Travelling from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport (HNL): What you need to know
San Diego's main airport is San Diego International Airport (SAN). Check out your departure options from this base when searching for your flights from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport (HNL).
6 hours 10 minutes is the average journey time for a direct San Diego to Honolulu International Airport flight.
The timezone in Honolulu is UTC-10, which is two hours behind San Diego. Honolulu International Airport is located in Honolulu.
With 39 direct flights a week between the two airports, San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is the most popular route. Hawaiian Airlines operates the earliest flight at 7am. If you'd like to get more out of your day before taking off, the latest flight from SAN to HNL is with Hawaiian Airlines at 8pm.
Leave enough time to make your flight from San Diego to HNL. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
July is a busy month for travelling. If you're heading away then or around a major holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas, show up even earlier. Aim for at least two hours ahead for domestic flights and up to four hours for international journeys.
Airports in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
You can find a direct flight from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport (HNL) departing from San Diego International Airport (SAN).
Top carriers that offer direct flights from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport out of SAN include:
Alaska Airlines ranks first in bookings for flights from SAN to HNL.
The carrier with the most reliable on-time arrival rate on this route is Southwest Airlines.
Travelling from central San Diego to SAN takes around 25 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a taxi, you'll cover the 5 kilometres in 15 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want a relaxed start to your break? Stay near San Diego International Airport. Whether you have an early flight from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport or prefer not to feel hurried, these hotels offer the perfect solution:
74% of flights that leave from San Diego International Airport arrive at their destination on schedule.
SAN is located at N Harbour Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
CLD is around 48 kilometres from the centre of San Diego. Plan ahead to find the fastest way to reach the terminal.
Got a crack-of-dawn departure? Think about staying at one of these hotels near McClellan-Palomar Airport the day before your San Diego to HNL flight:
McClellan-Palomar Airport is known for its commitment to punctuality. 88% of flights leaving here meet their scheduled arrival times without fail.
About Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport. Book one of these accommodation options near HNL instead:
To lock in the lowest price, book your vehicle around two weeks in advance of your San Diego to Honolulu International Airport flight.
The address for HNL is 300 Rodgers Blvd., #12.
Getting from Honolulu International Airport (HNL) to central Honolulu
The centre of Honolulu is roughly 6 kilometres from Honolulu International Airport. Journey times by taxi or car hire will vary based on traffic conditions, so do some research before you go.
It'll take around 45 minutes to get there using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport is 128 €. For a return flight on this route, the best price is 256 €. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares may change.
Book 11 months before you travel. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from San Diego to HNL.
Schedule your trip for April. That's the best month for landing cheap San Diego to Honolulu International Airport tickets. If you're flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Save time looking for cheap plane tickets from San Diego to HNL by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when prices go down.
Bag the best deal on a flight from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport with the help of the filters. Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
The best time to fly from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
Think about the pace you're looking for when deciding your trip dates. December is the quietest month to visit Honolulu. July is when most people book flights from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport (HNL), which may be ideal if you'd rather travel when it's busy.
The warmest month in Honolulu is September, with temperatures ranging between 23ºC (73ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Lock in your San Diego to HNL plane ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
February sees temperatures of between 18ºC (64ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF). Look for cheap tickets from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Honolulu
Once you've booked your flight from San Diego to Honolulu International Airport, find a hotel that offers a good mix of location and comfort. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Honolulu:
Pacific Ocean and Waikiki Beach are just a couple of the big attractions to put on your Honolulu to-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Pearl Harbour.
Explore more of the United States
Kahului is just one of the many places in the United States waiting to be explored once you've seen the sights of Honolulu. Around 161 kilometres away to the east, popular attractions include Palaau State Park, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens and Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary.
Around 161 kilometres east of Honolulu, Kīhei is another favourite stop in the United States. Start your sightseeing at Kihei Regional Park, Maalaea Beach and Lipoa Street Beach.