Cheap flights to
Mexico

Mexico is a big country, and different areas have different high seasons. That said, the high season in much of the country—especially areas with beaches—is from December through April. Peak season in Los Cabos is from December–March when people in the US want to escape cold temperatures and when whale watching is best. Tulum and Cancún are also busy during this period and get especially busy in March and April when schools in the US are on spring break. Mexico City is also busy in the spring, from March–May.

High season is also a great time to visit most of Mexico weather-wise. Like we mentioned above, whale watching in Los Cabos is a big draw from December–March. And in Oaxaca, Tulum, Cancún, and other beachy destinations, spring weather is warm enough to swim but not too hot or humid to do other activities.

Most tourists try to avoid hurricane season from June–October. Shoulder seasons, like November and May, are a great time to find deals to these destinations. In Mexico City, March–May have warm daytime weather with little to no rain. Slow season in Mexico City is June–October due to common afternoon rainstorms. But if you don’t mind a little rain (the city has plenty of museums to dip into), summer and early fall are a great time to save money on hotels and flights.

There are more than 100 airports in Mexico, but most tourists will use a handful. Cancún, Mexico City, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Oaxaca, Tulum, and Guadalajara are the most-visited cities in Mexico.

Cancún International Airport (CUN) is the most likely to have flights from the US. There are direct flights to Cancún from 38 cities all across the country. San José del Cabo International Airport (SJD) is where visitors fly into Los Cabos. There are about two dozen US cities that offer direct flights to that airport and about the same number of cities with flights to Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR).

Mexico City International Airport (MEX) is the country’s largest airport and one of the biggest in the world. There are direct flights to Mexico City on major carriers from about 20 US cities. There are about a dozen cities with direct flights to Guadalajara International Airport (GDL). Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) is harder to reach, with direct flights from only four US cities. Tulum used to require a transfer through Cancún, but as of the end of 2023, Aeroméxico will launch direct flights from Chicago and San Francisco to Tulum, coinciding with the opening of the city’s new Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport.

Tourist hot spots in Mexico are easy to reach from the US. There are direct flights to Cancún from all over the country. Same goes for Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City. For other destinations, like Oaxaca, Guadalajara, or Tulum, you might need a connection. If you live in California or Texas, your odds of getting a direct flight to large and mid-sized cities in Mexico are pretty high.

The shortest flight from the US to Mexico depends on where in Mexico you’re going and where in the US you’re coming from. If you live in San Diego or LA, for example, a destination like Cabo or elsewhere on the Baja Peninsula will have the shortest flight. If you’re in Texas or anywhere in the middle of the country, the quickest flight is to Monterrey, though Mexico City isn’t much farther. From the East Coast, and especially Florida, your shortest flight option is to Cancún.

Cancún is the most popular city for US travelers and has the most direct flights from the US. There are at least 38 cities across the country that offer nonstop flights to Cancún.

If you’re traveling from the US, your dog or cat cannot have signs of an infectious or contagious disease or any wounds. Pets will be inspected on arrival at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Office. There are additional rules and restrictions for birds and other animals.

The US and Mexico are both large countries, so the flight time depends on where you’re coming from and where you’re flying. From New York and elsewhere on the East Coast, as well as most Midwest cities, the flight to Cancún ranges from 3-4 hours. From Florida, it’s an hour and 45 minutes. From cities in Texas, it’s about 2.5 hours. From Phoenix, Denver, cities in California, and elsewhere on the West Coast, the flight to Cancún is 4-6 hours, depending on your departure city.

From the East Coast to Mexico City is about 5-6 hours; from the Midwest, it’s around 4; from Texas, it’s closer to 2; and from the West Coast, it’s 3-4. If you’re flying from LA or Texas to Oaxaca, the flight time is 3-4 hours. Most US cities do not have direct flights to Oaxaca, and you’ll have to make a connection, which could put the flight time anywhere from 6-10 hours. Flight times to Los Cabos range from 2-3 hours for flights from California to 6 hours for flights from the East Coast.