San Diego from Portland, 16 – 18 Oct: £773 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- £67 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel, rated 9 by 1,716 guests
- Free cancellation at Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 7h 24m in all.
Worth it if you want sun, sand and a pool; skip it if you want a city to walk.
When we checked, round-trip flights from Portland to San Diego were $380 per person ($760 for two) for Oct 16–18, 2026. That's 2 nights on Frontier with one stop, not nonstop. The forecast shows clear skies with highs of 84–90°F, and the best-value bed is $265 for the stay at Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel.
The total, before you go
£773 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £573 |
| Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £200 |
| The total, before you go | £773 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £181 |
£67 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £45 each way per bag on Frontier, £181 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£286 per person, return
£573 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 7h 24m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 12:25 PM – Fri, Oct 16, 7:49 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | £286 | 1 stop | 7h 24m |
| Alaska | £421 | nonstop | 2h 47m |
| Alaska | £421 | nonstop | 2h 33m |
Prices checked 14 Oct 2026, 04:28 GMT-7. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
$380 per person round trip, or $760 for two, all-in when we checked. That's $89 below the typical fare on this route, which is $469, so you're paying 19% less. We saw 11 offers with fares from $380 to $599, and this one is at the bottom of that range. Mid-October still feels like summer here: the forecast shows clear skies, highs of 84–90°F, lows of 76–78°F and rain chances of 0–7%. There's no time change from Portland and you don't need a passport, so it's an easy long weekend of beach time, the zoo and fish tacos. A rough budget for two comes to $1,545, covering flights, the Samesun stay and $520 for spending. Heads-up: the cheap fare connects and takes 7h 24m, so Friday is mostly a travel day. Prices change, and none of this is promised to hold.
The kind of trip this is
A warm beach-and-city weekend. You get mornings at the beach, afternoons in Balboa Park or on the USS Midway, and fish tacos at night. It suits couples and friends who want sun without a long-haul flight, and families can make it work around the zoo. The pace is relaxed, but with only one full day on the ground, pick two or three things and leave the rest for next time.
Weather in San Diego, 16 – 18 Oct
Highs 84–90°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct | 90 °F | 78 °F | 1% |
| Sat 17 Oct | 87 °F | 78 °F | 7% |
| Sun 18 Oct | 84 °F | 76 °F | 0% |
Where to stay in San Diego
We found three options. Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel is the best value at $265 for the stay ($133 a night), scored 9 from 1,716 reviews, with breakfast and free cancellation. Heads-up: that price is for 2 beds in an 8-bed dorm. Kasa Little Italy San Diego is the top rated at 9.3 from 219 reviews. It's a Queen Studio with self check-in for $1,191 total ($596 a night), room only, and it doesn't offer free cancellation. Ramada by Wyndham San Diego Airport in Point Loma is the budget private-room pick at $445 ($223 a night), scored 7.3, with breakfast and free cancellation. If you're choosing an area, Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown puts nightlife, Petco Park and the waterfront within walking distance. Mission Beach / Pacific Beach is the place for the boardwalk and surf.
Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel
£200 for 2 nights, two guests · £100 a night
See roomsKasa Little Italy San Diego
£898 for 2 nights, two guests · £449 a night
See roomsRamada by Wyndham San Diego Airport
£335 for 2 nights, two guests · £168 a night
See roomsAll hotels in San Diego for these dates
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Where in San Diego
- Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown: Nightlife, Petco Park and the waterfront on foot.
- La Jolla: Coves, sea lions and upscale village hotels.
- Coronado: Wide beach and the landmark Hotel del Coronado.
- Mission Beach / Pacific Beach: Boardwalk, surf and a young bar scene.
- Mission Valley: Chain hotels with easy freeway access to the zoo and parks.
What to do in San Diego
- Spend a morning at the San Diego Zoo, then walk over to the Balboa Park museums.
- Kayak the sea caves at La Jolla, where you'll find coves and sea lions.
- Swim at Coronado Beach, right beside the Hotel del Coronado.
- Tour the USS Midway aircraft carrier on the waterfront.
- Eat fish tacos and drink craft beer in North Park.
- Watch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs on your last evening.
Also worth it
- Visit the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park museums
Tours and tickets in San Diego
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Portland | Portland International (PDX) |
|---|---|
| Airports in San Diego | San Diego International (SAN) |
| Flight time | 7h 24m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 932 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
What 2 nights in San Diego costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £573 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel) | £200 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £392 |
| Total for two | £1,165 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Portland to San Diego
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £286 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £170 (13 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £354 |
| Price checks | 10 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for San Diego.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed, prices are in US dollars, and San Diego is on the same time as Portland.
- The $380 Frontier fare leaves PDX at 12:25 PM on Friday, Oct 16 and lands at SAN at 7:49 PM after one stop.
- Fares are all-in, including taxes and fees, as found when we checked. They can change at any time.
- Samesun and Ramada include breakfast and free cancellation. Kasa Little Italy is room only and doesn't offer free cancellation.
- San Diego is 932 miles from Portland, flying from Portland International (PDX) to San Diego International (SAN).
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
$380 per person round trip on Frontier, $760 for two, all-in when we checked. That's $89 below the typical fare of $469 on this route. It has one stop, and the outbound takes 7h 24m.
Is there a nonstop option?
Yes. Alaska flies nonstop for $559 per person ($1,118 for two). One flight leaves at 7:09 AM and lands at 9:56 AM, and another leaves at 9:03 AM and lands at 11:36 AM. Both get you there the same Friday morning.
What is the weather like?
The forecast is clear all three days. Highs run 84–90°F and lows 76–78°F, with rain chances between 0% and 7%. Bring beach clothes.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for a taste. With the Frontier fare you land at 7:49 PM Friday, so Saturday is your full day. Pick the zoo or a beach, add tacos in North Park and catch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, prices are in US dollars, and there's no time difference from Portland.
What does the whole weekend cost for two?
Our rough budget for two is $1,545. That's $760 for flights, $265 for two dorm beds at Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel and $520 for spending. A private room at the Ramada is $445 for the stay.
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All trips from Portland · San Diego from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: Soly Moses / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Kindel Media / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Stephen Leonardi / Pexels, Pexels License