San Diego International to Vancouver International
1179 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 2h 46m with 8 airlines operating direct service from San Diego International (SAN) to Vancouver International (YVR). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $169 return), with peak prices in August (around $507). 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 Vancouver
Vancouver International is 13 km south of downtown Vancouver, with the Canada Line SkyTrain running from the airport's underground station directly to downtown in 26 minutes for CA$10.95 (off-peak CA$5.05). Fares from US West Coast hubs are competitive with mid-distance domestic prices. Peak demand is summer (July–August) and ski-season weekends (December–March); January–February sees the cheapest fares.
Who flies SAN to YVR?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 2h 46m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 2h 46m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 2h 46m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 2h 46m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 2h 46m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 2h 46m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 2h 46m | Economy |
| Hawaiian Airlines | HA | 2h 46m | 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→YVR
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 Vancouver FAQs
Direct flights from San Diego International (SAN) to Vancouver International (YVR) take approximately 2h 46m for the 1179-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 $169. 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 Vancouver International (YVR): 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 eTA required for US citizens, but a US passport (or NEXUS card / Enhanced Driver License) is required for air travel. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Vancouver International (YVR) is the primary international airport for Vancouver. 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.