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WAS - SFO

£89 Find cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco departing on 4/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
0 bags
Sat 1/6
Sat 8/6

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San Francisco

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
In the last 7 days, travellers have searched 43,740,974 times on KAYAK, and here's why:

Save 28% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

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Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Cheap flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco (WAS-SFO)

Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.
Choose your dates
13:39 - 23:59BWI-SFO
13h 20m1 stop
23:08 - 12:10SFO-BWI
10h 02m1 stop
£193Frontier
Find Deal
Thu, 4 Jul - Mon, 8 Jul
19:20 - 18:41IAD-SFO
26h 21m1 stop
18:00 - 13:02SFO-IAD
16h 02m1 stop
£204Sun Country Air
Find Deal
Fri, 24 May - Mon, 27 May
07:00 - 12:25BWI-SFO
8h 25m1 stop
11:35 - 23:24SFO-BWI
8h 49m1 stop
£231Delta
Find Deal
Tue, 29 Oct - Wed, 6 Nov
17:52 - 23:27BWI-SFO
8h 35m1 stop
17:11 - 05:39SFO-BWI
9h 28m1 stop
£239Delta
Find Deal
Thu, 30 May - Sat, 1 Jun
15:30 - 00:45DCA-SFO
12h 15m1 stop
21:25 - 09:41SFO-DCA
9h 16m1 stop
£245JetBlue
Find Deal
Sat, 24 Aug - Sat, 7 Sep
17:30 - 00:55DCA-SFO
10h 25m1 stop
21:25 - 09:41SFO-DCA
9h 16m1 stop
£248JetBlue
Find Deal
Fri, 20 Sep - Mon, 23 Sep
07:00 - 07:29IAD-SFO
27h 29m1 stop
12:50 - 05:40SFO-IAD
13h 50m1 stop
£259Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, 29 May - Tue, 4 Jun
07:00 - 16:58IAD-SFO
12h 58m1 stop
07:00 - 15:15SFO-IAD
5h 15mdirect
£293Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, 29 May - Tue, 4 Jun
07:05 - 09:50BWI-SFO
5h 45mdirect
22:55 - 07:14SFO-BWI
5h 19mdirect
£295United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 13 Aug - Tue, 20 Aug
18:45 - 21:30BWI-SFO
5h 45mdirect
05:00 - 16:25SFO-BWI
8h 25m1 stop
£299United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 13 Aug - Sat, 24 Aug

Flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flight route?

The cheapest price for flight routes found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks for one-way flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.
Our data shows that the cheapest route for a one-way flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco cost £175 and was between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport and San Francisco. On average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. The average price for a return flight for this route is £344.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is February, where tickets cost £255 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and December, where the average cost of tickets is £423 and £407 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a stopover from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

The average price for all direct flights, flights with one stopover, and flights with two stopovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
No, with an average price for the route of £284, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each month.
To get a below average price on the flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, you should book around 2 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 67 days before departure.

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

The cheapest price for the route for each airline clicked by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours.
In the last 72 hours, the cheapest one-way ticket from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco found on KAYAK was with JetBlue for £89. Frontier proposed a return connection from £193 and Sun Country Air from £204.

Which airlines fly direct between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco?

Airline and price data is aggregated from results in KAYAK’s search results from the last 2 weeks for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.
There are 2 airlines that fly direct from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. They are Alaska Airlines and United Airlines. The cheapest airline for this route is Alaska Airlines, with the best one-way deal found costing £182. On average, the best prices for this route can be found at Alaska Airlines.

How many flights are there between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco per day?

Each day, there are between 21 and 25 nonstop flights that take off from Washington, D.C. and land in San Francisco, with an average flight time of 5h 55m. The most common departure time is 18:00 and most flights take off in the evening. Each week, there are 159 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Thursday, when 16% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Sunday.

Which cabin class options are there for flights between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There are 3 cabin class options for the route. These are Business, Economy and Prem Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

How long does a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco take?

