San Diego International Airport Map (Most Up-To-Date)
San Diego International Airport is a compact, linear two-terminal airport stretched along North Harbor Drive, with Terminal 1 on the east side of the loop and Terminal 2 farther west. The footprint is small, but the landside road system is tight and decision-heavy, especially within San Diego’s main airport grounds during New Terminal 1 construction. Inside Terminal 2, East and West connect post-security; Terminal 1 stays operationally separate.
Map Table
| Terminal | Key Airlines | Primary Function | Transfer Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (New Terminal 1) | Southwest; Frontier; Spirit; JetBlue; Allegiant; Breeze | domestic gates; single checkpoint; construction footprint | landside walk to Terminal 2; Terminal Loop shuttle |
| Terminal 2 East | Alaska; American | domestic gates 20–32; legacy concourse | airside connector to Terminal 2 West; landside curb |
| Terminal 2 West | Delta; United; British Airways; Lufthansa; Japan Airlines; Hawaiian | domestic + international gates 33–51; newer concourse | airside connector to Terminal 2 East; landside curb |
San Diego International Airport Map Strategy
- Stay out of Harbor Drive’s right lane as you approach Terminal 1 signage if you’re actually going to Terminal 2; Terminal 1 queues can spill back and trap you before the Terminal 2 turn-in.
- Treat pickup as a lane-and-level decision, not a door decision: when Departures (Level 2) clogs, use the “arrivals-for-dropoff” switch to keep the car moving, then go upstairs inside.
- For rideshare, lock the terminal rule before you walk outside: Terminal 2 pickups happen on the farther transportation island (Lane 2); Terminal 1 rideshare runs closer to the building on the nearer island.
- Don’t gamble on terminal transfers after security: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are not connected airside, so plan a landside walk (about a quarter mile) or the Terminal Loop shuttle, then re-clear at the correct Terminal 2 checkpoint (5 for East, 6 for West).
2026 San Diego International Airport Map + Printable PDF
New Terminal 1 Phase 1B work keeps the landside loop “decision-heavy” in 2026, with the Terminal 1 ↔ Terminal 2 general-traffic roadway link still severed and curb patterns shifting around construction. Terminal 2 remains the most stable layout, with separate Checkpoint 5 (East) and Checkpoint 6 (West) feeding one connected post-security zone.
2026 San Diego International Airport Map Guide
What is the exact driving path (street-by-street) from Harbor Drive to the Terminal 2 Departures curb using the current entrance roadway, including the final turn-in point?
The driving path uses North Harbor Drive westbound, then the signed Terminal 2 turn onto Airport Terminal Road, then the Departures ramp split to Level 2. The key decision is staying out of the right lane near Terminal 1 so you don’t get stuck in the Terminal 1 queue before the Terminal 2 entrance.
From North Harbor Drive, pass the Terminal 1 entrance while holding the center/left lanes, then continue about 0.25 miles to the Terminal 2 access. Turn right off North Harbor Drive onto Airport Terminal Road (Terminal 2 access road), then take the left fork that climbs to Departures (Level 2). The final turn-in is the merge from that elevated ramp onto the Terminal 2 Departures curb frontage serving Terminal 2 East and Terminal 2 West.
What is the exact location (door/curb zone) where a passenger should meet a driver on Terminal 2 Departures (Level 2) to avoid the worst pickup bottleneck?
Meeting at the middle-to-west end of Terminal 2 Departures, near the Terminal 2 West door zones, avoids the ramp-end compression where cars first arrive and immediately stop. The worst bottleneck typically forms at the first doors closest to the Departures ramp entry.
Walk upstairs to Level 2 and move away from the first Terminal 2 East doors (the Alaska/American end) toward the Terminal 2 West frontage. Use the curb by Door 2 or Door 3 on the Terminal 2 West side as the rendezvous landmark, aligned with the parking plaza pedestrian bridge area. Tell the driver to pass the first cluster of stopped vehicles after cresting the ramp and continue to the downstream curb space by those west-side doors.
Where is the Terminal 2 rideshare pickup island located on the Arrivals level, and what is the exact walking distance (in feet/meters) from Baggage Claim to that island?
