San Diego

$128+ Cheap flights from Dulles Intl (IAD) to San Diego (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 10/21. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
IAD — SAN
Oct 11 — Oct 181
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Diego are usually found in February or October, booked 69 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Tuesday and return on a Friday

Cheap flight deals from Dulles Intl to San Diego

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Dulles Intl (IAD) 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 September 11, 2025.

Round-trip from

$242
(American Airlines)

One-way from

$128
(Trip.com)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$387

Good round-trip deal

$306 or less

Good one-way deal

$159 or less
From Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Diego
One-way flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Diego
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 9% potential increase in price ($41 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($16 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in September 2025
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Diego.
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Diego.

Find flight deals from Dulles Intl to San Diego

Cheapest flights from Dulles Intl to San Diego
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Dulles Intl to San Diego. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 11, 2025.

This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/10. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 11/16:34 amIAD - SAN
1 stop7h 22mAmerican Airlines
Sat 11/89:42 amSAN - IAD
2 stops11h 17mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 9/10$242
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/10. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 10/49:00 amIAD - SAN
Nonstop5h 24mUnited Airlines
Thu 10/912:00 pmSAN - IAD
1 stop7h 06mUnited Airlines
Deal found 9/10$243
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/10. 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.
Fri 10/310:17 amIAD - SAN
1 stop10h 59mFrontier
Sun 10/55:37 pmSAN - IAD
2 stops16h 18mFrontier
Deal found 9/10$244
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/11. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 11/15:00 pmIAD - SAN
1 stop7h 00mSouthwest
Tue 11/49:45 amSAN - IAD
2 stops9h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 9/11$245
This Hawaiian Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/11. 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 Hawaiian Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/155:42 pmIAD - SAN
Nonstop5h 38mHawaiian Airlines
Wed 10/295:25 pmSAN - IAD
1 stop9h 58mHawaiian Airlines
Deal found 9/11$247
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/11. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 10/310:17 amIAD - SAN
1 stop10h 59mMultiple Airlines
Wed 10/158:30 amSAN - IAD
Nonstop5h 12mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/11$248
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/11. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 11/135:50 pmIAD - SAN
1 stop7h 20mSouthwest
Mon 11/1710:30 amSAN - IAD
2 stops8h 40mSouthwest
Deal found 9/11$249
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/11. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 9/2510:17 amIAD - SAN
1 stop10h 25mMultiple Airlines
Thu 10/28:33 amSAN - IAD
Nonstop5h 19mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/11$250
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/10. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 9/2910:17 amIAD - SAN
1 stop10h 37mMultiple Airlines
Fri 10/38:33 amSAN - IAD
Nonstop5h 19mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/10$251
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/9. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/27:22 pmIAD - SAN
1 stop7h 19mUnited Airlines
Sat 10/410:46 amSAN - IAD
1 stop7h 09mUnited Airlines
Deal found 9/9$252
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/11. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 10/75:42 pmIAD - SAN
Nonstop5h 38mHawaiian Airlines
Tue 10/148:30 amSAN - IAD
Nonstop5h 12mHawaiian Airlines
Deal found 9/11$253

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Dulles Intl 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 September 11, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego that are best for you.

Fly from

Dulles Intl

Fly to

San Diego

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Tue 10/7

7:40 am-4:40 pm

2 stops12h 00m

San Diego

Tue 10/28

10:25 am-11:05 pm

2 stops9h 40m

$244

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Mon 11/3

9:00 am-11:38 am

Nonstop5h 38m

San Diego

Sat 11/8

11:20 am-9:21 pm

1 stop7h 01m

$247

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 10/15

5:42 pm-8:20 pm

Nonstop5h 38m

San Diego

Wed 10/29

5:25 pm-6:23 am

1 stop9h 58m

$247

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Sat 10/4

12:35 pm-5:17 pm

1 stop7h 42m

San Diego

Thu 10/9

12:00 pm-10:06 pm

1 stop7h 06m

$252

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 10/22

5:42 pm-8:20 pm

Nonstop5h 38m

San Diego

Mon 10/27

9:11 am-5:13 pm

Nonstop5h 02m

$257

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Thu 11/13

5:40 pm-8:29 pm

Nonstop5h 49m

San Diego

Mon 11/17

9:11 am-5:13 pm

Nonstop5h 02m

$257

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Mon 10/13

5:42 pm-8:20 pm

Nonstop5h 38m

San Diego

Tue 10/21

8:30 am-4:42 pm

Nonstop5h 12m

$257

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Fri 2/20

5:15 pm-9:47 pm

1 stop7h 32m

San Diego

Tue 2/24

9:00 am-7:05 pm

1 stop7h 05m

$257

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Tue 10/7

5:42 pm-8:20 pm

Nonstop5h 38m

San Diego

Tue 10/14

8:30 am-4:42 pm

Nonstop5h 12m

$257

Washington, D.C.San Diego

IAD - SAN

IADSAN

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Fri 2/6

5:50 pm-8:47 pm

Nonstop5h 57m

San Diego

Sun 2/8

10:00 pm-5:49 am

Nonstop4h 49m

$257

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 9/11

Showing 1-10 of 21 results
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The best insider tips for Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego trip
Airports
IAD

For a smooth departure from IAD, use the Aerotrain to quickly reach your concourse. Pay attention to signage for correct train direction.

Read more about IADby Ramsey Qubein
SAN

Upon arrival at SAN, consider using the San Diego Flyer shuttle for a free ride to the Old Town Transit Center.

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
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on IAD

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Read more

Best time to book a flight from Dulles Intl to San Diego

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Diego from Dulles Intl 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego

How far ahead should I book a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Dulles Intl to San Diego. Price data was last updated on August 29, 2025.

Booking 69 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

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

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego (average of $286). Flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl 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 IAD to SAN?

Find hourly flight availability from Dulles Intl 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 September 11, 2025.

When flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego, the time of day you fly usually plays a role in the price. Save by searching for a flight in the evening, which can drop the price by up to 43% versus a flight at noon.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Dulles Intl to San Diego. Price data was last updated on September 7, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego flight should consider departing on Thursday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday evenings 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 September 11, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Dulles Intl 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 airport do you fly into for flights to San Diego from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl?

    For a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Diego, you will be flying into San Diego. San Diego (SAN) is just 2.6 mi from the center of the city. San Diego is the only San Diego airport and it handles 8 inbound flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl per day. 7 airlines have flights to San Diego from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl on a regular basis.

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

    For as low as $247, Southwest can have you in San Diego from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport in 5h 38m. Airlines will cover a distance of 2248 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego round-trip?

    Frontier, at $145, was found to be the cheapest airline from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Frontier is currently priced 64% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego one-way?

    One-way options have recently been found by users for as low as $129 on Hawaiian Airlines. Other airlines that offer cheap prices include Alaska Airlines from $129 and United Airlines from $129 one-way.

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

    Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego on time: Ethiopian Air (93%), United Airlines (89%), Austrian Airlines (76%).

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

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $113. While the most popular route (Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - San Diego) can be booked for $212 on average, our data indicates $769 when flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Dulles Intl 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Diego (average of $286). Flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl 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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Alternative routes for Dulles Intl to San Diego

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top 7 airlines flying from Dulles Intl to San Diego

Discover the top 7 airlines that operate flights from Dulles Intl 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 September 11, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$145Average$291FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Hawaiian AirlinesCheapest$158Average$347FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time85%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$236Average$358FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
DeltaCheapest$256Average$336FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$256Average$461FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$256Average$436FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$261Average$448FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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