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$88+ Cheap flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego (DTW - SAN)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 9/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DTW — SAN
Aug 25 — Sep 11
Mon 8/25
Mon 9/1
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to San Diego are usually found in August or July, booked 23 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Tuesday

Cheap flight deals from Detroit to San Diego

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Detroit (DTW) to San Diego (SAN). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated August 20, 2025.

Round-trip from

$164
(Expedia)

One-way from

$88
(Mytrip)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$295

Good round-trip deal

$206 or less

Good one-way deal

$90 or less
From Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to San Diego
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One-way flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to San Diego
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 17% potential increase in price ($85 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($14 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in August 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to San Diego.
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to San Diego.
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Find flight deals from Detroit to San Diego

Cheapest flights from Detroit to San Diego
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Detroit to San Diego. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on August 20, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 9/146:10 amDTW - SAN
1 stop7h 59mFrontier
Thu 9/186:27 pmSAN - DTW
1 stop12h 20mFrontier
Deal found 8/18$165
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 9/156:10 amDTW - SAN
1 stop7h 59mMultiple Airlines
Thu 9/256:15 amSAN - DTW
1 stop7h 03mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/18$166
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 9/79:19 pmDTW - SAN
2 stops24h 23mSpirit Airlines
Wed 9/101:35 pmSAN - DTW
1 stop12h 51mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 8/19$167
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 10/117:55 amDTW - SAN
1 stop17h 30mFrontier
Sat 10/187:00 amSAN - DTW
1 stop14h 59mFrontier
Deal found 8/18$168
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/156:00 amDTW - SAN
1 stop20h 50mMultiple Airlines
Tue 10/287:47 pmSAN - DTW
1 stop6h 47mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/19$170
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 9/56:10 amDTW - SAN
1 stop20h 43mFrontier
Sat 9/277:15 amSAN - DTW
1 stop13h 43mFrontier
Deal found 8/18$171
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/17. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 10/241:49 pmDTW - SAN
1 stop7h 59mFrontier
Mon 10/276:41 amSAN - DTW
1 stop15h 18mFrontier
Deal found 8/17$172
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 9/99:05 pmDTW - SAN
3 stops29h 29mSpirit Airlines
Tue 9/167:47 pmSAN - DTW
1 stop6h 39mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 8/18$173
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/96:00 amDTW - SAN
1 stop20h 50mFrontier
Fri 10/177:43 pmSAN - DTW
1 stop20h 50mFrontier
Deal found 8/18$174
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 9/47:10 pmDTW - SAN
2 stops26h 32mSpirit Airlines
Mon 9/87:47 pmSAN - DTW
2 stops15h 12mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 8/19$175
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/17. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 9/186:10 amDTW - SAN
1 stop7h 59mMultiple Airlines
Mon 9/227:47 pmSAN - DTW
1 stop6h 39mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/17$176
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 9/198:56 pmDTW - SAN
1 stop15h 30mFrontier
Wed 9/247:15 amSAN - DTW
1 stop14h 31mFrontier
Deal found 8/19$177

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Detroit to San Diego that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated August 20, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego that are best for you.

