Hotels near San Diego International Airport ranked for early flights and layovers
Nine hotels within 1.2 miles of SAN, ranked by Navan’s booking data for shuttles, loyalty, and early flights.
Harbor Island, Pacific Highway, and Old Town split the stay
San Diego International Airport sits at 3225 N Harbor Drive, about three miles from downtown. Navan’s booking data splits these nine stays across Harbor Island, Pacific Highway, and Old Town rather than one airport strip.
Closest hotel: Sheraton San Diego Resort at 0.6 miles on Harbor Island
Distance range: All 9 hotels sit 0.6–1.2 miles from the terminals
Loyalty programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Choice Privileges
Shuttle pickup: Transportation Islands outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2; call after baggage claim
Top Hotels Near San Diego International Airport
Sheraton San Diego Resort
8 Rating (2,469 Reviews)
0.6 miles from San Diego International Airport
1380 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Closest to the terminals and built for the business traveler who wants a real resort night after a late inbound. Three outdoor pools, five restaurants including Rumorosa, and a complimentary airport shuttle on limited hours cover the last mile from Harbor Island.
Holiday Inn Express San Diego Airport - Old Town by IHG
8.7 Rating (1,302 Reviews)
0.9 miles from San Diego International Airport
1955 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
Old Town is the play when you want a free breakfast before a dawn departure and a complimentary shuttle on limited hours. Buffet service runs 6 AM until 10 AM, and the 126 rooms sit near Old Town San Diego State Park for a short evening walk.
Motel 6 San Diego Airport - Harbor
6.9 Rating (2,074 Reviews)
1.0 miles from San Diego International Airport
2353 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101
A crash-and-fly rate on Pacific Highway for the night when price and free parking matter more than a sit-down restaurant. Sixty-nine rooms, an outdoor pool, and Waterfront Park a short walk away keep a budget layover simple without a shuttle to schedule.
City24 Hotel Little Italy Mission Hills
9.3 Rating (289 Reviews)
1.0 miles from San Diego International Airport
2801 India St, San Diego, CA 92103
Twenty-five rooms on India Street, scored 9.3, for the business traveler who wants a rooftop terrace and a kitchen-style refrigerator instead of a branded tower. Little Italy sits downhill, and weekly housekeeping fits a longer stay better than a one-night crash.
Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego Downtown/Bayside
8.3 Rating (1,403 Reviews)
1.1 miles from San Diego International Airport
2137 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101
Full kitchens on Pacific Highway for the multi-night trip that would otherwise burn a dinner budget. Complimentary buffet breakfast runs weekdays 6 AM until 9 AM and weekends until 10 AM, and Bayside Kitchen + Bar covers the nights you don’t cook.
Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside
8.1 Rating (882 Reviews)
1.1 miles from San Diego International Airport
2137 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101
The sister building at 2137 Pacific Highway, aimed at the guest who wants a sit-down dinner and a 24-hour fitness center without an extended-stay kitchen. Outdoor pool, hot tub, and Bayside Kitchen + Bar sit next door to Homewood, with breakfast available 6 AM until 10:30 AM for a fee.
Fairfield Inn & Suites San Diego Old Town
8.2 Rating (528 Reviews)
1.1 miles from San Diego International Airport
3900 Old Town Avenue, San Diego, CA 92110
Marriott points with an Old Town breakfast, built for the fly-in who still wants a pool and a hot tub after the flight. Complimentary buffet runs 6:30 AM until 10 AM, and Old Town San Diego State Park is a short walk for an evening reset.
Comfort Inn San Diego Old Town
7.6 Rating (857 Reviews)
1.2 miles from San Diego International Airport
2380 Moore Street, San Diego, CA 92110
Choice Privileges on Moore Street for a quieter Old Town night when you need a pillowtop bed and a free breakfast before an early terminal run. Buffet hours run 6:30 AM until 9:30 AM, and the outdoor pool handles a same-day layover with time to spare.
Old Town Western Inn & Suites
7.8 Rating (860 Reviews)
1.2 miles from San Diego International Airport
3889 Arista St, San Diego, CA 92110
A 35-room wrap-up on Arista Street when you want a refrigerator, microwave, and a continental breakfast without a big-box lobby. Continental service runs 7 AM until 9 AM, and Heritage Park plus Old Town San Diego State Park sit within a 15-minute walk.
What’s in the Area
- Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 Parking Plazas charge $3 per 15 minutes, with a $40 daily max as of September 2026.
- Curbside valet at both terminals runs $60 per day if you want a curb drop without the plaza walk.
- The free Cell Phone Lot at 2311 McCain Road is a one-hour wait, not overnight parking.
- Motel 6 includes free self-parking; Harbor Island hotels often sell a Park and Fly night that undercuts the plaza max.
