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

Direct flights cover the 2,434 miles separating Washington, D.C. to San Francisco in about 5h 48m .

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

Each day, there are between 12 and 15 direct flights that take off from Washington, D.C. and land in San Francisco, with an average flight time of 6h 08m. The most common departure time is 18:00 and most flights take off in the morning. Each week, there are 99 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Monday, when 15% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Saturday.

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

In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco was £154 for a one-way ticket and £315 for a return.

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

Washington, D.C. and San Francisco are connected by different airlines. The airlines that fly that route the most regularly are United Airlines (86 flights per week), Alaska Airlines (7 flights per week), and Southwest (6 flights per week).

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.

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 06:15 and will be landing in San Francisco at 09:22.

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 22:20 and lands at 01:29.

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

Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue offer 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.

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.

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

The cheapest month for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is February , where tickets cost £299 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and October, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is £434 and £427 respectively.

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.

How often are flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco delayed?

Weekly flights between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco historically see delays in approximately 18% of cases , with the average delay over the past year being 186 minutes.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights?

Based on our data, United Airlines have experienced the fewest delays on this route in the past 12 months, with only about 16% of their flights encountering any delays.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Statistically, Tuesday is the day of the week with the fewest delays on this flight route, while Thursday has typically experienced more delays than other days.

What is the most punctual flight time for Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights?

Typically, flights leaving in the morning tend to face fewer delays, whereas flights in the evening have historically encountered delays more often.

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

There are 2 cabin class options for the route. These are Economy and Prem Economy . Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

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

In the past 5 days, the cheapest return tickets from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco were found on Alaska Airlines (£315) and Delta (£319).

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

The cheapest return flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco costs £377 on the route between Washington, D.C. Reagan-National Airport (DCA) and San Francisco (SFO) . Over the past month, this route was, on average, 34% cheaper than other Washington, D.C.-San Francisco routes. The most popular route is between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport (IAD) and San Francisco (SFO).

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

To get a below average price on the flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, you should book around 4 weeks before departure , which saves you about 49% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 26 weeks before departure.

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

Yes , flying with a stopover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop stopover the cheapest option at £227 on average.

How much is a return flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Flight prices are below average for this route right now. Flights to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. usually cost between £336 and £532 in November. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was £315 on Alaska Airlines (23 Nov–1 Dec).

£154 CHEAP FLIGHTS from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco (WAS - SFO)

Save 34% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

Cheapest return fare

£315

Typical prices: £334-£545

Alaska Airlines

Mon 23/11Tue 1/12

IAD - SFO • 2 stops

Cheapest direct flights

£326

Typical prices: £341-£557

Alaska Airlines

Sat 5/12Wed 9/12

DCA - SFO • Direct

Advice from real travellers

AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts and KAYAK users. AI can make mistakes.

On Alaska, reserve seat selection early and bring a device; no seatback screens.

Pack light and keep your boarding pass handy; bring snacks for the flight.

Expert advice

Direct flights

Every day

You can fly direct with Alaska Airlines and United Airlines. Average duration is 6h 08m

Direct flights

Top routes

DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

Cheapest • 34% average savings

IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

Most popular

Insights

Avoid delays

United Airlines

Most punctual • 84% on-time

Morning flights

Best time • Fewest delays

Insights

When to book

4 weeks

in advance

Our data shows that travellers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 49% compared to booking last minute.

Insights

When to travel

February

Cheapest • 23% price drop

June

Most popular

Good to know

Start a new search

KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.

We hope you love your trip to San Francisco!

Flight Deals

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

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Return

One-way

Last minute

Direct

Recent return flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Mon, 23 Nov - Tue, 1 Dec

18:39 - 08:41IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

17h 02m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

06:00 - 16:15SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

31h 15m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl

£315Alaska Airlines

Fri, 4 Dec - Wed, 9 Dec

07:00 - 14:12IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

10h 12m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl

06:00 - 17:39SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

8h 39m1 stop San Diego

£315Alaska Airlines

Sat, 5 Dec - Sat, 12 Dec

15:00 - 23:43IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

11h 43m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Seattle/Tacoma Intl

06:00 - 19:59SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

10h 59m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl

£319Delta

Mon, 7 Dec - Tue, 15 Dec

16:25 - 23:43DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

10h 18m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl

10:41 - 23:34SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

9h 53m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

£319Delta

Mon, 14 Dec - Wed, 16 Dec

18:42 - 13:51IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

22h 09m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

06:00 - 17:39SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

8h 39m1 stop San Diego

£320Alaska Airlines

Wed, 16 Dec - Tue, 5 Jan

08:00 - 18:07DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

13h 07m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl

09:46 - 17:59SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

5h 13mdirect

£321Alaska Airlines

Tue, 2 Feb - Sun, 7 Feb

09:00 - 15:33DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

9h 33m1 stop Boston Logan Intl

07:30 - 18:57SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

8h 27m1 stop Boston Logan Intl

£322JetBlue

Wed, 6 Jan - Fri, 8 Jan

18:53 - 09:15IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

17h 22m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

16:01 - 17:50SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

22h 49m1 stop San Diego

£322Alaska Airlines

Thu, 3 Dec - Fri, 4 Dec

13:00 - 19:32DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

9h 32m1 stop Boston Logan Intl

08:00 - 21:08SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

10h 08m1 stop Fort Lauderdale

£323JetBlue

Fri, 4 Dec - Mon, 7 Dec

15:00 - 23:43IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

11h 43m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Seattle/Tacoma Intl

10:41 - 00:41SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

11h 00m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

£323Delta

Recent last minute flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Sat, 7 Nov - Sun, 8 Nov

