Lots can be said about visiting San Diego this year.
From disappointing beach closures, sky-rocketing hotel prices, and ‘tent cities’ scattered around the city, it’s no surprise why Florida is so popular.
But, before you take sides between the East Coast and West Coast like a 90’s rap beef, consider the delightful beach towns just north of San Diego.
You can avoid San Diego and the South Bay’s frequent beach closures, instead opting for North County’s clean and pristine soft sand and crystalline waters, such as Solana Beach, Encinitas, and the underrated resort-lined town of Carlsbad.
This fun-filled city is doubling down on its appeal by opening its very own airport to the public again.
Despite the airport’s past failures, American Airlines just announced the first flight in years to McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) in Carlsbad.
Travelers can say “so long” to San Diego and all the frustrations that come along with visiting and embrace Carlsbad as their dreamy Southern California vacation spot.
Carlsbad: SoCal’s Up-And-Coming Beach Destination
As a (mostly) proud San Diegan myself, I gotta be honest, 2024 should be a gap year. No, not taking off a year from college to ‘find yourself’.
I mean San Diego can be skipped this year. Between airport construction chaos, ineffective homelessness laws, and beach closures (yes, even some popular ones!), this is the time to give Carlsbad a chance.
Perhaps center your itinerary around Carlsbad and take day trips to the famous San Diego Zoo or lively Gaslamp District, but overall, there’s no better time to explore more of northern San Diego County.
Set about halfway between San Diego proper and Orange County, Carlsbad is the best of both SoCal worlds.
You have lavish resorts at your fingertips, including the 5-star Park Hyatt Aviara, far less crowded beaches, and an underrated foodie scene with trendy food halls like The Windmill.
Better yet, Carlsbad is the ultimate family-friendly destination with LEGOLAND and arguably the most Instagramable site in the area, Carlsbad’s famous Flower Fields.
Bad news being it’s closed until March 2025, but on the bright side, that’s perfect timing for the initial launch of America Airlines’ new flight here.
American Airlines Breaks The Seal For Carlsbad’s Airport
They say it’s not if you get knocked down; it’s if you get back up.
In the case of Carlsbad’s McClellan-Palomar Airport, the track record isn’t exactly blemish-free.
Ever heard of California Pacific Airways? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Pre-Covid, a local businessman decided to launch an airline at the ripe young age of 96. Ted Vallas saw Carlsbad’s potential as a main destination, but it was an uphill battle that was too steep to climb.
With lofty ambitions that were too far out of reach, the airline ceased operations with a network of 8 destinations, and Ted Vallas sadly passed away soon after.
Of course, the dark days of the pandemic didn’t help either. Even little-known Taos Air gave Carlsbad a whirl in 2020, but now Carlsbad is due for a hard reset.
With a much more prominent name in American Airlines, the mega-popular carrier is dipping its toes in Carlsbad’s clean waters, launching the first flight in years.
Set to take off February 13, 2025, travelers from Phoenix (PHX) will have first dibs on the only commercial route serviced here so far.
The question remains if other airlines will follow, especially since more and more airlines such as Breeze, Avelo, and Allegiant have been boosting traffic at secondary airports.
Tickets are on sale on American’s official website with initial fares being $141 one-way on the launch date.
Fly Into San Diego Or Carlsbad?
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is undergoing an extensive overhaul, not expected to be fully completed until 2028.
However, recent reports suggest a majority of the current headache-inducing navigational issues will be resolved in 2025.
So, the question is should you fly into SAN or CLD? Well, depends where you’re going and which airline you choose.
Travelers flying American can connect through Phoenix to arrive in Carlsbad, while SAN offers hundreds of more nonstop flights…plus potential headaches.
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