The flight from Houston to Cabo takes about 3 hours nonstop, on United from Bush Intercontinental (IAH) or Southwest from Hobby (HOU). We searched more than 13,000 itineraries from IAH to find the cheapest months and days, and when a connection is worth it.
Cheapest Houston to Cabo Flights by Month
Cheapest one-way fare by month, Houston to Los Cabos
USD, 1 adult, taxes included · Nuitée fare data pulled September 30, 2026
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United's nonstop from IAH. Southwest's nonstop from Hobby isn't in our data. Exact figures are in the table below.
October to March was the cheapest time to fly from Houston to Cabo in our data, with United's nonstop from $314 one-way; from April to August it started at $363. Within those two seasons the fare didn't move by month, so the day you fly mattered more.
| Month | Cheapest nonstop | Cheapest nonstop or 1 stop (under 9 hours) | What we saw |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | $314 | $250 (Delta via Los Angeles) | United's winter fare already in place |
| November 2026 | $314 | $245 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | The Saturday before Thanksgiving (Nov 21) was $743 |
| December 2026 | $314 | $245 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | Dec 19 and Dec 26 were both $669 on the nonstop |
| January 2027 | $314 | $245 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | $314 on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday of the week we checked |
| February 2027 | $314 | $245 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | Presidents' Day weekend Saturday (Feb 13) stayed at $393 |
| March 2027 | $314 | $245 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | Spring break: Friday to Sunday of the Mar 8 week was $962 |
| April 2027 | $363 | $295 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | United's summer fare begins |
| May 2027 | $363 | $295 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | Nonstop floor unchanged |
| June 2027 | $363 | $295 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | Nonstop floor unchanged |
| July 2027 | $363 | $295 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | Thursday was the priciest day of the week we checked |
| August 2027 | $363 | $295 (Aeromexico via Mexico City) | Nonstop floor unchanged |
Nuitée fare data pulled September 30, 2026: one-way, one adult, USD, taxes included, searched from Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH). We searched every Tuesday and Saturday from October 2026 to August 2027 plus full weeks in November, January, March and July. Southwest's nonstop from Hobby isn't in our data, so compare its fares directly.
When to book
The dates to book early are Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break: the Saturday before Thanksgiving was already $743 one-way, December 19 and 26 were $669, and the Friday to Sunday of the March week we checked was $962 when we searched on September 30. For other dates, flying from October to March and early in the week kept the nonstop at $314. One snapshot can't show how these fares move as departure gets closer, so we will re-check this route and update the data.
Cheapest Day to Fly from Houston to Cabo
Cheapest nonstop by day of the week
One-way, USD, 1 adult, taxes included · full weeks from our September 30, 2026 pull
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| Week of | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9–15, 2026 | $314 | $314 | $353 | $488 | $393 | $393 | $314 |
| Jan 11–17, 2027 | $314 | $314 | $353 | $563 | $637 | $393 | $314 |
| Mar 8–14, 2027 | $363 | $363 | $363 | $393 | $962 | $962 | $962 |
| Jul 12–18, 2027 | $363 | $363 | $414 | $488 | $393 | $393 | $363 |
Monday, Tuesday and Sunday were the cheapest days to fly United's Houston nonstop in three of the four weeks we checked: $314 in November and January, $363 in July. Thursday or Friday was the priciest day in those weeks, from $488 to $637. The March week was the exception: $363 from Monday to Wednesday, then $962 from Friday to Sunday.
Coming home, the nonstop from SJD cost the least from Tuesday to Friday, $292 in the November and January weeks and $343 in July, with Sunday the priciest day, up to $700 in mid-November. In the March week, flying home cost $802 on Thursday and Friday and $1,037 on the weekend.
Best Houston to Cabo Fares We Found
Flights to Cabo San Lucas from Houston start at $314 USD one-way on United's nonstop from October to March, and $363 from April to August. Connections were cheaper but slow: Aeromexico via Mexico City from $245, about 8 hours.
| Best fares we found | Airline | Stops | Flight time | From (USD, one-way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest nonstop (early week, October 2026 to March 2027) | United Airlines | Nonstop | About 3 hours | $314 |
| Cheapest summer nonstop (April to August 2027) | United Airlines | Nonstop | About 3 hours | $363 |
| Cheapest fare overall (November 2026 to March 2027) | Aeromexico | 1 stop (Mexico City) | About 8 hours | $245 |
| Cheapest Delta connection | Delta Air Lines | 1 stop (Atlanta, Salt Lake City or Los Angeles) | About 8 hours | $250 |
| Cheapest US connection | American Airlines | 1 stop (Dallas or Phoenix) | About 6 to 6.5 hours | $309 |
Fare snapshot from September 30, 2026: one-way, one adult, in US dollars. The live fares in the search box above are refreshed every few hours; search your own dates for the current price.