Fly from

Detroit

Fly to

San Diego

Route

Depart

Return

Price

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Tue 9/9

11:15 am-11:34 pm

1 stop15h 19m

San Diego

Wed 9/17

7:47 pm-5:26 am

1 stop6h 39m

$164

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Sun 9/14

6:10 am-11:09 am

1 stop7h 59m

San Diego

Tue 9/23

7:47 pm-5:26 am

1 stop6h 39m

$165

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Thu 9/11

11:54 am-8:07 pm

1 stop11h 13m

San Diego

Sun 9/14

5:37 pm-9:47 am

1 stop13h 10m

$165

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Fri 10/31

5:14 pm-11:50 pm

1 stop9h 36m

San Diego

Tue 11/4

1:34 pm-11:49 pm

1 stop7h 15m

$165

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Fri 9/12

6:10 am-11:09 am

1 stop7h 59m

San Diego

Sun 9/21

5:37 pm-9:47 am

1 stop13h 10m

$165

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Fri 9/12

6:10 am-11:09 am

1 stop7h 59m

San Diego

Tue 9/23

7:47 pm-5:26 am

1 stop6h 39m

$166

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Mon 9/15

6:10 am-11:09 am

1 stop7h 59m

San Diego

Thu 9/25

6:15 am-4:18 pm

1 stop7h 03m

$166

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Mon 9/15

6:10 am-11:09 am

1 stop7h 59m

San Diego

Tue 9/23

7:47 pm-5:26 am

1 stop6h 39m

$166

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Sun 9/14

6:10 am-11:09 am

1 stop7h 59m

San Diego

Thu 9/25

6:15 am-4:18 pm

1 stop7h 03m

$166

DetroitSan Diego

DTW - SAN

DTWSAN

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Sun 9/7

9:19 pm-6:42 pm

2 stops24h 23m

San Diego

Wed 9/10

1:35 pm-5:26 am

1 stop12h 51m

$167

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 8/19

Showing 1-10 of 21 results
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The best insider tips for Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego flights

Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of Cheapflights-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego trip
Airports
DTW

Security lines at DTW are short, with waits rarely exceeding 10 minutes in McNamara Terminal, making it convenient for early morning flights.

Read more about DTWby Brandon Schultz
SAN

For a quick ride to downtown San Diego, consider a taxi or rideshare from SAN, but plan for potential traffic congestion.

Read more about SANby Blane Bachelor
Our travel experts
Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SAN

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specializing in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favorite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history. She will always choose the window seat.

Read more
Brandon Schultz

Brandon Schultz

Expert on DTW

Brandon Schultz

Brandon Schultz

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.

Read more

Best time to book a flight from Detroit to San Diego

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Diego from Detroit with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego

How far ahead should I book a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Detroit to San Diego. Price data was last updated on August 8, 2025.

The best time to book flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego is 23 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego (average of $286). Flying from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego in March is currently the most expensive (average of $366). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from DTW to SAN?

Find hourly flight availability from Detroit to San Diego. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated August 20, 2025.

Unlike in the evening, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 39% on flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego by exploring options for tickets at noon.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Detroit to San Diego. Price data was last updated on August 17, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego flight should consider departing on Thursday at noon when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Reviews of airlines servicing San Diego

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Diego. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to San Diego. Reviews last updated August 20, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Southwest, Delta, and American Airlines from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,982 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Spirit Airlines
6.3
Okay
8,039 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Frontier
5.8
Fair
3,207 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Detroit to San Diego. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airports do I use to fly from Detroit to San Diego?

    Booking a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) to San Diego (SAN) is your only option if you wish to fly from Detroit to San Diego. On a typical day, there are 7 flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to San Diego, all of which are around 4h 32m for a nonstop flight. You can also purchase a plane ticket from 6 airlines when you book a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to San Diego.

  • How long is the flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego?

    Airlines like Spirit Airlines and Frontier fly from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego in about 11h 13m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 4h 06m. The distance from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego is about 1952 mi. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego round-trip?

    Our cheapest airline available from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego is Spirit Airlines. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $107 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Frontier and American Airlines, starting at $138 and $190 round-trip. Spirit Airlines is priced at 73% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego?

    No one likes to see their flight delayed. When booking a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego consider choosing Spirit Airlines (92%), KLM (77%) or Aeromexico (75%) as they are the most reliable in getting you off to your destination on time.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego?

    While on average a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego is generally $390, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $81. When looking at the most popular route, (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County - San Diego), you can expect to pay $117 for that flight.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Detroit to San Diego that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Detroit to San Diego flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Detroit to San Diego?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Detroit to San Diego.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Detroit to San Diego?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Detroit to San Diego by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego (average of $286). Flying from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to San Diego in March is currently the most expensive (average of $366). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near San Diego?

Book flights to San Diego if you plan to visit one of these locations
El Cajon
Chula Vista
La Mesa
Poway
Lemon Grove
Coronado
Imperial Beach
National City
Alpine

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Top 6 airlines flying from Detroit to San Diego

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Detroit to San Diego. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated August 20, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$107Average$227FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
FrontierCheapest$138Average$227FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
American AirlinesCheapest$190Average$320FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$228Average$435FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
DeltaCheapest$304Average$541FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$368Average$525FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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