San Diego (SAN) Terminal Map & Navigation Guide
Everything you need to navigate San Diego: the official terminal map link, what airlines fly from each concourse, how to move between terminals, and gate-finding tips that save you backtracking. Verify your specific gate on your boarding pass — assignments change.
Where can I find the official San Diego terminal map?
The SAN airport authority publishes the most up-to-date map on its official website. Use the link below before you travel so you know the terminal layout and gate locations before you clear security.
Official map
San Diego official terminal map — airport authority website
San Diego interactive map — searchable by gate, airline, or amenity
Maps are updated when terminals are renovated or new concourses open. Terminal 5 at LAX, for example, has been closed since October 2025 for reconstruction — always confirm your terminal from your boarding pass rather than relying on a saved map.
What is in each San Diego terminal?
Here is what each terminal or concourse at SAN handles — which airlines fly from it, the gate range, and key amenities to know before you go.
Terminal 1 (New T1)
Opened September 22, 2025, replacing the original 1960s Terminal 1. Phase 1A has 19 gates (expected Phase 1B adds 11 more by 2028, reaching 30 total). Airlines: Air Canada, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, WestJet. Gates are approximately 1–19 (Frontier confirmed at Gate 18). Single modern security checkpoint with 13 lanes; TSA PreCheck available. Ticketing hall has 69 check-in kiosks and 66 counters. $2.6 billion facility with outdoor terraces and locally inspired dining.
Terminal 2 East
Older concourse with approximately 12 gates (roughly Gates 20–33). Airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Dedicated security checkpoint. CLEAR+ expedited screening available 4:00 AM – 7:30 PM. Baggage claim on ground level.
Terminal 2 West
Newer concourse with approximately 19 gates (confirmed gates in the 37–57 range, including Gates 37–47 area). Airlines: British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines. Houses the airport's international arrivals facility. CLEAR expedited screening at Checkpoint 6. Separate security checkpoint from T2 East. T2 East and T2 West are connected airside so passengers can walk between them without re-clearing security.
How do I get between terminals at San Diego?
Free inter-terminal shuttle bus (landside only), running daily 4 AM – 2 AM with a live arrival tracker. There is no airside connector between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 — passengers transferring between the two terminals must exit the secure zone, board the shuttle curbside, and re-clear security at the other terminal. Terminal 2 East and West are connected airside and require no re-screening to move between them.
Timing tip
Always allow 15–30 minutes for any inter-terminal transfer at SAN — wait times for people-movers, buses, or security re-screening add up faster than the physical distance suggests. Build the buffer into your Leave-By time, not your gate arrival time.
How do I find my gate at San Diego?
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have no airside connection. If your itinerary puts you arriving into one terminal and connecting to a flight in the other (e.g., arriving on Southwest in T1 and connecting to American in T2), you must exit security, take the free shuttle, and re-clear security — budget at least 45 minutes. The new Terminal 1 opened September 2025, so Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier, and the Canadian carriers (Air Canada, WestJet) are now in T1, not T2; always verify your terminal from your boarding pass before heading to security.
A few habits that prevent last-minute sprints:
- Open your airline app two hours before departure. Gate assignments update in the app before they appear on printed boarding passes and sometimes before terminal displays are updated.
- Check departure screens immediately after clearing security. Every terminal at SAN has overhead departure boards near the checkpoint exit — confirming your gate here costs 30 seconds and can save a long detour.
- Note which security checkpoint serves your concourse. At multi-concourse airports, entering through the wrong checkpoint can mean exiting security and re-queuing, which adds 20 minutes or more.
- International arrivals follow the customs signs first. If you are connecting from an international arrival, clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection before looking for your domestic connection gate — the process is one-way.
What is the easiest way to navigate San Diego?
Experienced travellers at SAN use a short checklist every time:
- Review the map before leaving home. Open the San Diego interactive map on your phone while you are still home so the terminal layout is familiar.