What You Should Know
- United and Southwest fly nonstop from Houston to Los Cabos, from different airports: United from Bush Intercontinental (IAH), about two a day and the only nonstop in our fare data, and Southwest from Hobby (HOU), once a day on weekdays and twice on weekends.
- Monday, Tuesday and Sunday were the cheapest days to fly United's nonstop in three of the four weeks we checked. Spring break was the big exception: $962 from Friday to Sunday of the March week.
- United's Economy fare ($314) includes a carry-on but no checked bag, and so do Economy Plus ($419) and its refundable fares; checked bags came only with First or Business.
- Every commercial flight lands at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) near San José del Cabo, about 40 to 50 minutes by road from Cabo San Lucas.
The Houston to Los Cabos Route at a Glance
The flight from Houston to Los Cabos covers 1,618 kilometres (1,005 miles). Nonstops take about 3 hours: flight trackers list United's IAH flights at about 2 hours 53 minutes to 3 hours 3 minutes, and Southwest lists its Hobby flight at an average of 2 hours 48 minutes.
| Route fact | Houston (IAH / HOU) to Los Cabos (SJD) |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1,618 km (1,005 mi) from IAH |
| Nonstop airlines | United from IAH (in our data); Southwest from Hobby (not in our fare data) |
| Nonstop flight time | About 3 hours |
| Fastest one-stop | About 4 hours 50 minutes (American via Dallas) |
| Connecting airlines | Aeromexico, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines |
| Arrival airport | Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), San José del Cabo |
| Time difference | Cabo stays on UTC-7 all year: one hour behind Houston from early November to mid-March, and two hours behind the rest of the year. |
There is no commercial airport in Cabo San Lucas itself: flights to "Cabo" and flights to "Los Cabos" are the same flights, landing at SJD on the east side of the peninsula.
Sources: fares, schedules, operating airlines and baggage rules from Nuitée flight data pulled September 30, 2026; Southwest's Hobby nonstop and average flight time: Southwest's Houston (Hobby) to Los Cabos route page; Cabo's year-round UTC-7 time zone: Mexico's Ley de los Husos Horarios, Diario Oficial de la Federación (Oct 28, 2022); United's flight time from tracked flights; distance calculated between the two airports.
Direct Flights from Houston to Cabo San Lucas vs Connecting
From Houston the nonstop is usually worth it. The cheapest connection, Aeromexico via Mexico City, saved about $68 to $69 over United's nonstop but took about 8 hours against 3, and the fastest connection, American via Dallas, cost almost the same as the nonstop ($309 against $314). If you'd rather fly from Hobby, Southwest's nonstop isn't in our data, so check its fare directly.
| Option | Typical departure (Houston) | Flying time | Lowest fare seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| United nonstop from IAH | About two a day, from about 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | About 3 hours | $314 |
| Southwest nonstop from Hobby (not in our fare data) | 1 a day on weekdays, 2 on weekends | About 2 hours 50 minutes | Check Southwest |
| Aeromexico via Mexico City | Late morning | About 6 hours 40 minutes or more | $245 |
| Delta via Atlanta, Salt Lake City or Los Angeles | Morning | About 7 to 8.5 hours | $250 |
| American via Dallas or Phoenix | Varies | From about 4 hours 50 minutes; about 6 hours at the lowest fare | $309 |
Schedules as listed in Nuitée's fare data for the dates we searched from IAH, plus Southwest's route page; departure times are Houston local time. We don't list arrival times because some Cabo arrival times in the data were an hour off on winter dates, so confirm them when you book.
Two things to weigh on a connection. A connection via Mexico City means clearing Mexican immigration and customs there, while one through Dallas, Atlanta or Phoenix keeps you in the US until Cabo. And the cheapest fares weren't the quickest: many connecting itineraries in the data took well over 10 hours.
Baggage by fare
United's Economy fare ($314) includes a carry-on but no checked bag. Economy Fully Refundable ($377), Economy Plus ($419) and its refundable version also leave the checked bag out; only First or Business included one in our data. Budget for United's bag fee if you're checking a bag.
Getting from Los Cabos Airport to Cabo San Lucas
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) sits just north of San José del Cabo, about 50 kilometres from Cabo San Lucas. The drive down the Tourist Corridor takes about 40 to 50 minutes. Your options:
- Private transfer: priced per vehicle from about $99 per group, with the driver tracking your flight. This is the easiest option for two or more people.
- Shared shuttle: about $36 to $43 per person round-trip, but it stops at several hotels on the way.
- Airport taxi: commonly $80 to $100 to Cabo San Lucas.
Rideshare pickups at SJD are restricted, and timeshare sellers work the arrivals hall, so arrange your ride before you land. Our Los Cabos airport transfer guide compares the options side by side. If you connect and land in the evening, our guide to hotels near Los Cabos airport covers places to stay minutes from SJD.
