego Civic Theatre | SAN, 1.9 mi | TIJ, 17 mi |
| Petco Park Hotels near Petco Park Airports near Petco Park | SAN, 2.7 mi | TIJ, 16 mi |
| The Comedy Store - La Jolla Hotels near The Comedy Store - La Jolla | SAN, 8.8 mi | TIJ, 27 mi |
| Music Box - San Diego Hotels near Music Box - San Diego | SAN, 1.6 mi | TIJ, 17 mi |
| Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Center Hotels near Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Center | SAN, 2.1 mi | TIJ, 16 mi |
Venue by airport
Straight-line miles from each of the busiest venues to each airport; the nearest is in bold.
| Venue | SAN | TIJ |
|---|---|---|
| Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage - The Old Globe | 2.2 mi | 17 mi |
| Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre - The Old Globe | 2.2 mi | 17 mi |
| Belly Up Tavern | 18 mi | 36 mi |
| San Diego Civic Theatre | 1.9 mi | 17 mi |
| Petco Park | 2.7 mi | 16 mi |
| The Comedy Store - La Jolla | 8.8 mi | 27 mi |
| Music Box - San Diego | 1.6 mi | 17 mi |
| Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Center | 2.1 mi | 16 mi |
Home teams and their airports
| Team | Home venue | First airport | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Padres | Petco Park | SAN, 2.7 mi | MLB ballpark airports |
| San Diego FC | Snapdragon Stadium | SAN, 5.4 mi | MLS stadium airports |
Flying in for a San Diego event
In the next 30 days (counted Nov 8, 2026): 409 events in and around San Diego; 71% on Fri–Sun; 277 of the 408 with a set time start at 7 pm or later, local time.
Fly in the day before an evening event: a delayed afternoon flight is a missed show. Plan to fly home the morning after, because the last departures of the night often leave before a late finish lets out. The dates below set the search to do exactly that, around each event.
Anne Wilson
San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, California
From about $29.00View TicketsBebe Stockwell
The Casbah - CA, San Diego, California
From about $111.00View TicketsJady
Soda Bar, San Diego, California
From about $37.00View TicketsThomas Dolby
Music Box - San Diego, San Diego, California
From about $47.00View TicketsSan Diego Toreros Women's Basketball vs. Portland State Vikings
Jenny Craig Pavilion, San Diego, California
Underoath, August Burns Red & Atreyu
SOMA, San Diego, California
From about $259.00View TicketsHow the Grinch Stole Christmas
Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage - The Old Globe, San Diego, California
From about $125.00View TicketsRodrigo Y Gabriela
Humphreys Concerts By The Bay, San Diego, California
From about $113.00View Tickets
Search flights for:
- Nov 9: Anne Wilson
- Nov 10: San Diego Toreros Women's Basketball vs. Portla…
- Nov 11: San Diego State Aztecs vs. Bethune-Cookman Wild…
Flying in to San Diego: checklist
- Book the airport for your venue. For Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage - The Old Globe it is SAN, 2.2 miles away; the table above has the rest.
- Arrive the day before an evening event, and plan the flight home for the next morning.
- Names exactly as on the ID. The airline compares the booking with the ID at the airport.
- Check the bag allowance. It is shown on every fare; extra bags are not part of the fare price.
Plan the rest of the trip
Frequently asked questions
How many airports serve San Diego?
StubOrder lists 2 airports with scheduled passenger flights within 100 km (62 miles) of downtown San Diego: San Diego International Airport (SAN) and General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (TIJ).
Are fares shown on this page?
No. Airline fares change by the minute and depend on your exact dates, airports and travellers, so this page shows none. Pick your dates in the search form and StubOrder asks the airlines live; every fare it shows is the total for all travellers, taxes and fees included.
How many events are in San Diego in the next 30 days?
409 in and around San Diego in the 30 days from Nov 8, 2026, when this page's figures were counted. 71% of them fall on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and 277 of the 408 with a set start time begin at 7 pm or later, local time.
Which airport is closest to the San Diego Padres' home ballpark?
The San Diego Padres play home games at Petco Park. The closest airport to Petco Park is San Diego International Airport (SAN), 2.7 miles away in a straight line.
Can I buy event tickets and flights together?
Not as one purchase. Event tickets come from our resale marketplace and flights from our travel partner and the airlines, as separate bookings with separate confirmations. Neither depends on the other, so if an event moves, your flight does not change automatically.
Which airport is best for Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage - The Old Globe?
The closest airport to Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage - The Old Globe is San Diego International Airport (SAN), 2.2 miles away in a straight line; General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (TIJ) is 17 miles. Fares differ by date, so compare both when you search.
What is the closest airport to San Diego?
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the closest airport with scheduled flights to downtown San Diego, 1.4 miles away in a straight line. StubOrder also lists TIJ (18 miles).
Which airport is best for Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre - The Old Globe?
The closest airport to Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre - The Old Globe is San Diego International Airport (SAN), 2.2 miles away in a straight line; General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (TIJ) is 17 miles. Fares differ by date, so compare both when you search.
Which airport is closest to the San Diego FC's home stadium?
The San Diego FC play home games at Snapdragon Stadium. The closest airport to Snapdragon Stadium is San Diego International Airport (SAN), 5.4 miles away in a straight line.
How far is SAN from downtown San Diego?
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is 1.4 miles (2 km) from downtown San Diego in a straight line. The drive is always longer than the straight line, and the roads near the venues are busiest at event times, so allow more than a map suggests.
