Flight time: San Diego to Denver
San Diego International Airport (SAN) → Denver International Airport (DEN) · short haul · intra north america
The flight from San Diego (SAN) to Denver (DEN) takes approximately 2h 20m to 2h 57m gate-to-gate, covering 1,371 km (852 mi). This short-haul intra north america route uses a cruise speed of 650–750 km/h with 30–50 minutes of ground and air overhead.
- Route:
- San Diego (SAN) → Denver (DEN)
- Distance:
- 1,371 km (852 mi)
- Flight time:
- 2h 20m to 2h 57m gate-to-gate
- Route type:
- short-haul, intra north america
- Cruise speed:
- 650–750 km/h
- Ground overhead:
- 30–50 minutes included
- Over water:
- No — continental
- Origin:
- San Diego International Airport, United States (America/Los_Angeles)
- Destination:
- Denver International Airport, United States (America/Denver)
Route details
| Origin | San Diego, United States (SAN) |
| Destination | Denver, United States (DEN) |
| Distance | 1,371 km (852 mi) |
| Flight time (low) | 2h 20m |
| Flight time (high) | 2h 57m |
| Route type | short-haul, intra north america |
| Cruise speed | 650–750 km/h |
| Ground overhead | 30–50 minutes |
| Over water | No — continental routing |
| Time difference | +1h (eastbound) |
Distance breakdown: San Diego to Denver
The 1,371-km great-circle distance between San Diego (32.73°N, 117.19°W) and Denver (39.86°N, 104.67°W) spans 7.1° of latitude and 12.5° of longitude, trending primarily east. In miles, this is 852 mi or 740 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.
Cruise speed and flight phases
Short-haul flights like San Diego to Denver (1,371 km) spend a proportionally larger amount of time climbing to and descending from cruise altitude. Aircraft typically reach an effective cruise speed of 650–750 km/h, lower than on long-haul routes where most time is spent at optimal altitude. The climb phase alone takes 15–20 minutes, during which the aircraft covers only about 150–200 km. Combined with descent and approach, the effective average speed drops significantly from the theoretical cruise speed, yielding the 2h 20m to 2h 57m estimate for this route.
Ground time and routing overhead
Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at SAN, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at DEN, and taxi-in to the gate. Taxi times at SAN are typically 5–15 minutes depending on traffic. At DEN, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between San Diego and Denver may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.
Return flight: Denver → San Diego
The return flight from Denver to San Diego is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.
Seasonal variation in flight times
On this short 1,371-km route, seasonal flight time variation is minimal — typically under 10 minutes. The main seasonal factor is not wind (which has less effect on short flights) but weather-related delays: winter fog, de-icing procedures, and thunderstorm diversions in summer can extend actual gate-to-gate times. SAN and DEN each have their own seasonal delay patterns that affect overall travel time more than en-route conditions.
Airport information
San Diego International Airport (SAN) serves San Diego, United States as a significant international airport. Flight frequency is good on major routes, with moderate taxi times. Denver International Airport (DEN) is a major international hub in Denver, United States. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.