Where to Stay in Cabo San Lucas
A morning nonstop from Houston takes about 3 hours and Cabo is one or two hours behind, so you land in time to check in the same day. The prices above are live rates for a sample three-night stay for two, from the same hotel list as our guide to the best hotels in Cabo San Lucas, where each one is reviewed in full.
- On the beach: Médano Beach hotels put you on Cabo's swimmable beach, a walk from the marina.
- All-inclusive: compare all-inclusive resorts in Cabo San Lucas if you'd rather not budget meal by meal.
- Closer to the airport: the best hotels in San José del Cabo are 15 to 20 minutes from SJD instead of 45.
Cabo San Lucas Hotels for Your Trip
Live rates for a sample three-night stay for two adults, from our hotel reservation system. Pick your own dates on any hotel to see the price for your trip.
- Instant confirmation by email
- Live rates, not brochure prices
- Room-only and breakfast rates
- Free cancellation on selected rates
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
A 9.6 across 754 reviews, with perfect scores for service and amenities. The strongest combination of score and review volume of any hotel in Cabo San Lucas.
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
The only perfect 10 on this list, on the Pacific at Pedregal and reached through a private tunnel. Guests rave about the private plunge pools.
The Bungalows Hotel
A downtown garden hotel sold breakfast-included only, with perfect 10s for service and food. The steadiest price on this list at $194 to $206.
The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt
Perfect scores for location and service at Km 5, with El Arco across the water. The pool and rooftop bar are the social scene.
ME by Meliá Cabo - Adults Only
Adults-only five-star on the sand at Medano, with nightlife a walk away. The highest-rated hotel in town on a beach you can swim at.
Medano Hotel and Spa
A 9.2 across 1,121 reviews for $139 to $159 on every date we priced. A short walk to Medano Beach and the marina.
Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos
Perfect 10s for cleanliness, service and food, with a strong family activity programme. Far from town, at a 6.5 for location.
Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa
Five-star on Medano Beach from $165, the cheapest five-star rate we found in Cabo San Lucas. A 9.8 for service and for location.
Hotel Los Patios
Breakfast included from $54, the cheapest hotel on this list by far, with a 9.9 for service. Beside the highway at Km 4, so plan on taxis.
Bahia Hotel & Beach House
A boutique hotel steps from Medano with its own beach club on the sand. Guests praise the concierge and the food at Bar Esquina.
Indicative nightly rate for a 3-night stay, two adults, checking in about 30 days out. All ten are priced room-only or breakfast-included. Live pricing at checkout.Room only. Local taxes and fees are added at checkout and can add roughly 20%.
Search all resorts & dates →Plan the Rest of Your Cabo Trip
- What to do: our list of the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas and a ready-made Cabo itinerary.
- When to go: the cheaper October to March nonstop fares line up with whale season in January and our guide to Cabo in November.
- Safety: read our Cabo San Lucas safety guide before you go.
Everything else for the destination is in our Cabo San Lucas travel guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the flight from Houston to Cabo?+
A nonstop flight from Houston to Cabo takes about 3 hours for the 1,618 km (1,005 mile) trip: about 2 hours 53 minutes to 3 hours 3 minutes on United from IAH, and an average of 2 hours 48 minutes on Southwest from Hobby. The fastest connection, American via Dallas, takes about 4 hours 50 minutes.
Are there direct flights from Houston to Cabo San Lucas?+
Yes. United flies nonstop from Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Los Cabos (SJD), about two flights a day, with a nonstop on every date we checked. Southwest flies nonstop from Houston Hobby (HOU), once a day on weekdays and twice on weekends, but its fares aren't in our data.
What airlines fly from Houston to Cabo?+
United and Southwest fly nonstop, from IAH and Hobby respectively. With one stop, you can also fly Aeromexico via Mexico City, Delta via Atlanta, Salt Lake City or Los Angeles, and American via Dallas or Phoenix.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Houston to Cabo?+
In our September 2026 fare data, October to March was cheapest, with United's nonstop from $314 USD one-way; from April to August it started at $363. The cheapest fare overall was $245 via Mexico City, but it took about 8 hours.
How early should I book flights from Houston to Cabo?+
Book as soon as you have dates for Thanksgiving, Christmas or spring break: by late September, the Friday to Sunday of the March week we checked was already $962 one-way on the nonstop, the Saturday before Thanksgiving $743 and December 19 $669. For other dates, flying early in the week kept the nonstop at $314 to $363.
What airport do I fly into for Cabo San Lucas?+
Fly into Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), near San José del Cabo. Cabo San Lucas has no commercial airport, so every flight from Houston lands at SJD, about 40 to 50 minutes by road from Cabo San Lucas.
How do I get from Los Cabos airport to Cabo San Lucas?+
Most visitors pre-book a transfer. Private transfers start around $99 per vehicle, shared shuttles cost about $36 to $43 per person round-trip, and airport taxis commonly charge $80 to $100. The drive takes about 40 to 50 minutes along the Tourist Corridor.