- MTS Route 992 runs about every 15 minutes from 4:30 AM until 1 AM for $2.50, about 15 minutes to Broadway and Kettner.
- After Terminal 1 opened, Route 992 stops sit on the elevated platform at both terminals.
- The free San Diego Flyer links Terminals 1 and 2 to Old Town Transit Center from about 4:45 AM until 12:30 AM.
- Hotel shuttles pick up at the Transportation Islands outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2; call the front desk after baggage claim.
- C Level Lounge at 880 Harbor Island Drive handles client dinners with bay and skyline views. Reserve for sunset.
- Extraordinary Desserts at 1430 Union Street is a quieter table for a laptop hour between flights.
- Filippi’s Pizza Grotto at 1747 India Street is the historic Little Italy budget meal near City24.
- Tom Ham’s Lighthouse at 2150 Harbor Island Drive serves waterfront seafood; weekday happy hour runs 3–6 PM.
- USS Midway Museum at 910 N Harbor Drive is a retired carrier on the Embarcadero, a short rideshare from Pacific Highway hotels.
- Waterfront Park sits beside the Motel 6 and Hilton Garden Inn cluster for a walk that doesn’t need a car.
- Old Town San Diego State Park is the evening reset for Fairfield, Comfort Inn, and Holiday Inn Express guests.
- Harbor Island’s bay path is the layover walk for Sheraton guests who want a sunset without downtown traffic.
- Sheraton San Diego Resort lists about 132,000 square feet of meeting space and 64 meeting rooms, the conference option in this set.
- Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn share 2137 Pacific Highway, with 7 meeting rooms on the Homewood side.
- Little Italy’s India Street is the client-dinner walk from City24 without a downtown hotel rate.
- Full-service Wi-Fi at Sheraton and the Hilton pair is the safer bet for a video call than a budget motel.
- Confirm shuttle hours before you book: Sheraton and Holiday Inn Express run limited hours, not overnight.
- For a pre-dawn flight, weigh a rideshare over a limited-hours shuttle so you don’t miss the ride.
- Terminal 1 Phase 1 opened in 2025; construction continues, so add buffer for shuttles and curb traffic.
- Wait for hotel shuttles at the Transportation Islands outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, not the departures curb.
What’s in the Area
- Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 Parking Plazas charge $3 per 15 minutes, with a $40 daily max as of September 2026.
- Curbside valet at both terminals runs $60 per day if you want a curb drop without the plaza walk.
- The free Cell Phone Lot at 2311 McCain Road is a one-hour wait, not overnight parking.
- Motel 6 includes free self-parking; Harbor Island hotels often sell a Park and Fly night that undercuts the plaza max.
- MTS Route 992 runs about every 15 minutes from 4:30 AM until 1 AM for $2.50, about 15 minutes to Broadway and Kettner.
- After Terminal 1 opened, Route 992 stops sit on the elevated platform at both terminals.
- The free San Diego Flyer links Terminals 1 and 2 to Old Town Transit Center from about 4:45 AM until 12:30 AM.
- Hotel shuttles pick up at the Transportation Islands outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2; call the front desk after baggage claim.
- C Level Lounge at 880 Harbor Island Drive handles client dinners with bay and skyline views. Reserve for sunset.
- Extraordinary Desserts at 1430 Union Street is a quieter table for a laptop hour between flights.
- Filippi’s Pizza Grotto at 1747 India Street is the historic Little Italy budget meal near City24.
- Tom Ham’s Lighthouse at 2150 Harbor Island Drive serves waterfront seafood; weekday happy hour runs 3–6 PM.
- USS Midway Museum at 910 N Harbor Drive is a retired carrier on the Embarcadero, a short rideshare from Pacific Highway hotels.
- Waterfront Park sits beside the Motel 6 and Hilton Garden Inn cluster for a walk that doesn’t need a car.
- Old Town San Diego State Park is the evening reset for Fairfield, Comfort Inn, and Holiday Inn Express guests.
- Harbor Island’s bay path is the layover walk for Sheraton guests who want a sunset without downtown traffic.
- Sheraton San Diego Resort lists about 132,000 square feet of meeting space and 64 meeting rooms, the conference option in this set.
- Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn share 2137 Pacific Highway, with 7 meeting rooms on the Homewood side.
- Little Italy’s India Street is the client-dinner walk from City24 without a downtown hotel rate.
- Full-service Wi-Fi at Sheraton and the Hilton pair is the safer bet for a video call than a budget motel.
- Confirm shuttle hours before you book: Sheraton and Holiday Inn Express run limited hours, not overnight.
- For a pre-dawn flight, weigh a rideshare over a limited-hours shuttle so you don’t miss the ride.
- Terminal 1 Phase 1 opened in 2025; construction continues, so add buffer for shuttles and curb traffic.
- Wait for hotel shuttles at the Transportation Islands outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, not the departures curb.
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