TSA wait times

San Diego International

MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026

Photo: Reed Naliboff / Unsplash

San Diego Airport (SAN) Security Wait Times

Security at San Diego (SAN) is busiest around 5 am and quietest after 9 pm on a typical Sunday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Friday, 5–6 am · SAN time

BUSY

100% of SAN's busiest hour

MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026

SAN's security page

SAN security lines by hour

How busy SAN's checkpoints typically are in each hour, as a share of the airport's busiest hour (median of the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026). Busy is above 70%, Moderate 40–70%, Quiet below 40%. Hours are SAN local time.

SAN security by hour on Sundays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 1% of peak, Quiet4a: 37% of peak, Quiet5a: 96% of peak, Busy6a: 71% of peak, Busy7a: 75% of peak, Busy8a: 77% of peak, Busy9a: 83% of peak, Busy10a: 85% of peak, Busy11a: 84% of peak, Busy12p: 87% of peak, Busy1p: 62% of peak, Moderate2p: 65% of peak, Moderate3p: 65% of peak, Moderate4p: 60% of peak, Moderate5p: 59% of peak, Moderate6p: 52% of peak, Moderate7p: 50% of peak, Moderate8p: 53% of peak, Moderate9p: 18% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SAN · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am140%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am431%Quiet
4–5 am1,41737%Quiet
5–6 am3,68896%Busy
6–7 am2,72571%Busy
7–8 am2,86375%Busy
8–9 am2,97377%Busy
9–10 am3,19383%Busy
10–11 am3,24685%Busy
11 am–noon3,21184%Busy
noon–1 pm3,35887%Busy
1–2 pm2,37662%Moderate
2–3 pm2,50665%Moderate
3–4 pm2,50765%Moderate
4–5 pm2,31160%Moderate
5–6 pm2,27359%Moderate
6–7 pm2,00752%Moderate
7–8 pm1,92250%Moderate
8–9 pm2,04253%Moderate
9–10 pm70718%Quiet
10–11 pm571%Quiet
11 pm–midnight80%Quiet

SAN security by hour on Mondays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 1% of peak, Quiet4a: 36% of peak, Quiet5a: 99% of peak, Busy6a: 89% of peak, Busy7a: 82% of peak, Busy8a: 72% of peak, Busy9a: 82% of peak, Busy10a: 80% of peak, Busy11a: 88% of peak, Busy12p: 66% of peak, Moderate1p: 60% of peak, Moderate2p: 54% of peak, Moderate3p: 53% of peak, Moderate4p: 48% of peak, Moderate5p: 46% of peak, Moderate6p: 40% of peak, Moderate7p: 31% of peak, Quiet8p: 30% of peak, Quiet9p: 15% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SAN · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am140%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am491%Quiet
4–5 am1,37536%Quiet
5–6 am3,79699%Busy
6–7 am3,40489%Busy
7–8 am3,13382%Busy
8–9 am2,77072%Busy
9–10 am3,15782%Busy
10–11 am3,07880%Busy
11 am–noon3,36488%Busy
noon–1 pm2,52766%Moderate
1–2 pm2,31960%Moderate
2–3 pm2,08054%Moderate
3–4 pm2,04353%Moderate
4–5 pm1,83348%Moderate
5–6 pm1,75146%Moderate
6–7 pm1,53440%Moderate
7–8 pm1,17731%Quiet
8–9 pm1,16930%Quiet
9–10 pm58815%Quiet
10–11 pm371%Quiet
11 pm–midnight50%Quiet

