Contending with overstuffed freeway traffic and/or the inconvenience and crowding of major airports, San Diegans have increasingly become aware of helicopter charters as a mode of travel – even for quick travel or weekend getaways.

These chartered flights are direct, convenient, and private.

We fly everyone from families to businessmen, and celebrities that want to avoid attention while they travel.

While this page lists some of the most popular helicopter charter destinations we fly to from San Diego, this post lists the top 5, and what people do there.

1. Los Angeles

Long exposure of a street in Los Angeles

Charters from San Diego to Los Angeles are ideal for skipping traffic when time is short.

We often fly people in for sports events, concerts, and business travel.

For LA proper, we fly into LAX, Hawthorne, Macguire – but also Burbank and Santa Monica.

Approximate flight time: 60-70 minutes.

2. Orange County

View of Orange County and boats from the water

Charters from San Diego to Orange County are also ideal for skipping traffic. Anyone who has driven the 5 recently knows how long that can take, particularly during all the recent construction.

We often fly people in for sports events, families for Disneyland visits, and business travel.

Approximate flight time: 45 minutes.

3. Palm Springs / Borrego / Coachella Valley

Charters from San Diego to the local deserts are ideal for skipping the sheer drive when time is limited.

We often fly people into Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley for the big concert events, impromptu adventure hikes, and weekend getaways in Palm Springs.

Approximate flight time: 45 minutes.

4. Baja California, Mexico

Aerial photo of Ensenada at night, shows the large Mexican flag

Charters from San Diego to Mexico offer travelers a lot of advantages. There are no long waits at the Tijuana border checkpoint, and helicopter travel eliminates the need for driving in another country.

We often fly people in for quick getaways to Ensenada, Mexicali, San Felipe, Tijuana, and local wineries in Guadalupe.

Approximate flight time: 15-105 minutes.

5. Las Vegas

Charters from San Diego to Las Vegas cut out that long, monotonous drive.

We’ve flown a few people in for quick weddings and bachelor/bachellorette parties, but mostly we fly couples and families that want a quick weekend getaway.

Approximate flight time: 2.5 hours.