There are 7 ways to get from San Diego to Brainerd by plane, bus (Greyhound), train, taxi, car, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
best- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)plane SAN - BRD
6h 20m$152–569Bus
- Take the bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Tulsa Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Tulsa to Minneapolisbus
- Take the bus from Minneapolis to Brainerdbus
2d 7h$439–763Train, taxi (Amtrak)
- Take the train from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Staples Stationtrain
- Take the taxi from Staples Station to Brainerdtaxi
2d 10h$968–2,007Drive 1,962.6 mi
- Drive from San Diego to Brainerdcar 1,962.6 mi
32h 38m$359–518Fly to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, bus
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)plane SAN - MSP
- Take the bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerdbus
8h 7m$275–601Bus, train
- Take the bus from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Stationbus
- Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Cloudbus
- Take the bus from St. Cloud to Brainerdbus
2d 12h$841–1,730Train, bus
- Take the train from San Diego to Los Angelestrain
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Portlandtrain
- Take the train from Portland to Detroit Lakes Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Detroit Lakes to Brainerdbus
2d 23h$951–2,028
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Diego to Brainerd is to fly which costs $150 - $600 and takes 6h 20m.
The fastest way to get from San Diego to Brainerd is to fly which takes 6h 20m and costs $150 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from San Diego to Brainerd. However, there are services departing from San Diego and arriving at Brainerd via Los Angeles Union Station, Tulsa and Minneapolis. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 7h.
The distance between San Diego and Brainerd is 1555 miles. The road distance is 1974.1 miles.
The best way to get from San Diego to Brainerd without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 7h and costs $430 - $800.
It takes approximately 6h 20m to get from San Diego to Brainerd, including transfers.
San Diego to Brainerd bus services, operated by Greyhound Mexico, depart from San Diego station.
The best way to get from San Diego to Brainerd is to fly which takes 6h 20m and costs $150 - $600. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $430 - $800 and takes 2 days 7h.
San Diego to Brainerd bus services, operated by Greyhound Mexico, arrive at Los Angeles Union Station.
Brainerd is 2h ahead of San Diego. It is currently 11:38 AM in San Diego and 1:38 PM in Brainerd.
What companies run services between San Diego, CA, USA and Brainerd, MN, USA?
Delta, Sun Country Airlines, and Southwest Airlines fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD) 3 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from San Diego to Brainerd via Los Angeles Union Station, Tulsa, and Minneapolis in around 2d 7h.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Salt Lake City, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Denver, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 21m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Las Vegas, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 41m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Phoenix, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 46m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–650
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $150–650
- Website
- suncountry.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–650
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 29m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $30–70
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 42h 47m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $700–1,500
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Staples Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $170–360
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 42h 47m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $700–1,500
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from San Diego to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 56m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Los Angeles to Portland
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $380–800
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Portland to Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 33h 42m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $500–1,100
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-800-231-2222
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.mx
Bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $23–40
- Schedules at
- greyhound.com.mx
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Tulsa Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 32h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Schedules at
- greyhound.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Tulsa Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 32h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $230–450
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Tulsa to Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $150–220
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $150–220
Bus from Minneapolis to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $35–55
Bus from St. Cloud to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $25–40
Bus from Detroit Lakes to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $30–45
- Phone
- +1 320-316-0943
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Cloud
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–140
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Estimated price
- $65–80
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between San Diego to Brainerd is 1974 miles. It takes approximately 32h 38m to drive from San Diego to Brainerd.
Book your San Diego to Brainerd bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 83+ hotels available in Brainerd.

