SAN security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 1% of peak, Quiet4a: 32% of peak, Quiet5a: 79% of peak, Busy6a: 64% of peak, Moderate7a: 59% of peak, Moderate8a: 60% of peak, Moderate9a: 70% of peak, Moderate10a: 73% of peak, Busy11a: 72% of peak, Busy12p: 51% of peak, Moderate1p: 40% of peak, Moderate2p: 39% of peak, Quiet3p: 38% of peak, Quiet4p: 30% of peak, Quiet5p: 27% of peak, Quiet6p: 23% of peak, Quiet7p: 18% of peak, Quiet8p: 23% of peak, Quiet9p: 11% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SAN · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am90%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am411%Quiet
4–5 am1,23532%Quiet
5–6 am3,03279%Busy
6–7 am2,46564%Moderate
7–8 am2,28259%Moderate
8–9 am2,31260%Moderate
9–10 am2,70470%Moderate
10–11 am2,82273%Busy
11 am–noon2,76072%Busy
noon–1 pm1,94751%Moderate
1–2 pm1,53240%Moderate
2–3 pm1,50139%Quiet
3–4 pm1,44238%Quiet
4–5 pm1,14030%Quiet
5–6 pm1,02727%Quiet
6–7 pm87123%Quiet
7–8 pm70818%Quiet
8–9 pm88323%Quiet
9–10 pm42411%Quiet
10–11 pm291%Quiet
11 pm–midnight70%Quiet

SAN security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 1% of peak, Quiet4a: 34% of peak, Quiet5a: 86% of peak, Busy6a: 58% of peak, Moderate7a: 57% of peak, Moderate8a: 55% of peak, Moderate9a: 63% of peak, Moderate10a: 69% of peak, Moderate11a: 72% of peak, Busy12p: 52% of peak, Moderate1p: 44% of peak, Moderate2p: 48% of peak, Moderate3p: 43% of peak, Moderate4p: 36% of peak, Quiet5p: 32% of peak, Quiet6p: 29% of peak, Quiet7p: 22% of peak, Quiet8p: 29% of peak, Quiet9p: 15% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SAN · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am60%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am361%Quiet
4–5 am1,31134%Quiet
5–6 am3,30186%Busy
6–7 am2,22958%Moderate
7–8 am2,20557%Moderate
8–9 am2,11855%Moderate
9–10 am2,41463%Moderate
10–11 am2,63669%Moderate
11 am–noon2,75172%Busy
noon–1 pm2,00852%Moderate
1–2 pm1,70044%Moderate
2–3 pm1,85448%Moderate
3–4 pm1,66843%Moderate
4–5 pm1,39136%Quiet
5–6 pm1,22132%Quiet
6–7 pm1,10829%Quiet
7–8 pm86422%Quiet
8–9 pm1,11829%Quiet
9–10 pm57115%Quiet
10–11 pm261%Quiet
11 pm–midnight40%Quiet

SAN security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 1% of peak, Quiet4a: 37% of peak, Quiet5a: 94% of peak, Busy6a: 71% of peak, Busy7a: 71% of peak, Busy8a: 67% of peak, Moderate9a: 76% of peak, Busy10a: 80% of peak, Busy11a: 83% of peak, Busy12p: 70% of peak, Moderate1p: 51% of peak, Moderate2p: 57% of peak, Moderate3p: 54% of peak, Moderate4p: 49% of peak, Moderate5p: 49% of peak, Moderate6p: 46% of peak, Moderate7p: 40% of peak, Moderate8p: 44% of peak, Moderate9p: 22% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SAN · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am50%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am381%Quiet
4–5 am1,40437%Quiet
5–6 am3,62094%Busy
6–7 am2,71771%Busy
7–8 am2,73271%Busy
8–9 am2,58067%Moderate
9–10 am2,91276%Busy
10–11 am3,08680%Busy
11 am–noon3,17583%Busy
noon–1 pm2,67670%Moderate
1–2 pm1,94651%Moderate
2–3 pm2,20557%Moderate
3–4 pm2,06454%Moderate
4–5 pm1,89649%Moderate
5–6 pm1,89949%Moderate
6–7 pm1,77346%Moderate
7–8 pm1,52440%Moderate
8–9 pm1,70444%Moderate
9–10 pm84922%Quiet
10–11 pm401%Quiet
11 pm–midnight70%Quiet