The Terminal 2 rideshare pickup is on the Arrivals level at the outer transportation island in Lane 2, farthest from the terminal doors. Waiting on the first island is the common miss, because rideshare vehicles are restricted to the farther island.
From Terminal 2 Baggage Claim, exit through the sliding doors to the curb, then use the marked crosswalk to cross the inner lanes to the first island, then continue across to the second (outer) island signed for Ride App Pickup (often with lettered zones). The walking distance from the baggage claim exit doors to the Lane 2 rideshare island is about 75–100 feet (25–30 meters), depending on which door you exit and which zone letter you’re assigned.
Where is the Terminal 1 rideshare pickup point located, and what is the exact walking distance from Terminal 1 baggage claim to that pickup curb?
The Terminal 1 rideshare pickup is on the Arrivals level at the transportation island closest to the terminal, reached via the signaled crosswalks outside baggage claim. This is the opposite of Terminal 2’s “farthest island” rule.
From Terminal 1 Baggage Claim, exit the sliding doors to the curbside sidewalk, then follow the Ride App Pickup signage to the nearest marked crosswalk and cross to the immediate island directly in front of the terminal façade. The walking distance from the baggage claim exit doors to the rideshare pickup curb is about 50–75 feet (15–22 meters), with the shortest path typically starting from the main baggage-claim exit doors facing the ground transportation islands.
Where is the Terminal 1 ↔ Terminal 2 shuttle stop on the Terminal 2 side, and what is the exact walking distance from the Terminal 2 arrivals doors to the shuttle stop?
The Terminal Loop shuttle stop at Terminal 2 is on the Arrivals level at the Courtesy Shuttle island in the Transportation Plaza. The stop is positioned across the immediate pickup lane from the Terminal 2 baggage claim doors, so it’s a short curb-to-island walk.
Exit Terminal 2 Baggage Claim through the main sliding doors and look for the Courtesy Shuttle / Inter-Terminal Loop signage on the transportation islands in front of the terminal. Use the nearest marked crosswalk to reach the Courtesy Shuttle island aligned with the baggage-claim frontage. The walking distance from the arrivals doors to the shuttle stop is about 60 feet (18 meters), door-to-island.
Where is the Terminal 1 shuttle stop located, and what is the exact walking distance from the shuttle stop to the Terminal 1 security checkpoint entrance?
The Terminal Loop shuttle drops at Terminal 1’s ground transportation island on the Arrivals level, and the security checkpoint is upstairs in the Terminal 1 ticketing hall. The path is longer than Terminal 2 because you have to re-enter the landside hall and use vertical circulation before you reach the centralized checkpoint.
From the shuttle drop-off, walk from the ground transportation island back toward the Terminal 1 façade using the nearest crosswalk/bridge connection, enter the Terminal 1 landside hall, then take the escalator or elevator up to the Departures/Ticketing level. Continue straight through the ticketing hall to the single consolidated security checkpoint entrance. The walking distance from the shuttle stop to the Terminal 1 security checkpoint entry is about 200–300 feet (60–90 meters), plus the vertical climb.
What is the exact indoor walking route (and distance) from Terminal 2 West check-in to Checkpoint 6?
Walking from Terminal 2 West check-in to Checkpoint 6 is a short, direct interior move, about 50–100 feet (15–30 meters). Checkpoint 6 sits immediately adjacent to the Terminal 2 West ticketing and check-in counters, so there’s no long corridor decision.
From the Terminal 2 West ticketing lobby, face the check-in counters for the Terminal 2 West airlines (the west end of Terminal 2). Look for the TSA screening entrance labeled Checkpoint 6 on the same level and in the same open hall, positioned next to the counter area rather than down a separate hallway. Walk straight from the center of the check-in counter line to the Checkpoint 6 queue entry, using the counter bank as your anchor node.
What is the exact indoor walking route (and distance) from Terminal 2 East check-in to Checkpoint 5?