The duration of a direct flight to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. is typically 5h 40m. The journey crosses a distance of 2,434 miles.

What’s the earliest departure time from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Early birds can take the earliest flight from Washington, D.C. at 06:00 and will be landing in San Francisco at 08:59.

What’s the latest departure time from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco jets off at 22:05 and lands at 00:53.

Good to know - Cheap tickets from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Low season

January

High season

December

Cheapest flight

£89
Best time to beat the crowds (24% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (15% more expensive on average)
Flight from Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco

When to book flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

  • Can I fly nonstop from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco?

    Yes, those looking for direct flights to San Francisco to DC will be glad to know that they have several options. United Airlines offers nonstop service from both BWI and IAD to SFO, American Airlines offers nonstop service from IAD to SFO, and Alaska Airlines offers nonstop service from IAD to SFO.

  • What other cities does San Francisco International Airport serve besides just San Francisco?

    Aside from San Francisco, SFO serves as the main gateway to northern California. You can easily access other nearby cities such as Oakland, Davis, Fremont, Berkeley, Santa Rosa and San Jose from SFO.

  • Can I get to the downtown area of San Francisco via a rideshare when I land?

    Yes, the rideshare apps Lyft and Uber both operate at SFO. Each terminal has a designated pickup area for these rides. At Terminal 1, you’ll meet your ride in the garage core A/B and B. In Terminal 2, it is located at garage core C and D, and in Terminal 3, you will go to E, F, and F/G. The rideshare app Wingz also operates at SFO, and the pickup locations are just outside the doors of each terminal.

  • Are there any hotels at the airports in Washington, D.C.?

    Yes. In case you’d like to stay at the airport the night before your flight, IAD boasts the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott onsite, BWI has the Sheraton BWI Hotel, and DCA has the Crystal City Marriott. These airports also each have many other hotel options nearby in case you’d prefer to take a free shuttle in the morning.

  • If I don’t have a direct flight from Washington DC to San Francisco, where will my layovers occur?

    If you have not booked a direct flight, your layover locations will depend on the airlines you choose to fly with. For example, Frontier Airlines stops in Denver (DEN), United Airlines stops in either New York (EWR) or Houston (IAH), Delta stops in Minneapolis (MSP), and JetBlue stops in Boston (BOS).

  • What documents will I need in order to fly from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco?

    US citizens boarding a flight from DC to San Francisco need only a valid passport or a REAL ID driver’s license. Please keep in mind that normal driver’s licenses that are not REAL IDs will not be accepted for air travel. 

  • How do I get around once I arrive in California?

    From San Francisco Airport, there are a number of public transport options. Take the AirTrain to the BART Rapid Rail station, which goes to San Francisco, East Bay, and San Mateo County. If you’re traveling to San Jose, the Caltrain Commuter rail has a direct service from Millbrae Station. The SamTrans public bus service runs 24/7 and connects the airport with Millbrae Station, San Francisco, and San Mateo County.

  • How do I get around San Francisco Airport?

    For the convenience of people traveling through San Francisco Airport, the SFO AirTrain is a free 24-hour service that connects the domestic and international terminals, parking garages, rental car center, and the BART train station.

  • I’m traveling with kids. How can I keep them entertained?

    The FunWay at Dulles International is a play area with a slide and foam models of NASA aircraft where kids can run around before departure. A touchscreen console has kid-friendly games, while activity sheets and puzzles keep children entertained. Located in Concourse B, parents and guardians have access to seating and charging stations while they wait.

  • Are there pet relief areas on this route?

