San Francisco

$145+ Cheap flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco (IND - SFO)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 11/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
IND — SFO
Aug 19 — Aug 261
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Indianapolis to San Francisco are usually found in February or January, booked 78 days in advance, depart on a Friday or Thursday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Indianapolis to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Indianapolis (IND) to San Francisco (SFO). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated August 14, 2025.

Round-trip from

$289
(Delta)

One-way from

$145
(Southwest)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$374

Good round-trip deal

$410 or less

Good one-way deal

$448 or less
From Indianapolis to San Francisco
One-way flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco
High demand for flights, 3% potential price rise
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in August 2025
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco.
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco.

Find flight deals from Indianapolis to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Indianapolis to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on August 14, 2025.

This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 9/124:35 pmIND - SFO
1 stop7h 52mDelta
Mon 9/1511:00 pmSFO - IND
1 stop7h 52mDelta
Deal found 8/13$289
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/302:10 pmIND - SFO
2 stops11h 25mSouthwest
Mon 11/36:10 amSFO - IND
2 stops13h 50mSouthwest
Deal found 8/13$290
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/14. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 9/42:30 pmIND - SFO
1 stop7h 46mAmerican Airlines
Tue 9/912:47 amSFO - IND
1 stop6h 33mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 8/14$291
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 8/1811:45 amIND - SFO
2 stops14h 29mFrontier
Sun 8/2410:29 pmSFO - IND
1 stop9h 22mFrontier
Deal found 8/13$292
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 8/218:59 pmIND - SFO
1 stop6h 20mFrontier
Sun 8/2410:29 pmSFO - IND
1 stop9h 22mFrontier
Deal found 8/13$293
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 8/228:59 pmIND - SFO
1 stop28h 34mFrontier
Sun 8/2411:55 pmSFO - IND
1 stop18h 41mFrontier
Deal found 8/13$294
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/14. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/93:33 pmIND - SFO
2 stops11h 41mFrontier
Sun 10/1210:23 pmSFO - IND
1 stop9h 18mFrontier
Deal found 8/14$295
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 8/218:59 pmIND - SFO
1 stop6h 20mFrontier
Fri 8/2210:11 pmSFO - IND
2 stops14h 29mFrontier
Deal found 8/13$296
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/14. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 8/1811:45 amIND - SFO
2 stops14h 29mFrontier
Mon 8/258:51 amSFO - IND
1 stop8h 23mFrontier
Deal found 8/14$297
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 8/198:00 amIND - SFO
1 stop17h 33mFrontier
Fri 8/229:21 amSFO - IND
1 stop27h 19mFrontier
Deal found 8/13$298
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 9/76:00 amIND - SFO
1 stop7h 10mDelta
Mon 9/812:35 amSFO - IND
1 stop7h 57mDelta
Deal found 8/13$299

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated August 14, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Indianapolis

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Thu 10/2

6:51 pm-11:57 pm

1 stop8h 06m

San Francisco

Tue 10/7

12:03 pm-11:29 pm

1 stop8h 26m

$289

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Wed 9/10

6:00 am-10:05 am

1 stop7h 05m

San Francisco

Sat 9/13

12:43 am-11:02 am

1 stop7h 19m

$289

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Wed 9/17

6:30 am-1:44 pm

1 stop10h 14m

San Francisco

Thu 9/18

8:00 am-5:10 am

1 stop18h 10m

$289

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Thu 10/2

5:00 pm-11:09 pm

1 stop9h 09m

San Francisco

Sat 10/4

12:45 am-11:32 am

1 stop7h 47m

$289

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Thu 9/11

6:00 am-10:05 am

1 stop7h 05m

San Francisco

Sat 9/13

12:43 am-11:02 am

1 stop7h 19m

$289

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Wed 9/3

12:00 pm-6:52 pm

1 stop9h 52m

San Francisco

Sat 9/6

1:20 pm-10:28 pm

1 stop6h 08m

$289

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Tue 9/9

7:22 am-1:30 pm

1 stop9h 08m

San Francisco

Tue 9/16

11:57 pm-11:11 am

1 stop8h 14m

$289

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Thu 9/11

7:10 am-12:12 pm

1 stop8h 02m

San Francisco

Tue 9/16

1:20 pm-10:58 pm

1 stop6h 38m

$289

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Thu 9/25

7:33 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop7h 26m

San Francisco

Mon 9/29

12:45 am-11:32 am

1 stop7h 47m

$289

IndianapolisSan Francisco

IND - SFO

INDSFO

Indianapolis

Thu 9/25

6:51 pm-11:57 pm

1 stop8h 06m

San Francisco

Sat 9/27

12:45 am-11:32 am

1 stop7h 47m

$289

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 8/12

Showing 1-10 of 20 results
1
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The best insider tips for Indianapolis to San Francisco flights

Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of Cheapflights-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Indianapolis to San Francisco trip
Airports
IND

IND's security lines are efficient, with an average wait time of less than 3 minutes. Check wait times online before heading to the airport.

