San Diego International Airport is located 3 miles northwest of San Diego, California. It is the busiest single-runway airport in the United States.
The airport is operated by the San Diego Regional Airport Authority and serves more than 25 million passengers annually. The airport has a single runway.
Interactive San Diego Airport Map
San Diego Airport – terminal and gate map
There are two terminals at San Diego Airport.
Terminal 1 is a historic building with 14 gates. Nineteen new gates will be added to this terminal in the coming years. Terminal 2 has a total of 32 gates with East and West concourses. It also offers special passenger lounges such as Delta Sky Club and United Club. There are a total of 51 boarding gates in both terminals. The terminal buildings have digital flight information screens and spacious waiting areas with free Wi-Fi.
Lower Level (Arrivals): Baggage claim areas, passenger pick-up points, short-term parking access, and ground transportation services (taxis, shuttles, car rental offices) are located on this level for arriving passengers.
Upper Level (Departures): Check-in counters, security checkpoints, duty-free, food and beverage, and shopping areas, as well as access to boarding gates, are located on this level.
Car Parking
There are two parking areas at San Diego International Airport: Terminal 1 Parking Plaza and Terminal 2 Parking Plaza. Curbside valet parking is also available at the airport. Self-parking costs USD 38 for a 24-hour period, and valet parking costs USD 60 per day. Free shuttle buses operate 24/7 between both parking areas and the terminals and the Rental Car Center.
San Diego International Airport has a short-term parking area. This parking area is called the 3-Hour Parking Zone. To access this area, enter Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, turn right, and follow the signs. The first 30 minutes in the short-term parking area cost $2.50, and the maximum daily rate is $32. This area is specifically designed for passenger drop-offs and quick transfers.
Payments can be made in cash, by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, Diner’s Club), Apple Pay, and Google Wallet.
Car Rental at the airport
The Consolidated Rental Car Center, located at the airport, houses offices of Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and other international companies. After completing all rental procedures at the information desk inside the terminal, you can take a free shuttle bus to the Rental Car Center and pick up your vehicle there.
Car rental offices are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Find transportation from the airport – bus, taxi, car rental center shuttle
You can quickly reach the city center, Old Town Transit Center, Rancho Bernardo, and Escondido with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus lines 20, 235, 280, and 290. Route 992 stops just outside the baggage claim areas of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and continues to Santa Fe Depot. Route 910 provides direct service between San Ysidro Transit Center and Downtown San Diego.
Taxi stands are located at the terminals. Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft pick up passengers at designated areas at the airport.
Rental Car Center Shuttle: This service operates 24/7. There is a shuttle service every 10 minutes between Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and the Consolidated Rental Car Center.
VIP Lounge at San Diego Airport
The Aspire Lounge in Terminal 2 is open to all travelers. This area offers free Wi-Fi, shower facilities, and work areas. The Chase Sapphire Lounge, Delta Sky Club, and United Club lounges are also available in the terminal.
The Chase Sapphire Lounge is located in Terminal 2, after security, between Gates 46 and 47. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders and Priority Pass members can use this lounge. A fee of USD 75 is required for entry. The lounge is open from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Delta Sky Club is located in the West section of Terminal 2. Delta One or SkyTeam Elite Plus members, American Express Platinum/Delta Reserve cardholders, and passengers with a one-day pass can use this lounge. It is open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.
United Club is located on the Mezzanine level of Terminal 2 West, between Gates 47 and 48. You can enter with a United Club membership card, Star Alliance Gold status, or a one-time $59 pass. It is open daily from 5:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Lost & Found
For lost and found reports and returns, you must contact the airport’s Lost & Found office. The San Diego International Airport Lost & Found Office is located on the lower level of Terminal 2. This office provides appointment-based service. You must make an appointment before visiting the office. The office is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. You can contact them by calling +1 619-400-2140 or by emailing yadalostandfound@san.org.