Walking from Terminal 2 East check-in to Checkpoint 5 is a short, direct interior route of about 50–100 feet (15–30 meters). Checkpoint 5 is positioned at the east end of the Terminal 2 ticketing hall to serve the Terminal 2 East check-in counters.
From the Terminal 2 East ticketing area, stand facing the Alaska/American check-in counter banks and follow the interior overhead signs for TSA / Security toward the eastern end of the same hall. The Checkpoint 5 entrance sits in the open ticketing space rather than behind a long corridor, so the route is essentially a straight walk from the center of the counter area to the Checkpoint 5 queue stanchions, using the east-end wall and checkpoint signage as the anchor.
Where is the post-security connector between Terminal 2 East and Terminal 2 West, and what is the exact walking distance between the nearest gate nodes on each side?
The post-security connector is the airside corridor linking the Terminal 2 East gates around the Gate 23/24 area to the Terminal 2 West start near Gate 33. This is a walking corridor (not a tram), and it’s the fastest way to move between concourses without exiting security.
From the Terminal 2 East secure area, follow airside signs toward the higher-numbered gates and the Terminal 2 West concourse until you enter the connector corridor, then continue toward the first Terminal 2 West gate cluster. The walking distance between the nearest gate nodes (roughly the Gate 32 area on the east side to the Gate 33 area on the west side) is about 300–500 feet (90–150 meters), depending on the exact gate-door node you start from.
If a traveler must exit security and re-clear, what is the shortest mapped path from the arriving gate area to the correct security checkpoint for the departing concourse?
No airside connection exists between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, so any Terminal 1 → Terminal 2 connection requires exiting to landside and re-clearing security at Terminal 2. The fastest controlled-time option is typically the landside sidewalk walk between terminal façades rather than waiting in the Terminal Loop shuttle traffic.
From the arriving gate area, exit the secure zone to the Terminal 1 landside/baggage-claim level, then leave the building toward the ground transportation islands and follow the pedestrian path toward Terminal 2 along the frontage by the parking plaza and construction edge. Enter Terminal 2 on the side that matches your departing concourse, then re-clear at the correct checkpoint: Checkpoint 5 for Terminal 2 East (Alaska/American) or Checkpoint 6 for Terminal 2 West (Delta/United/international carriers). The terminal-to-terminal sidewalk span is about 0.25 miles (400 meters), roughly a 5–8 minute walk.
Where is the Rental Car Center shuttle pickup at Terminal 2, and what is the exact walking distance from baggage claim to the shuttle curb?
The Rental Car Center shuttle pickup at Terminal 2 is on the Arrivals level Transportation Plaza at the Rental Car Shuttles stop on the shuttle islands. The pickup is reached by crossing the immediate roadway from the Terminal 2 baggage-claim doors to the marked shuttle island.
Exit Terminal 2 Baggage Claim through the main sliding doors, then turn left along the curbside sidewalk toward the Courtesy Bus / shuttle island area where the columns are signed for Rental Car Shuttles. Use the nearest marked crosswalk to reach the shuttle island curb, then wait at the signed pickup point. The walking distance from baggage claim doors to the rental car shuttle curb is about 60 feet (around 20 yards / 18 meters), door-to-island.
Where is the closest “low-congestion waiting zone” (mapped seating area away from the main gate crush) in Terminal 1, and what is the exact walking distance from security exit to that zone?
The closest low-congestion waiting zone in Terminal 1 is the post-security outdoor dining terrace / lounge area, which sits off the main gate hold-room flow and naturally filters foot traffic. This spot is typically quieter than the immediate gate seating because it requires a deliberate turn away from the boarding clusters.
From the centralized Terminal 1 security exit, walk toward the central post-security marketplace/food hall node, then follow signs for the outdoor terrace and pass through the doors to the terrace seating area. Use the food hall as the anchor point, not a specific gate door, since gates can concentrate crowds unpredictably. The walking distance from security exit to the terrace zone is about 150–200 feet (45–60 meters), depending on where you clear the checkpoint stanchions.
Archive San Diego International Airport Map
Below are all historical map versions for San Diego International Airport. Each year includes the official map available for that period, presented as both WebP and PDF.
2024 San Diego International Airport Map
