Travelling from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Diego: what you need to know
Approximately 4 hours 10 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Diego.
San Diego is two hours behind Chicago, where O'Hare International Airport is located. San Diego observes the UTC-7 timezone.
The busiest route is from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN). You can select from 58 services every week between these two airports. If you want to take off as soon as possible, the earliest flight from ORD to SAN is the 06:48 American Airlines service. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final departure is at 21:33 with American Airlines.
For a smooth journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This leaves you with plenty of time to board your ORD to San Diego flight.
Longer lines at check-in and security are likely if you're travelling during high season, so give yourself a little extra breathing room. A good rule for peak times? Arrive up to four hours ahead for international flights and two hours for domestic departures.
Start your journey at ORD and fly straight to San Diego International Airport (SAN). That will be your arrival point when searching for O'Hare International Airport to San Diego tickets.
Book your favourite seat with United Airlines. This airline offers direct flights from O'Hare International Airport to San Diego.
Travelling from central Chicago to ORD takes around 55 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 35 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Searching for a hotel close to ORD? If you're boarding an early flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Diego, these accommodation options will get you from your pillow to the plane in no time:
When it comes to the on-time performance of O'Hare International Airport, 74.85% of flights complete their journey on time.
ORD's address is 10000 West O'Hare.
How to find the cheapest flights from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Diego
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way O'Hare International Airport to San Diego flight is RM297. The cheapest price for a return flight is RM506. Keep in mind fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
To pick up cheap flights from ORD to San Diego, book your journey one month before your planned departure.
Schedule your trip for May. That's the best month for scoring an awesome deal on O'Hare International Airport to San Diego tickets. If you're open to different travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
There's no need to keep looking every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know when there's an even better deal on cheap flights from ORD to San Diego.
Find an affordable flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Diego with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Airports in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
The distance from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego is roughly 5 kilometres. It takes around 10 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It typically takes 20 minutes if you're travelling by public transport.
If you have a late flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Diego, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these hotels near SAN:
Grab a San Diego International Airport rental car and explore San Diego and beyond with your own set of wheels. Thrifty, Dollar and Budget are well-known companies you can book with here.
For the lowest price, book your vehicle from San Diego International Airport around two weeks in advance of your flight from ORD to San Diego.
You'll find SAN at N Harbour Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
The centre of San Diego is located around 56 kilometres from McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD). After your flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Diego has hit the runway and you've made your way through the terminal, expect a drive of about 40 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take around 2 hours 15 minutes.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and relax at a hotel near CLD. Here are a few options where you can check in after your ORD to San Diego flight:
No need to worry about public transport schedules or long cab queues. Pick up a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car and let your trip unfold on your terms. Compare availability and rates from Budget, Hertz and Avis.
Lock in the vehicle you want, not just what's left over, by securing your ride from CLD before your arrival. You can also avoid last-minute price hikes, especially during busy airport times.
Best time to go to San Diego
Carefully consider your trip dates before booking your flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Diego. The city buzzes during high season, but rates are usually higher and major attractions can get busy. Go to San Diego in the low season for a more relaxed vibe.
Lock in an O'Hare International Airport to San Diego flight ticket with a departure in August to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures to range from 17ºC (63ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF).
If you like cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from ORD to San Diego in February when temperatures average between 7ºC (45ºF) and 23ºC (73ºF).
More about San Diego
Start your San Diego trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Diego, browse our range of hotels including:
USS Midway Museum and San Diego Zoo are just the start of the big attractions to add to your San Diego itinerary. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out SeaWorld San Diego.
Explore more of United States
Los Angeles is just one of the many places in United States waiting to be explored after you've seen San Diego. Around 177 kilometres away to the north-west, its top attractions include Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.
Phoenix is another well-known destination in United States and is around 483 kilometres east of San Diego. No journey is complete without seeing Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park.