    If you’re traveling with a pet or service animal, Dulles International in Washington has four pet relief areas in the airport to use before you depart. After you land at San Francisco, there are a number of fenced animal relief areas with water bowls, which are indicated by paw-prints painted on the ground.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco was £111 for a one-way ticket and £241 for a return.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    Washington, D.C. is served by 2 major airports and there is only 1 main airport in San Francisco. You will leave Washington, D.C. from one of these airports: Washington, D.C. Reagan-National or Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl. You will be arriving at San Francisco.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    Only Alaska Airlines offers inflight Wi-Fi service on the Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    The Boeing 737 MAX 9 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, with Star Alliance being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    There are direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco on a daily basis.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to San Francisco with an airline and back to Washington, D.C. with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

  • Looking for a cheap flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.? 25% of our users found flights on this route for £463 or less round-trip.
  • Washington, D.C., is served by three major airports: Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Most departures from DC to San Francisco depart from either IAD or BWI, but DCA serves a small number of flights, as well.
  • If you will be landing late at night in San Francisco, you may want to book a hotel near the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) so you can immediately rest before continuing your journey in the morning. The Grand Hyatt SFO is onsite at the airport, and there are plenty of hotels connected to the hotel via free shuttles.
  • Those traveling out of BWI, IAD, or DCA with limited mobility will be glad to know that all three airports offer accessibility services. At each one, wheelchair rental is available, as well as escort service, accessible facilities, changing tables, and more.
  • Direct flights from Washington to San Francisco are served by a number of airlines, including United and Alaska Airlines. Flights from Washington to San Francisco usually depart from Dulles International Airport and arrive at San Francisco International Airport.
  • If you’re hungry before your flight from Dulles, there are plenty of food and beverage outlets to choose from. Enjoy a meal by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, grab a gourmet burger or a slice of pizza, or relax with a glass of wine before you embark.
  • A diverse collection of local art, sculptures, and rotating exhibits are on display at Dulles International Airport. While waiting for flights to depart, travelers can also see the Daedalus 87 human-powered aircraft on display at the AeroTrain station in Concourse B and enjoy live entertainment and classical music performances throughout the terminals.
  • If someone in your party is flying from Dulles for the first time and has special needs, the Wings for All program has been designed to ease the stress of flying for people with special needs. Families and guardians can take part in a simulation of the stages of traveling on a plane, from checking in and passing through security to boarding an aircraft. This program also helps to educate airport personnel to understand the needs of all passengers.
  • At San Francisco Airport, friendly dogs wearing “Pet me!” vests can be found around the terminals with their handlers. The Wag Brigade program brings certified animal therapy dogs to spread cheer through the airport with their gentle dispositions and helps to ease the stress of traveling, especially for children.
  • The Airport Butler at San Francisco is a multilingual concierge service that can be customized for all kinds of travelers including business passengers, senior citizens, and those traveling with children. Passengers are met at the gate and escorted through the airport. The Airport Butler also assists with luggage collection and can organize transfers and hotel bookings.
See more tips

Prefer to fly direct from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Find which airlines fly direct from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Monday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Wednesday

Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Air China, Air New Zealand, +14 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Saturday

Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +14 more

Air China, Air New Zealand, +15 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Monday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Wednesday

Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Air China, Air New Zealand, +14 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +13 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +14 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +13 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +14 more

Saturday

Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +15 more

Air China, Air New Zealand, +16 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top airline flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 9115 reviews
7.9Comfort
7.3Food
8.6Crew
8.2Boarding
7.3Entertainment
Airline reviews

Like South West(2 check in baggage free) if Alaskan Airlines could give at least one check in baggage free then it would be great.

8.0 ExcellentAnonymous, May 2024OGG - SFO
Read more about Alaska Airlines reviews

Like South West(2 check in baggage free) if Alaskan Airlines could give at least one check in baggage free then it would be great.

Staff great. Tight seating. Pretzels and drink same as any other airline.

Horrible. I likely will have to spend several thousand dollars to rebook my international flights, due to their delays, plus a hotel in SF. I can’t wait to never fly them again!

The messaging about the change in flight destination and options for getting to SFO was poor. There should have been frequent updates. When I spoke to the boarding agent moment before we were supposed to board, he was flippant and offered no help before the announcement was made that transportation would be arranged. It was as poor of an experience that I've ever had.