If you lost your luggage on the plane, you can contact your airline’s “Baggage Services” or “Lost & Found” department. Airline contact information:
Alaska Airlines: 1-800-654-5669
Delta Air Lines: 1-800-325-8224
American Airlines: 800-535-5225
Southwest Airlines: 1-800-435-9792
United Airlines: 1-800-335-2247
ATM at San Diego Airport
ATMs are located on the departure and arrival floors of Terminals 1 and 2, as well as at the Car Rental Center. These ATMs are available 24/7.
Smoking Areas
Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is strictly prohibited in all enclosed areas of the terminal building. Passengers who wish to smoke must exit the terminal building and use the designated outdoor smoking areas located a certain distance from the arrival (lower level) and departure (upper level) exits. These areas are clearly marked and easy to find.
Restaurants at San Diego Airport
There are a variety of restaurants in the pre- and post-security areas of Terminals 1 and 2.
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters (Terminal 1, Gate 3) – Serves gourmet coffee and snacks.
Einstein Bros. Bagels (T1, Gate 4) – Serves fresh bagels, pastries, and coffee.
Ciao Gourmet Market (T1, Gate 4) – Serves salads, sandwiches, and snacks.
Bankers Hill Bar & Market (T2) – Serves cocktails and light meals.
Shopping at Airport
Terminal 1 Shopping Options
Hudson News (near Gates 3–14): Sells newspapers, magazines, snacks, and basic travel items.
Emerald Express (Terminal 1): You can buy wine, beer, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and packaged snacks.
Tech on the Go (near Gate 11): Sells travel adapters, cables, headphones, and mobile accessories.
Shades of Time (Terminal 1, near Gate 7): You can buy quality sunglasses and fashion accessories.
Terminal 2 Shopping Options
InMotion Entertainment (Concourse D, near Gate 26): Sells phone accessories, headphones, portable chargers, and travel products.
Soundbalance (Terminal 2, Concourse D area): Sells high-quality headphones and audio equipment.
Gaslamp MarketPlace (Terminal 2 Departures): Sells local arts and crafts, T-shirts, magnets, and other San Diego-themed gifts.
Brookstone (Terminal 2): Sells massage devices, travel pillows, and electronic gifts.
PGA TOUR Shop (Terminal 2): Official store selling golf-themed products, hats, and sports equipment.
Duty-Free
There is a Sky Free Shop in Terminal 2 at San Diego Airport. Sky Free Shop offers a wide range of products, from luxury brand perfumes and cosmetics to bags and alcoholic beverages. International travelers can find products from world-renowned brands such as Mont Blanc, Chanel, Bvlgari, Hermès, Furla, Clinique, Estée Lauder, and L’Oréal at this store. Cigarette and cigar options available at many duty-free stores are also available at the Sky Free Shop at SAN. By law, only passengers aged 21 and over can purchase tobacco products. You must show a valid boarding pass or departure/arrival ticket to benefit from tax exemption on product prices.
Hotels at San Diego Airport
There are many hotels around San Diego Airport. Some of these hotels are within walking distance of the airport.
Sheraton San Diego Resort & Marina: This hotel is 0.5 miles from the airport. A free airport shuttle service is available. The Market at BTL brunch restaurant in the Bay Tower is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to midnight. Hot and cold breakfast options are available.
Holiday Inn Express San Diego Airport–Old Town: It is approximately 1 mile from the airport. There is a free local area shuttle service to the airport and to locations such as the Old Town Transit Center and the Convention Center.
Best Western Plus Bayside Inn: It is 2.7 miles from the airport. Coffee is included in the price.
Wyndham San Diego Bayside: Located 2 miles from the airport. Free airport shuttle service is available.
San Diego International Airport Flights and Airlines
San Diego International Airport serves as a hub for Alaska Airlines. A total of 23 airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines, operate out of this airport. There are over 500 flights daily at the airport. There are flights to 76 domestic destinations and 11 international destinations from the airport. Domestic routes include regular flights to major cities such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Seattle/Tacoma, and New York-JFK. International routes include popular flights to London-Heathrow, Tokyo-Narita, Munich, Toronto-Pearson, and Panama City-Tocumen.
Satellite view of San Diego Airport. Click to enlarge
San Diego Airport destination map (June 2025). Click to enlarge
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