SAN security by hour on Fridays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 1% of peak, Quiet4a: 36% of peak, Quiet5a: 100% of peak, Busy6a: 78% of peak, Busy7a: 80% of peak, Busy8a: 70% of peak, Moderate9a: 83% of peak, Busy10a: 80% of peak, Busy11a: 75% of peak, Busy12p: 69% of peak, Moderate1p: 58% of peak, Moderate2p: 59% of peak, Moderate3p: 54% of peak, Moderate4p: 46% of peak, Moderate5p: 45% of peak, Moderate6p: 34% of peak, Quiet7p: 34% of peak, Quiet8p: 36% of peak, Quiet9p: 16% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SAN · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am90%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am501%Quiet
4–5 am1,37336%Quiet
5–6 am3,841100%Busy
6–7 am2,98378%Busy
7–8 am3,06580%Busy
8–9 am2,67470%Moderate
9–10 am3,20483%Busy
10–11 am3,05580%Busy
11 am–noon2,87775%Busy
noon–1 pm2,65369%Moderate
1–2 pm2,22458%Moderate
2–3 pm2,25759%Moderate
3–4 pm2,05954%Moderate
4–5 pm1,75646%Moderate
5–6 pm1,74145%Moderate
6–7 pm1,32334%Quiet
7–8 pm1,31034%Quiet
8–9 pm1,37636%Quiet
9–10 pm61016%Quiet
10–11 pm561%Quiet
11 pm–midnight80%Quiet

SAN security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 1% of peak, Quiet4a: 32% of peak, Quiet5a: 82% of peak, Busy6a: 64% of peak, Moderate7a: 62% of peak, Moderate8a: 69% of peak, Moderate9a: 74% of peak, Busy10a: 63% of peak, Moderate11a: 71% of peak, Busy12p: 58% of peak, Moderate1p: 44% of peak, Moderate2p: 44% of peak, Moderate3p: 43% of peak, Moderate4p: 34% of peak, Quiet5p: 23% of peak, Quiet6p: 14% of peak, Quiet7p: 17% of peak, Quiet8p: 22% of peak, Quiet9p: 13% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SAN · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am70%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am471%Quiet
4–5 am1,22932%Quiet
5–6 am3,13582%Busy
6–7 am2,47664%Moderate
7–8 am2,39062%Moderate
8–9 am2,63269%Moderate
9–10 am2,83074%Busy
10–11 am2,42763%Moderate
11 am–noon2,73971%Busy
noon–1 pm2,24558%Moderate
1–2 pm1,68144%Moderate
2–3 pm1,68044%Moderate
3–4 pm1,65543%Moderate
4–5 pm1,31534%Quiet
5–6 pm89023%Quiet
6–7 pm53614%Quiet
7–8 pm63917%Quiet
8–9 pm83522%Quiet
9–10 pm48513%Quiet
10–11 pm251%Quiet
11 pm–midnight60%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at SAN

The three busiest and three quietest hours for each part of the week. Quiet hours count only daytime hours (5 am to 11 pm) when screening is running.

SAN · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday5–6 am (90%)10 am–noon (79%)7–10 pm (16%)
Friday5–6 am (100%)7–8 am (80%)9–10 am (83%)6–8 pm (34%)9–10 pm (16%)
Saturday5–6 am (82%)9–10 am (74%)11 am–noon (71%)6–8 pm (14%)9–10 pm (13%)
Sunday5–6 am (96%)10–11 am (85%)noon–1 pm (87%)6–8 pm (50%)9–10 pm (18%)

SAN security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 3 checkpoints at SAN. "Screening seen" is the span of hours in which TSA counted at least a few passengers on a typical day, not posted opening hours.

