San Diego to Toronto Flights (SAN to YYZ): Nonstops, Flight Time and Arrival Tips

Air Canada flies it nonstop; the rest connect

As of recent schedules, Air Canada is the airline flying nonstop between San Diego and Toronto Pearson, with daily service in the busier months and reduced frequency in winter. It is the only nonstop on the pair, so if you want to avoid a connection you are choosing Air Canada and its fare moves with how full that flight is.

One-stop itineraries are plentiful and sometimes cheaper. Air Canada also routes through Vancouver, WestJet through Calgary, and the US carriers connect through their hubs: United via Chicago or Denver, American via Dallas or Chicago, Delta via Minneapolis, Detroit or Salt Lake City. A Chicago or Denver connection typically adds two to four hours door to door. Cross-border connections on US airlines mean you clear Canadian customs in Toronto either way.

Flight time and distance

The great-circle distance from SAN to YYZ is roughly 2,200 miles (about 3,550 km). Eastbound, San Diego to Toronto typically takes 4.5 to 5 hours in the air with the jet stream helping. The return westbound is longer, usually 5 to 5.5 hours. With a connection, plan on 7 to 10 hours of total travel.

The nonstop often leaves San Diego in the morning or late morning and lands in Toronto in the evening, with the three-hour time change making the day feel short. Red-eye options appear on some connecting itineraries.

Departing from San Diego International

San Diego's airport sits a few minutes from downtown on the bay, one of the most convenient big-city airports in the US. It has two terminals: Terminal 1, rebuilt and reopened in stages from 2025, and Terminal 2. Air Canada has recently used Terminal 2, but with the new Terminal 1 opening, assignments are changing, so check your booking the day before. A shuttle links the terminals and the rental car centre.

Getting there is easy: a taxi or ride-hail from downtown or the Gaslamp takes 10 to 15 minutes, the MTS bus route 992 runs from downtown and the Santa Fe Depot to both terminals, and a free shuttle connects the airport with the Old Town Transit Center for the trolley and Coaster trains. Two hours ahead is plenty for a morning departure; San Diego security moves well outside holiday weekends.

Arriving at Pearson and getting downtown

Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners use Terminal 1 at Pearson; WestJet and most other airlines, including American and Delta, use Terminal 3. A free LINK train connects the two. Arriving from the US you clear Canadian customs on landing: primary inspection kiosks and eGates handle most travellers, and you can submit an advance declaration in the ArriveCAN app up to 72 hours before landing to use the faster lanes.

Pearson is about 25 km north-west of downtown Toronto:

• UP Express: the airport train from Terminal 1 to Union Station in about 25 minutes, every 15 minutes through most of the day. The best option for downtown hotels.
• TTC bus and subway: the 900 Airport Express bus to Kipling station on Line 2 is the cheapest route into the city, about an hour to downtown with the subway change.
• Taxi, limo or ride-hail: 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic on the 401 and Gardiner, which is heavy at rush hour.

Time difference and the short day

Toronto is three hours ahead of San Diego all year, since both observe daylight saving on the same dates. Eastbound you lose three hours, so a morning departure lands in the early evening and you may want dinner and an early night. Westbound you gain them back, and a midday departure from Toronto lands in San Diego in the afternoon with the evening to spare. Jet lag is mild for most people.

When to fly and when to book

Toronto's best weather runs from June to September, with warm summers, lakefront festivals and the Toronto International Film Festival in September. That is also peak demand, with the Air Canada nonstop running daily. Christmas and the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in October are short, sharp peaks. Late September and October bring autumn colour north of the city and softer fares.

Winter is cold and snowy, and January to March is the cheapest time to fly, but the nonstop frequency drops and winter storms at Pearson can delay flights for hours. April and May are a quiet shoulder as the city thaws. Book two to three months ahead for summer and the holidays; a few weeks is usually enough in winter and spring.

Entry requirements and documents

As of recent rules, US citizens need a valid passport to enter Canada by air but do not need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). US permanent residents and most other nationalities do need an eTA or a visa, applied for online before travel, and the airline checks for it at San Diego. Rules change, so confirm on the Government of Canada website before you book.

Canada asks about criminal records at the border, including old drunk-driving convictions, which can lead to refused entry. If that applies to you, check the rules in advance. Food and plant rules are strict; declare everything.

Coming home: US pre-clearance in Toronto

On the return, you clear US immigration and customs in Toronto before boarding, in the US departures area of Terminal 1 or Terminal 3, and land in San Diego as a domestic passenger. It is convenient on arrival but means you must reach the airport earlier than for a normal international departure; Air Canada recommends arriving well ahead for US-bound flights, and the pre-clearance hall is busy in the early morning and late afternoon. Allow at least three hours.

What travellers on this route get wrong

The first mistake is assuming the nonstop is daily all year; in winter it may run only some days, so check before planning. The second is arriving at Pearson for the return on a domestic-flight timeline and meeting the pre-clearance queue. The third is a tight winter connection at Chicago or Denver, where snow delays are routine. A smaller one: taking a taxi downtown when the UP Express gets there faster at rush hour.