Review: San Diego Airport (SAN) Outdoor Patio (Terminal 1)
Key Takeaways
- Excellent outdoor escape: The covered patio provides comfortable seating, rocking chairs, and views toward San Diego Bay and downtown.
- Convenient Terminal 1 location: It's airside near Gate 113, making it particularly useful for passengers arriving or departing from Terminal 1.
- More of a relaxation space than an observation deck: The patio doesn't provide direct runway views, and there are no restrooms immediately on the patio.
Sometimes, when traveling, you just really need some outdoor time. This is sometimes hard to do, but many airports and lounges have opened outdoor spaces for customers to enjoy. Recently, I was at San Diego International Airport (SAN) and spent a bit of time on their outdoor deck (observation patio). I arrived on a Tuesday around 16:00 (4 pm), and the patio was mostly empty, and the weather was absolutely lovely.
Location and Access
The San Diego Airport outdoor patio is located airside (post-security) in the new Terminal 1, adjacent to gate 113 and across from gate 115, centrally placed in the middle of the terminal. The patio is open year-round during terminal operating hours and is free of charge to visit.
There is also an indoor seating area just inside from the outdoor patio. This could be a good place to relax if the weather is ever too hot or you just want to remain inside.
Amenities
To access the patio, use one of the three electronic doors. These doors are automatic, so if your hands are full, they will open automatically. If traveling with kids, this area is also great for them to walk around and watch planes. There are also trash and recycling bins placed around the patio for quick access.
Seating and Work Areas
The covered patio offers comfortable seating and tables, with views of the airfield, San Diego Bay, and downtown San Diego. The tables make it great for outdoor dining or working. Also, around the window area of the patio there are rocking chairs to relax in while you watch planes and view the bay. While I was there, one of the large tables was being used by someone reading a book, and the other was being used by someone eating.
Food and Beverage
The lounge is located just outside the central dining area (food court), which offers many great food and drink options. I did not eat while visiting the lounge (since I was coming from the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Terminal 2), but if I were connecting or did not have time to connect to Terminal 2, I would have most likely had a snack.
Restrooms and Showers
There are no restrooms or showers on the patio. But just inside near Gate 118, there are restrooms, a nursing room, and a pet relief area.
Terminal 1 - Airlines and Lounges
San Diego Airport is going through a major terminal renovation, but currently Air Canada, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest, Sun Country Airlines, and WestJet operate from Terminal 1. This patio is extra nice since there are currently no lounges in Terminal 1 until the Escape Lounge opens in (most likely) 2027.
Note: If you are flying from Terminal 2, you will have to exit and reclear security to get between terminals. They are not currently connected airside; this phase of the airport connection is expected to be complete in Q2 2030. In the meantime there are pre-security terminal buses that connect the two terminals, or you can do a ~15-minute walk between Terminal 1 and 2.
Overall Rating: 4.6*
Pros: comfortable seating, clean, covered for shade, wheelchair accessible.
Cons: no runway views, no flight monitors.
- Amenities: 4
- Comfort: 4.7
- Cleanliness & Service: 5
- Value: 4.5
- Wow-Factor: 3
* scored using Nerd Score (Non-Lounge) 1.0
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Closing Thoughts
The patio opened on September 23, 2025, as part of the new Terminal 1 (Phase 1) opening. I love these observation decks, especially ones like San Diego and Austin, which don't allow smoking.