Travelling from San Diego to Ottawa: what you need to know
Planning your getaway starts with figuring out where you'll fly out of in San Diego. San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the city's main base, so explore your options for reserving a flight from San Diego to Ottawa departing from here.
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is the primary arrival point in Ottawa.
The timezone in Ottawa is UTC-4, which is three hours ahead of San Diego.
To ensure you make your San Diego to Ottawa flight, leave plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Going away during a peak time like July? High seasons (like spring break, Christmas and New Year) can add an hour at check-in and security. Be extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Ottawa
To find cheap San Diego to Ottawa flights, book early. Airlines generally offer lower fares when flights first go on sale.
If you can be flexible with your travel plans, try using the 'Whole month' tool. It'll give you the lowest price in every month when looking for your plane ticket from San Diego to Ottawa.
Getting a cheap flight from San Diego to Ottawa is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Select your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' San Diego to Ottawa flights.
Flying from San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a travel break — and possibly even explore another city. When searching for San Diego to Ottawa flights leaving from San Diego International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Located around 3 kilometres from central San Diego, SAN can be reached in about 10 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport takes roughly 20 minutes.
Want a relaxed start to your journey? Stay near San Diego International Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from San Diego to Ottawa or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels have you covered:
71.38% of flights leaving from San Diego International Airport touch down at their destination on schedule.
SAN is located at N Harbour Dr.
Arriving in Ottawa
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Ottawa Gatineau Airport (YND) to central Ottawa takes about 20 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 16 kilometres away.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 40 minutes.
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from San Diego to Ottawa. Check in to one of these accommodation options near YOW instead:
Venture beyond Ottawa and discover places that don't always get the spotlight with your own set of wheels. You can pick up an Ottawa Gatineau Airport rental car from Hertz.
To lock in the best rate, reserve your ride from Ottawa Gatineau Airport at least a couple of weeks in advance. Rates generally rise closer to your departure date.
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Central Ottawa is approximately 11 kilometres from Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). After your flight from San Diego to Ottawa has touched down and you've made your way to arrivals, the drive should take about 20 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take approximately 45 minutes.
Forget about public transport schedules or long cab queues. Pick up an Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Check out the rates and availability from Routes Car Rentals, Alamo and Budget.
Avoid paying extra. Reserving your ride two weeks ahead of your arrival at YOW can help you lock in a better rate.
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport can be found at 50 Airport Road.
Best time to go to Ottawa
Plan your trip to San Diego during high season if you like a lively atmosphere, but remember that hotel prices tend to be higher. Alternatively, book flights from San Diego to San Diego during low season when prices are cheaper and it's less crowded.
When booking your San Diego to Ottawa tickets, consider what kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in Ottawa, with temperatures ranging from 13ºC to 27ºC.
January sees average temperatures of between -19ºC and -2ºC. Search for cheap flights from San Diego to Ottawa around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Ottawa
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Ottawa right here. Browse these hotels as soon as you've locked in your flight from San Diego to Ottawa:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and National Gallery of Canada are leading attractions which should be on any well-planned Ottawa itinerary.
Explore more of Canada
Toronto is just one of the many places in Canada waiting to be discovered after you've seen Ottawa. Around 354 kilometres to the south-west, top sights here include CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum and Go Tours Canada - Distillery District.
Around 153 kilometres east of Ottawa, Montreal is another essential stop in Canada. Start your sightseeing at Mount Royal Park, Montreal Botanical Garden and Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal.
