San Diego from Minneapolis, Oct 16–18: $1,262 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Fare is $510 per person, $40 below the typical fare on this route
- Clear forecast, highs 85–90°F, rain chance 4% at most
- Samesun Ocean Beach rated 9 from 1,716 reviews, free cancellation
The catch: Frontier stops once and the 7:00 AM flight takes 11h 8m, the $242 hotel is dorm beds, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if you travel light and don't mind dorm beds for sun; skip it if you need a nonstop or a private room on a budget.
Worth it if you can handle a stop and a hostel dorm: $1,262 for two, which is the flights at $1,020 plus the hotel at $242, taxes and fees included. That covers 2 nights, Oct 16–18, 2026, on Frontier with one stop, not a nonstop. A checked bag and spending money aren't in that total.
The total, before you go
$1,262 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $1,020 |
| Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $242 |
| The total, before you go | $1,262 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$40 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
$510 per person, round trip
$1,020 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 11h 8m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 7:00 AM – Fri, Oct 16, 4:08 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | $510 | 1 stop | 11h 8m |
| Frontier | $675 | 2 stops | 27h 18m |
| Frontier | $510 | 1 stop | 9h 39m |
Prices checked Oct 13, 2026, 9:22 PM CDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
The fare is $510 per person, $40 below the typical fare on this route, which works out to 7% under. On this route we've seen fares between $510 and $813, and this one sits at the bottom of that range. The forecast for the weekend is clear all three days, with highs of 85–90°F, lows in the upper 70s and a rain chance of 4% at most. That's warm beach weather in mid-October, when Minneapolis is heading the other way. Add the $242 dorm stay and the whole trip comes to $1,262 for the two of you. Spending money and checked bags are extra. It's a short getaway: you land Friday afternoon and fly home Sunday, so it fits best if you want two full days of sun, tacos and the ocean without using much vacation time.
The kind of trip this is
A beach-and-city long weekend, easygoing but full. Ocean Beach gives you a surf-town base with breakfast included, and the zoo, Balboa Park and the waterfront are all on the menu. It suits two friends or a laid-back couple who'll trade a private room for a lower total and spend most of their waking hours outside. With only two nights, pick a beach day and a city day and keep the evenings for sunsets.
Weather in San Diego, Oct 16–18
Highs 85–90°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | 90 °F | 78 °F | 0% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 86 °F | 77 °F | 4% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 85 °F | 76 °F | 0% |
Where to stay in San Diego
Our pick for the money is Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel in Ocean Beach: $242 for both nights ($121 a night), breakfast included, free cancellation and a 9 from 1,716 reviews. The heads-up: that price gets you 2 beds in an 8-bed dorm, not a private room. For a private room with the top score, Kasa Little Italy San Diego is rated 9.3 from 219 reviews at $1,134 for the stay ($567 a night), room only, without free cancellation. The budget private option is the Downtown apartment listed as Spacious Guest Suite, at $427 for the stay ($214 a night), rated 7.4 from 60 reviews, room only. Staying Downtown puts you by the Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown, which is good for nightlife, Petco Park and the waterfront on foot.
Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel
$242 for 2 nights, two guests · $121 a night
See roomsKasa Little Italy San Diego
$1,134 for 2 nights, two guests · $567 a night
See roomsSpacious Guest Suite Amazing Location
$427 for 2 nights, two guests · $214 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
- Watch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs, a short hop from the Ocean Beach hostel
- Kayak the sea caves at La Jolla, where you'll find coves and sea lions
- Swim at Coronado Beach beside the Hotel del Coronado
- Spend a morning at the San Diego Zoo and the Balboa Park museums
- Tour the USS Midway aircraft carrier on the Downtown waterfront
- Eat fish tacos and drink craft beer in North Park
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 Minneapolis | Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP) |
|---|---|
| Airports in San Diego | San Diego International (SAN) |
| Flight time | 11h 8m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,531 miles each way |
| Time difference | -2 hours |
What 2 nights in San Diego costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $1,020 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel) | $242 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $520 |
| Total for two | $1,782 |
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: Minneapolis to San Diego
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $510 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $397 (Oct 12, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $550 |
| 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, and you pay in US dollars.
- San Diego runs 2 hours behind Minneapolis.
- The Frontier flight leaves MSP at 7:00 AM and lands at SAN at 4:08 PM with one stop.
- A checked bag is about $240 for two and isn't in the $1,262 total.
- Only Samesun Ocean Beach offers free cancellation. The other two hotels don't.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if you're fine with one stop and dorm beds. The fare is $40 per person below the typical fare on this route, the forecast is clear with highs of 85–90°F, and the hostel scores 9 from 1,716 reviews.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,262, all in. That's $1,020 for the Frontier flights and $242 for 2 nights at Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel, with taxes and fees included as found when we checked. A checked bag (about $240 for two) and spending money are extra.
How long is the flight?
The 7:00 AM Frontier flight from MSP has one stop and lands at SAN at 4:08 PM, 11h 8m in total. A 12:10 PM departure at the same $510 per person takes 9h 39m and lands at 7:49 PM.
What is the weather like?
The forecast is clear all three days: highs of 90°F, 86°F and 85°F, lows of 76–78°F, and a rain chance of 4% at most.
Is 2 nights enough?
For a quick getaway, yes. You land Friday afternoon, get a full Saturday and some of Sunday, depending on your return flight. Pick one beach day, like Coronado or La Jolla, and one city day for the zoo or the USS Midway.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip in US dollars, and you'll be 2 hours behind Minneapolis time.
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All trips from Minneapolis · San Diego from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
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