Cheap Flights from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International

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Flight deals from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International Airport? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from $418. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Washington D.C. to San Francisco International flights are currently cheapest in August.

Direct flights from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International

Washington D.C. to San Francisco: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$417
Cheapest month to flyJuly
Average flight time5 hrs, 53 mins
Most popular airlineUnited
Average flights per week704

Finding cheap flights from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International is $417. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
5 hours and 53 minutes is the average flight time from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International.
United, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia fly direct from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International.
As of June 2026, there are 352 flights per week flying from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International.
The cheapest month to fly from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International is usually July.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Washington D.C. to San Francisco International Airport on Monday, 27 July 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 5 hours and 53 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to San Francisco International but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to San Francisco is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

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)

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

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.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.