San Diego International to Denver International
852 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 2h 07m with 8 airlines operating direct service from San Diego International (SAN) to Denver International (DEN). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $119 return), with peak prices in August (around $357). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from San Diego International
San Diego International is the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the United States, sitting 3 miles from downtown San Diego. MTS Route 992 runs from the terminals directly to downtown in around 15 minutes for $2.50; the future Trolley extension (planned 2027) will provide direct light rail. Southwest and Alaska have the largest schedules; American, Delta and United add full-service capacity. Limited international long-haul — British Airways and Lufthansa serve London and Frankfurt direct.
Arriving in Denver
Denver International is 25 miles northeast of downtown Denver — the most remote big-city airport in the US, deliberately sited to allow for unlimited expansion. The University of Colorado A Line commuter train runs from a dedicated station every 15 minutes to Union Station in 37 minutes for $10.50. Snow can disrupt operations from November through April; Denver fares are cheapest in shoulder seasons (April–May, September–October).
Who flies SAN to DEN?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 2h 07m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 2h 07m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 2h 07m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 2h 07m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 2h 07m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 2h 07m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 2h 07m | Economy |
| Hawaiian Airlines | HA | 2h 07m | Economy |
8 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SAN→DEN
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
San Diego to Denver FAQs
Direct flights from San Diego International (SAN) to Denver International (DEN) take approximately 2h 07m for the 852-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $119. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
8 carriers operate direct service from San Diego International (SAN) to Denver International (DEN): Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and 3 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Southwest Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
Denver International (DEN) is the primary international airport for Denver. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.