SAN checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026 · facts checked Nov 2026
CheckpointWhereLanesScreening seenTypical busiest hourShare
Terminal 1Terminal 1PreCheckCLEARAround the clock5–6 am40%
Terminal 2 WestTerminal 2PreCheckCLEAR3 am to 11 pm5–6 am40%
Terminal 2 EastTerminal 2PreCheckCLEAR4 am to 11 pm7–8 am20%

SAN checkpoint layout

Checkpoints grouped by terminal, as the airport lists them. Each box shows how busy that checkpoint typically is at the hour, against its own busiest hour (median of the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026). It is a list, not a map: the airport does not publish checkpoint coordinates.

Terminal 1

  • Terminal 1PreCheckCLEARBusyFriday, 5–6 am

Terminal 2

  • Terminal 2 WestPreCheckCLEARBusyFriday, 5–6 am
  • Terminal 2 EastPreCheckCLEARModerateFriday, 5–6 am

How early should I get to SAN?

Our rule of thumb starts from 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one, then adjusts for how busy SAN's checkpoints typically are at the hour you will reach them. Set your flight below.

Flight
Options
For SAN, Sunday 10:00 am, domestic, checked bagGet to SAN by 7:40 amLeave by 7:10 am · 140 min before departure
  • Domestic flight120 min
  • Security busy at that hour+20 min

Our own rule of thumb, not a TSA rule: 2 hours for domestic and 3 for international, -15 min with no checked bag, -15 with PreCheck, +20 if you are parking, then -15 / +0 / +20 min when security is typically quiet, moderate or busy at the hour you reach it. Always check your airline's bag-drop and boarding cut-offs.

SAN arrival times on a typical Sunday

SAN · Sunday · checked bag, no PreCheck · our rule of thumb
DepartureSecurity at that hourDomestic: arrive byInternational: arrive by
6 amQuiet4:15 am (105 min)3:15 am (165 min)
8 amBusy5:40 am (140 min)5:15 am (165 min)
10 amBusy7:40 am (140 min)6:40 am (200 min)
noonBusy9:40 am (140 min)8:40 am (200 min)
3 pmModerate1:00 pm (120 min)11:40 am (200 min)
6 pmModerate4:00 pm (120 min)3:00 pm (180 min)
9 pmModerate7:00 pm (120 min)6:00 pm (180 min)

The level is read at the hour you would reach security, so a flight's own departure hour can differ. More on the rules and every airport: how early to arrive at the airport.

TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at SAN

  • Terminal 1 (Terminal 1): TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. Source.
  • Terminal 2 West (Terminal 2): TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. Source.
  • Terminal 2 East (Terminal 2): TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. Source.

Lanes as listed on SAN's own website, checked Nov 2026; checkpoints not listed here have no lane information yet. TSA's counts do not split PreCheck from standard lanes. See PreCheck wait times and CLEAR vs PreCheck.

SAN security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at SAN?

On a typical Sunday, SAN's checkpoints are busiest around 5 am. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 5–6 am on Fridays, with a median of 3,841 people screened.

What is the best time to go through security at SAN?

Tuesday is the quietest day overall. On Sundays, the quietest daytime window is 6–8 pm, 9–10 pm.

How early should I get to SAN?

Our rule of thumb starts at 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one, then adds 20 minutes when security is typically busy at the hour you arrive and takes off 15 when it is quiet. For a 10 am domestic flight on a Sunday with a checked bag, that means getting to SAN by 7:40 am.

How many security checkpoints does SAN have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 3 screening checkpoints at SAN in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, Terminal 1, screens about 40% of SAN's passengers.

Sources for SAN

  • Hourly passengers: TSA throughput counts (FOIA reading room), weeks of Sep 13, 2026, Sep 20, 2026, Sep 27, 2026, Oct 4, 2026, Oct 11, 2026, Oct 18, 2026, Oct 25, 2026, Nov 1, 2026. Median of 8 weeks, holiday weeks left out.
  • Official wait page: www.san.org/security-checkpoints-and-tsa-information/, checked Nov 2026.
  • Checkpoint facts: airport website, checked Nov 2026. Each checkpoint name links to its source.
  • How the levels are built: methodology. TSA Wait Checker is not affiliated with TSA or San Diego International.

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