18:59 - 22:06DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

6h 07mdirect

06:00 - 20:00SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

11h 00m1 stop Los Angeles

£564Alaska Airlines

Sun, 8 Nov - Sun, 6 Dec

18:46 - 12:16IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

20h 30m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

14:49 - 17:39SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

23h 50m1 stop San Diego

£589Alaska Airlines

Tue, 10 Nov - Thu, 10 Dec

08:23 - 13:30IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

8h 07m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

08:10 - 16:08SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

4h 58mdirect

£599United Airlines

Mon, 9 Nov - Mon, 7 Dec

18:40 - 00:10DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

8h 30m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

20:00 - 08:20SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

9h 20m2 stops Los Angeles Nashville Intl

£609Southwest

Sat, 7 Nov - Sat, 14 Nov

17:17 - 12:16IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

21h 59m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

18:10 - 17:40SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

20h 30m1 stop San Diego

£614Alaska Airlines

Sat, 7 Nov - Sat, 14 Nov

18:46 - 12:16IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

20h 30m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

07:00 - 05:44SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

19h 44m2 stops Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty Seattle/Tacoma Intl

£618Alaska Airlines

Tue, 10 Nov - Thu, 10 Dec

17:38 - 20:35IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

5h 57mdirect

08:10 - 16:08SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

4h 58mdirect

£624United Airlines

Fri, 6 Nov - Tue, 10 Nov

18:46 - 12:16IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

20h 30m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

10:00 - 05:44SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

16h 44m2 stops Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl Seattle/Tacoma Intl

£626Alaska Airlines

Fri, 6 Nov - Mon, 9 Nov

18:46 - 12:16IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

20h 30m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

19:19 - 17:40SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

19h 21m2 stops Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl San Diego

£634Alaska Airlines

Mon, 9 Nov - Mon, 7 Dec

06:15 - 09:19IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

6h 04mdirect

22:35 - 06:43SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

5h 08mdirect

£639United Airlines

Recent direct flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Sat, 5 Dec - Wed, 9 Dec

18:59 - 22:21DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

6h 22mdirect

09:53 - 17:59SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

5h 06mdirect

£326Alaska Airlines

Sat, 5 Dec - Wed, 9 Dec

16:26 - 19:37IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

6h 11mdirect

13:50 - 21:57SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

5h 07mdirect

£326United Airlines

Tue, 22 Dec - Tue, 5 Jan

06:00 - 09:11IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

6h 11mdirect

10:50 - 19:05SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

5h 15mdirect

£332United Airlines

Sat, 30 Jan - Mon, 8 Feb

18:59 - 22:18DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

6h 19mdirect

09:46 - 17:59SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

5h 13mdirect

£341Alaska Airlines

Fri, 25 Dec - Tue, 29 Dec

06:00 - 09:11IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

6h 11mdirect

23:59 - 08:10SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

5h 11mdirect

£341United Airlines

Mon, 21 Dec - Tue, 5 Jan

17:53 - 21:07DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

6h 14mdirect

14:19 - 22:30SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

5h 11mdirect

£347United Airlines

Fri, 25 Dec - Fri, 25 Dec

06:00 - 09:11IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

6h 11mdirect

10:18 - 18:32SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

5h 14mdirect

£352United Airlines

Tue, 22 Dec - Tue, 5 Jan

22:13 - 01:30IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

6h 17mdirect

10:50 - 19:05SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

5h 15mdirect

£354United Airlines

Tue, 22 Dec - Tue, 29 Dec

22:13 - 01:30IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco

6h 17mdirect

23:59 - 08:10SFO San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

5h 11mdirect

£355United Airlines

Wed, 2 Dec - Sat, 5 Dec

18:59 - 22:21DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National-SFO San Francisco

6h 22mdirect

09:53 - 17:59SFO San Francisco-DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

5h 06mdirect

£356Alaska Airlines

Booking Insights

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights

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.

Prices

Airlines

Delays

How much is a return flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco? This analysis is based on the cheapest return trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco departing in November.
What is the cheapest Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flight route? Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.: The cheapest return flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco costs £377 on the route between Washington, D.C. Reagan-National Airport (DCA) and San Francisco (SFO). Over the past month, this route was, on average, 34% cheaper than other Washington, D.C.-San Francisco routes. The most popular route is between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport (IAD) and San Francisco (SFO).
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 round-trip 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 £299 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and October, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is £434 and £427 respectively.
Can I save money by flying with a stopover from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco? The average return 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.: Yes, flying with a stopover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop stopover the cheapest option at £227 on average.
How far in advance should I book a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco? To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip 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 week.: To get a below average price on the flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 49% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 26 weeks before departure.

Find deals

Expert advice

Our travel experts

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specialising in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favourite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history.

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on IAD

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or out at sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Low season	January
High season	June
Cheapest flight	£154

Best time to beat the crowds (17% less expensive on average)

Most popular time to fly (9% 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.

Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines-Jan 2025

Reserve your plane seat & bring something to eat in the plane.

PhallyFlew with Alaska Airlines-Oct 2024

Don't take too much stuff. Make sure to have the necessary documents or boarding pass ready.

NoamFlew with Alaska Airlines-Aug 2024

Flying to the Ronald Reagan airport is closer and faster to D.C. than the Dulles airport.

DeniseFlew with Alaska Airlines-May 2024

Bring your own device. No screens on the seatbacks.

What is the cheapest flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?
In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco was £154 for a one-way ticket and £315 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?
Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue offer 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.
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.

Direct departures

Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Monday