- Know your terminal before you arrive. At airports with multiple separate buildings (JFK, LAX, DTW, MSP) confirm your terminal from your boarding pass — rideshare and taxi drivers need the correct terminal to drop you at the right curb.
- Use automated people-movers instead of walking. At large airports with trains (ATL Plane Train, DFW Skylink, DEN AGTS) a single train ride replaces 20–30 minutes of walking. Look for signs to the train immediately after clearing security.
- Follow colour-coded signage. Most airports (TPA Blue/Red, SEA North/South Satellite, PHX T3/T4) use colour or number coding from curbside through gates — picking the right colour zone at check-in means you do not cross the terminal twice.
- Check the live TSA wait before you leave. Knowing the current security wait at SAN lets you time your departure so you arrive at the gate relaxed, not sprinting.
Common questions about San Diego maps
Where can I find the official SAN terminal map?
The official San Diego terminal map is on the airport authority website at https://www.san.org/services-and-facilities/ — an interactive version is also at https://map.san.aocadp.com/. Maps are updated when new gates or concourses open; always verify your specific gate on your boarding pass.
How do I get between terminals at SAN?
Free inter-terminal shuttle bus (landside only), running daily 4 AM – 2 AM with a live arrival tracker. There is no airside connector between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 — passengers transferring between the two terminals must exit the secure zone, board the shuttle curbside, and re-clear security at the other terminal. Terminal 2 East and West are connected airside and require no re-screening to move between them.
How do I find my gate at SAN?
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have no airside connection. If your itinerary puts you arriving into one terminal and connecting to a flight in the other (e.g., arriving on Southwest in T1 and connecting to American in T2), you must exit security, take the free shuttle, and re-clear security — budget at least 45 minutes. The new Terminal 1 opened September 2025, so Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier, and the Canadian carriers (Air Canada, WestJet) are now in T1, not T2; always verify your terminal from your boarding pass before heading to security. Your boarding pass shows the exact gate. Open your airline app about two hours before departure — gate assignments sometimes change after check-in closes. Look for departure boards throughout the terminal for real-time gate information.
What is the easiest way to navigate SAN?
Use the official interactive map at https://map.san.aocadp.com/ before you arrive to familiarise yourself with the layout. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have no airside connection. If your itinerary puts you arriving into one terminal and connecting to a flight in the other (e.g., arriving on Southwest in T1 and connecting to American in T2), you must exit security, take the free shuttle, and re-clear security — budget at least 45 minutes. The new Terminal 1 opened September 2025, so Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier, and the Canadian carriers (Air Canada, WestJet) are now in T1, not T2; always verify your terminal from your boarding pass before heading to security.
What is in each SAN terminal?
Terminal 1 (New T1): Opened September 22, 2025, replacing the original 1960s Terminal 1. Phase 1A has 19 gates (expected Phase 1B adds 11 more by 2028, reaching 30 total). Airlines: Air Canada, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, WestJet. Gates are approximately 1–19 (Frontier confirmed at Gate 18). Single modern security checkpoint with 13 lanes; TSA PreCheck available. Ticketing hall has 69 check-in kiosks and 66 counters. $2.6 billion facility with outdoor terraces and locally inspired dining. Terminal 2 East: Older concourse with approximately 12 gates (roughly Gates 20–33). Airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Dedicated security checkpoint. CLEAR+ expedited screening available 4:00 AM – 7:30 PM. Baggage claim on ground level. Terminal 2 West: Newer concourse with approximately 19 gates (confirmed gates in the 37–57 range, including Gates 37–47 area). Airlines: British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines. Houses the airport's international arrivals facility. CLEAR expedited screening at Checkpoint 6. Separate security checkpoint from T2 East. T2 East and T2 West are connected airside so passengers can walk between them without re-clearing security.
Leave-By calculator
Know exactly when to leave for SAN
The TSA Wait Times Leave-By calculator folds the live SAN security wait, your drive time, and terminal navigation into one exact time to leave home — so you reach your gate without guessing.
See also: Live SAN TSA wait times · SAN terminals guide · SAN security tips