My plane ride down landed 20 min late. Boarding at SFO was strange too. The people at the terminal were nice—but, boarding lacked direction, and was confusing . Coming back was worse—the plane was hours behind—and I barely caught the last Bart train back to San Francisco (3 min more and I would have been in trouble). It was a very stressful trip, and it didn’t need to be.

dont re-route to San Jose. Re-route to closer airport. Provide shuttle bus to go to SFO, not just LYFT vouchers.

WiFi connection bad. Food is really awful. Crew very nice and efficient

It was the worst experience because they delayed the flight by 2 and half hours. We were supposed to depart by 3:41 but they did the depart by 6 pm. It was so boring!!

This was a short flight with many open seats. Overhead space is limited and there are no screens in the seat back. But overall the flight was comfortable and fast.

Poor experience. 4 hour delay. 2 hours because of weather and runway construction at SFO. But gate logistics were a mess (gate was used by an unsigned flight to SAN first (!) ... lots of time spent weight balancing the flight because of an inoperable baggage hold (initial loading should have taken that into account, since plane had been flying that way that day) ... and then plane had to go back to gate for more fuel because of SFO delays (easily could have been done - and foreseen - while reweighting the plane). Airline came across as extremely disorganized. Note: on-board experience was fine ...

Book cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Cheapest flights to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. found in 2024

Recent one-way flight deals

 
Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
4/6Tue
1 stopJetBlue
12h 01mDCA-SFO
£89
10/5Fri
1 stopFrontier
14h 28mBWI-SFO
£92
29/5Wed
1 stopJetBlue
12h 26mDCA-SFO
£94
26/5Sun
1 stopAlaska Airlines
9h 39mBWI-SFO
£115
4/6Tue
1 stopAlaska Airlines
7h 37mIAD-SFO
£118
7/6Fri
1 stopDelta
8h 38mBWI-SFO
£119
29/5Wed
1 stopAlaska Airlines
12h 58mIAD-SFO
£119
5/6Wed
1 stopDelta
11h 27mIAD-SFO
£123
19/9Thu
1 stopSun Country Air
9h 17mIAD-SFO
£126
22/7Mon
1 stopSun Country Air
19h 06mIAD-SFO
£130

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Last minute flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

 
These last-minute flight deals are the cheapest flights found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that are departing in the next 10 days.
7/5Tue
multi-stopDelta
8h 33mBWI-SFO
7/5Tue
multi-stopDelta
7h 19mSFO-BWI
£336
3/5Fri
multi-stopDelta
7h 58mBWI-SFO
9/5Thu
multi-stopDelta
7h 12mSFO-BWI
£399
4/5Sat
multi-stopDelta
8h 45mBWI-SFO
6/5Mon
multi-stopDelta
7h 19mSFO-BWI
£403
7/5Tue
directUnited Airlines
6h 10mBWI-SFO
21/5Tue
directUnited Airlines
5h 28mSFO-BWI
£435
7/5Tue
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
8h 06mIAD-SFO
8/5Wed
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
7h 59mSFO-IAD
£445
7/5Tue
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
9h 06mIAD-SFO
10/5Fri
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
7h 10mSFO-IAD
£455
3/5Fri
directUnited Airlines
6h 10mBWI-SFO
12/5Sun
multi-stopUnited Airlines
8h 31mSFO-BWI
£487
2/5Thu
multi-stopJetBlue
13h 57mDCA-SFO
5/5Sun
multi-stopJetBlue
9h 12mSFO-DCA
£611
6/5Mon
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
8h 46mIAD-SFO
7/5Tue
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
7h 14mSFO-IAD
£625
6/5Mon
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
8h 13mDCA-SFO
7/5Tue
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
8h 07mSFO-DCA
£625

Search by stops

Search by airline

Search by price

Washington, D.C. - San Francisco Flights

Destination:

San Francisco (SFO)United States

Return flight deals:

San Francisco - Washington, D.C.

Cabin classes:

£1,376
£318

Browse origins:

  • Flights » 
  • Washington, D.C.

Browse destinations:

  • Flights » 
  • Worldwide » 
  • San Francisco