Flying from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): What you need to know
Begin planning your trip by checking out the ideal departure point for your flight from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Explore your options for setting off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) or Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), the city's main airports.
Expect to be in the air for 6 hours 5 minutes. That's the average time for a direct Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport flight.
San Francisco is three hours behind Washington DC. San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco, which operates on the UTC-8 timezone.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the most popular route. There are 20 direct departures a week to pick from. If you prefer to head out later, take the last flight with Alaska Airlines at 6:59pm. Go for the first DCA to SFO departure operated by United Airlines at 7am if you want to get going earlier.
Leave enough time to make your flight from Washington DC to SFO. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
If you're flying during a peak month like July, be at the airport even earlier. It's smart to arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures. Security lines will be longer during peak periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
Airports in Washington DC
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) provides a hassle-free way to reach your destination. Nonstop flights from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) leave from this terminal.
You'll find a direct flight from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport with United Airlines. This popular carrier offers services from DCA.
United sees the most traveller bookings for flights from DCA to SFO.
Alaska Airlines is the most punctual carrier on this route, with 79.66% of its services arriving on schedule.
Travelling from central Washington DC to DCA takes about 25 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a taxi, you'll cover the 6 kilometres in 10 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want an easy start to your break? Stay near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
When it comes to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's on-time performance, data shows 71% of flights complete their journey on time.
You'll find DCA at 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
You can book a direct Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) plane ticket out of Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Decide if leaving from IAD is a better fit for your trip.
You can board a direct flight from Washington DC to SFO with United Airlines. This is one of the top carriers flying this route out of IAD.
On the IAD to SFO route, United is the go-to airline for most travellers.
The top carrier for punctuality is United. Its Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport flights arrive as planned 78.78% of the time.
IAD is about 40 kilometres from central Washington DC. It'll take 45 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before catching your Washington DC to SFO flight? Kick back in a hotel near Washington Dulles International Airport before your trip officially starts. These stays have your key waiting:
Washington Dulles International Airport has an on-time performance of 77%. This figure gives an insight into how often flights departing from this airport reach their destination on schedule.
You'll find IAD at 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)
Get there with one smooth ride from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI). Direct flights from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport are available from here.
Get ready for takeoff with United Airlines. It offers direct Washington DC to SFO plane tickets from BWI.
United is the airline with the highest passenger demand for flights from BWI to SFO.
The carrier with the top on-time arrival performance on this route is United.
The trip to BWI from central Washington DC is around 50 minutes on public transport. If you're going by car, it'll take you about 40 minutes to cover the 48 kilometres or so.
Stay in bed a little longer and still make your Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport flight with plenty of time to spare. These hotels near Baltimore Washington International Airport make getting to the terminal a breeze if you're flying out first thing:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that monitors how often flights touch down without delays. At BWI, that figure is 77%.
About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Reserve a hotel close to SFO if you have a late flight from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport. Select one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your ride around one week before your Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport flight.
Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport is around 21 kilometres from central San Francisco. It takes around 25 minutes or so to get to the city by car.
Travelling on public transport will take you roughly 35 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Right now, $208 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is $417. Remember fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
Don't leave things to the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap flights from Washington DC to SFO if you book ahead. Airlines often offer some excellent early bird discounts.
If you can be flexible with your trip dates, try using the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll show you the lowest price in each month when searching for your Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport ticket.
Locking in a cheap plane ticket from Washington DC to SFO is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as prices go down.
Find an affordable flight from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport by using the search filters. Select your preferred duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
July is when most people book flights from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Plan your visit to San Francisco in December for a more low-key escape.
Before locking in your Washington DC to SFO plane ticket, consider the kind of weather you prefer. September is the warmest month in San Francisco, with temperatures ranging from 12ºC to 24ºC.
January has temperatures of between 5ºC and 16ºC. Look for cheap tickets from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about San Francisco
Once you've booked your flight from Washington DC to San Francisco International Airport, find a hotel that puts you in a great location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring San Francisco:
You'll find loads of fantastic things to do in San Francisco when you're in the mood to sightsee. Kick things off at Golden Gate Bridge followed by Painted Ladies - Alamo Square and Alcatraz Island.
Explore more of the United States
You've done San Francisco, now it's time to explore more of the United States. Travel about 257 kilometres east to Fresno to check off its popular sights. From Forestiere Underground Gardens to Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
Around 129 kilometres northeast of San Francisco, Sacramento is another essential stop in the United States. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park and Crocker Art Museum.