Read more about INDby Barbara Noe Kennedy
SFO

Use BART for an affordable 40-minute trip from SFO to downtown San Francisco. Access it via the free AirTrain to the Garage G/Bart station.

Read more about SFOby Harriet Baskas
Our travel experts
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on SFO

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Read more
Barbara Noe Kennedy

Barbara Noe Kennedy

Expert on IND

Barbara Noe Kennedy

Barbara Noe Kennedy

Award-winning travel journalist Barbara Noe Kennedy writes about destinations around the world—but her heart is in her home state of Virginia, where she’s always researching her next travel story.

Read more

Best time to book a flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco from Indianapolis with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco

How far ahead should I book a flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on August 8, 2025.

The best time to book flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco is 78 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Indianapolis to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $358). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from IND to SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Indianapolis to San Francisco. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated August 14, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco in the morning. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 50% on your trip compared to booking a flight at noon.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Indianapolis to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on August 10, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Indianapolis to San Francisco flight should consider departing on Wednesday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday at noon flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Indianapolis to San Francisco

Explore weekly flight availability from Indianapolis to San Francisco. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated August 14, 2025.

The most flights from IND to SFO are scheduled on a Thursday (9 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (2 on average).

Reviews of airlines servicing San Francisco

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to San Francisco. Reviews last updated August 14, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Indianapolis to San Francisco by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
8.0
Very good

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Indianapolis to San Francisco. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • What airports do I use to fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    San Francisco is the airport most travelers will use when flying to San Francisco from Indianapolis. Booking flights from Indianapolis (IND) to San Francisco (SFO) should be relatively easy as there are 6 daily flights to San Francisco from 6 different airlines. 4h 45m is how long a flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco will take if you book a nonstop flight.

  • How popular is this Indianapolis to San Francisco flight route?

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Indianapolis to San Francisco round-trip?

    Currently priced at $129, Frontier will fly you from Indianapolis to San Francisco and back. In addition to Frontier, many other airlines offer competitively priced options for your trip. Search Cheapflights for deals from Sun Country Air and Delta - these airlines can fly you to your destination from $192 and $236, respectively. You may be able to fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco for 65% less than the average price by searching for these airlines.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    The top 3 most reliable airlines when flying from Indianapolis to San Francisco are Virgin Australia (83%), Air New Zealand (83%) and United Airlines (80%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco? While on average our users pay $746, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $298. The most popular route (Indianapolis - San Francisco), is priced around $189.

  • Where are the most common layover locations when flying from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

  • What are some popular things to do or see while on a layover in Denver?

    The majority of Denver visitors spend their time at Coors Field, 16th Street Mall, and Paramount Theatre. Those on a layover in Denver interested in visiting Coors Field, 16th Street Mall, or Paramount Theatre can do so by traveling 18.4 mi, 18.7 mi, and 18.6 mi, respectively from Denver Intl. Those looking to explore during their layover in Denver can rent a car from Denver Intl for about $57 per day.

  • What are some popular points of interest to see during a layover in Minneapolis?

    Minneapolis Armory, Orpheum Theatre, and State Theatre are currently the most popular points of interest in Minneapolis at the moment. Minneapolis Armory, Orpheum Theatre, and State Theatre can be visited by traveling about 7.0 mi, 7.3 mi, and 7.3 mi respectively from Minneapolis St Paul. Those on a layover in Minneapolis in need of a rental car can book one at Minneapolis St Paul for about $77.

  • Where are the least popular layover locations for Indianapolis to San Francisco flights?

  • Can I find deals for flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Indianapolis to San Francisco flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Indianapolis to San Francisco by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Indianapolis to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $358). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near San Francisco?

Book flights to San Francisco if you plan to visit one of these locations
Roseville
Santa Cruz
Livermore
South San Francisco
Mountain View
Turlock
Santa Clara
Hollister
Antioch
Watsonville
Manteca
Sunnyvale
Newark
Milpitas
Campbell
Foster City
San Leandro
Burlingame
Redwood City
Vallejo

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Alternative routes for Indianapolis to San Francisco

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top 6 airlines flying from Indianapolis to San Francisco

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated August 14, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$129Average$233FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Sun Country AirCheapest$192Average$375FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time83%
DeltaCheapest$236Average$290FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$236Average$341FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$269Average$419FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$288Average$436FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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