San Diego from Austin, Oct 16–18: $1,116 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $26 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Lowest in 30 days on this route
- Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel, rated 9 by 1,715 guests
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 5h 35m 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 Austin to San Diego were $430 per person ($860 for two) for Oct 16–18, 2026. That's 2 nights on Frontier with 1 stop. The forecast shows highs of 83–90°F with little rain expected, and the best-value stay is Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel at $256 for both nights.
The total, before you go
$1,116 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $860 |
| Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $256 |
| The total, before you go | $1,116 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$26 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $60 each way per bag on Frontier, $240 for two round trip); 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
$430 per person, round trip
$860 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 5h 35m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 8:21 PM – Fri, Oct 16, 11:56 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | $430 | 1 stop | 5h 35m |
| Alaska. Operated by SkyWest Airlines as Alaska SkyWest | $889 | nonstop | 3h 19m |
| Frontier | $637 | 2 stops | 26h 27m |
Prices checked Oct 13, 2026, 7:22 AM CDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
At $430 per person, this fare is $26 below the typical fare on this route. That's 6% under the $456 median of our earlier checks, and it carries the Lowest in 30 days badge. We saw 12 offers ranging from $430 to $889, and this one was the lowest. The weekend forecast is warm: highs of 90°F Friday, 88°F Saturday and 83°F Sunday, with rain chances between 0% and 4%. That's beach weather in October, good for a swim, a kayak and a long sunset. Our budget for two comes to $1,636 for the whole weekend: $860 in flights, $256 for the best-value beds and $520 for spending. Prices are all-in, with taxes and fees, as found when we checked, and they can change before you book.
The kind of trip this is
This is a warm beach-and-city weekend with tacos in between. It suits a couple or two friends who want sun, a bit of sightseeing and an easy pace, with no passport needed. You arrive late Friday, so Saturday and Sunday are your real vacation days: a beach, a museum or a kayak trip, then a sunset.
Weather in San Diego, Oct 16–18
Highs 83–90°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | 90 °F | 77 °F | 0% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 88 °F | 78 °F | 4% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 83 °F | 74 °F | 1% |
Where to stay in San Diego
Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel is the best value at $256 for both nights ($128 a night). Breakfast is included, and it scores 9 from 1,715 reviews. 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: a queen studio with self check-in for $1,134 ($567 a night), room only. Wyndham Garden San Diego near SeaWorld is the budget private-room pick: a room with two queen beds for $389 ($195 a night), scoring 6.8 from 1,967 reviews. All three showed free cancellation. For nightlife, Petco Park and the waterfront on foot, look at Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown. Mission Beach / Pacific Beach is the area for a boardwalk, surf and a young bar scene.
Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel
$256 for 2 nights, two guests · $128 a night
See roomsKasa Little Italy San Diego
$1,134 for 2 nights, two guests · $567 a night
See roomsWyndham Garden San Diego near SeaWorld
$389 for 2 nights, two guests · $195 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 Saturday morning at the San Diego Zoo, then wander the Balboa Park museums
- Kayak the sea caves at La Jolla while the water's warm
- Swim at Coronado Beach beside the Hotel del Coronado
- Tour the USS Midway aircraft carrier on the downtown 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 Austin | Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) |
|---|---|
| Airports in San Diego | San Diego International (SAN) |
| Flight time | 5h 35m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,155 miles each way |
| Time difference | -2 hours |
What 2 nights in San Diego costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $860 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel) | $256 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $520 |
| Total for two | $1,636 |
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: Austin to San Diego
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $430 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $430 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $456 |
| Price checks | 10 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for San Diego.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed: it's a domestic trip, and everything is in US dollars.
- San Diego is 2 hours behind Austin.
- The Frontier flight leaves AUS at 8:21 PM on Friday, Oct 16, with 1 stop and 5h 35m of travel.
- All three hotels showed free cancellation. Samesun includes breakfast, and the other two are room only.
- Fares are all-in with taxes and fees as found when we checked. Confirm return times on the airline's site.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
When we checked, it was $430 per person round trip, or $860 for two, on Frontier with 1 stop. That's all-in with taxes and fees, and $26 below the typical fare on this route. Prices can change before you book.
Is there a nonstop option?
Yes. We saw an Alaska nonstop operated by SkyWest that leaves at 6:00 AM on Friday and takes 3h 19m. It costs $889 per person, or $1,778 for two.
What is the weather like?
The forecast shows highs of 90°F Friday, 88°F Saturday and 83°F Sunday, with lows from 74°F to 78°F. Rain chances run from 0% to 4%, so pack for the beach.
Is 2 nights enough?
For a long weekend, yes. The Frontier flight leaves Austin at 8:21 PM Friday and lands that night, which leaves Saturday and Sunday for the zoo, a beach and a sunset at Sunset Cliffs.
Do I need a passport?
No. San Diego is a domestic trip from Austin, so a standard ID for the flight is enough, and you'll pay in US dollars.
What does the whole weekend cost for two?
Our budget comes to $1,636 for two: $860 in flights, $256 at Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel and $520 for spending, which works out to $130 per person per day.
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