San Francisco

$149+ Cheap flights from Raleigh to San Francisco (RDU - 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 12/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
RDU — SFO
Dec 6 — Dec 131
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Find cheap flights from Raleigh to San Francisco with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco are usually found in July or January, booked 46 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Raleigh to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Raleigh (RDU) 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 November 6, 2025.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$289
(United Airlines)

One-way from

$149
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

July

Average price

$419

Good round-trip deal

$389 or less

Good one-way deal

$323 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Raleigh-Durham-San Francisco flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Raleigh-Durham-San Francisco flights.
From Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco
One-way flight from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 3% potential increase in price ($13 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($5 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in November 2025
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco.
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco.

Find flight deals from Raleigh to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Raleigh to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Raleigh to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on November 6, 2025.

This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/6. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/118:49 amRDU - SFO
Nonstop6h 09mUnited Airlines
Mon 12/158:15 amSFO - RDU
Nonstop5h 05mUnited Airlines
Deal found 11/6$289
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/5. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/105:10 pmRDU - SFO
1 stop9h 49mJetBlue
Thu 12/118:15 amSFO - RDU
1 stop9h 57mJetBlue
Deal found 11/5$291
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/5. 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.
Sat 11/225:33 pmRDU - SFO
1 stop9h 51mFrontier
Fri 11/286:32 amSFO - RDU
1 stop6h 59mFrontier
Deal found 11/5$293
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/5. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/166:40 amRDU - SFO
Nonstop6h 05mUnited Airlines
Wed 1/712:55 pmSFO - RDU
1 stop7h 20mUnited Airlines
Deal found 11/5$295
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/6. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 12/1312:47 pmRDU - SFO
1 stop24h 07mFrontier
Thu 1/16:24 amSFO - RDU
2 stops26h 56mFrontier
Deal found 11/6$296
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/5. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 11/136:00 amRDU - SFO
1 stop9h 15mFrontier
Sun 11/161:10 pmSFO - RDU
1 stop7h 45mFrontier
Deal found 11/5$297
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/4. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/191:15 pmRDU - SFO
2 stops21h 33mFrontier
Thu 12/2511:20 pmSFO - RDU
1 stop10h 00mFrontier
Deal found 11/4$298
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/6. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/116:26 pmRDU - SFO
1 stop8h 58mFrontier
Mon 12/156:30 amSFO - RDU
1 stop8h 01mFrontier
Deal found 11/6$302
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/5. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/186:00 amRDU - SFO
2 stops17h 30mMultiple Airlines
Sun 1/411:20 pmSFO - RDU
1 stop10h 00mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/5$303
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/4. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 12/2011:40 amRDU - SFO
2 stops23h 08mFrontier
Thu 12/2511:20 pmSFO - RDU
1 stop10h 00mFrontier
Deal found 11/4$306

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Raleigh 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 November 6, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Raleigh to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Raleigh

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Thu 12/11

8:49 am-11:58 am

Nonstop6h 09m

San Francisco

Mon 12/15

8:15 am-4:20 pm

Nonstop5h 05m

$289

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Thu 12/4

6:40 am-9:45 am

Nonstop6h 05m

San Francisco

Thu 12/11

11:20 pm-7:22 am

Nonstop5h 02m

$289

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Thu 12/11

8:49 am-11:58 am

Nonstop6h 09m

San Francisco

Sun 12/14

1:30 pm-9:39 pm

Nonstop5h 09m

$289

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Fri 1/16

6:15 pm-9:26 pm

Nonstop6h 11m

San Francisco

Fri 1/23

11:20 pm-7:30 am

Nonstop5h 10m

$289

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Sun 12/7

8:49 am-11:58 am

Nonstop6h 09m

San Francisco

Sat 12/13

11:19 am-11:44 pm

1 stop9h 25m

$299

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Sat 12/13

6:40 am-9:45 am

Nonstop6h 05m

San Francisco

Thu 1/1

11:35 pm-10:32 am

1 stop7h 57m

$299

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Sun 12/7

7:15 am-12:36 pm

1 stop8h 21m

San Francisco

Fri 12/12

12:30 am-10:49 am

1 stop7h 19m

$309

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Sat 1/24

10:15 am-7:20 pm

2 stops12h 05m

San Francisco

Mon 2/2

9:50 am-10:00 pm

2 stops9h 10m

$319

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Thu 1/29

6:50 am-3:30 pm

2 stops11h 40m

San Francisco

Mon 2/2

7:40 am-10:00 pm

2 stops11h 20m

$319

RaleighSan Francisco

RDU - SFO

RDUSFO

Raleigh-Durham

Tue 11/18

8:45 am-11:54 am

Nonstop6h 09m

San Francisco

Sun 12/7

11:20 pm-7:22 am

Nonstop5h 02m

$329

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 11/6

Showing 1-10 of 21 results
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Compare providers for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Raleigh to San Francisco in November.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
JustAirTicketPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*1 star

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Raleigh-San Francisco flights, users find the pricing of eDreams to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. eDreams Users can find the same prices on Raleigh-San Francisco flight deals on Cheapflights vs. eDreams >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Raleigh-San Francisco flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Raleigh-San Francisco flights, Cheapflights users trust eDreams the most. eDreams has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Raleigh-San Francisco flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Raleigh to San Francisco

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to San Francisco

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Raleigh to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on October 31, 2025.

Booking 46 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Raleigh to San Francisco. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

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

Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Raleigh to San Francisco (average of $147). Flying from Raleigh to San Francisco in December is currently the most expensive (average of $264). 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 RDU to SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Raleigh 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 November 6, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco at noon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 70% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the evening.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Raleigh to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on November 2, 2025.

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

The best insider tips for Raleigh 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 Raleigh to San Francisco trip
Airports
RDU

RDU's efficient layout makes navigating its two terminals easy. Know your terminal in advance for a smooth departure experience.

Read more about RDUby John Walton
SFO

Use BART for an affordable 40-minute trip from SFO to downtown San Francisco. Purchase a Clipper Card for easy fare payment.

Read more about SFOby Harriet Baskas
Our travel experts
John Walton

John Walton

Expert on RDU

John Walton

John Walton

Independent aviation journalist John Walton took his first flight at eight weeks old and hasn’t stopped travelling since. A world-renowned expert in airlines and the passenger experience, he writes in depth on aviation, is a resident expert on travel in Japan and France, and offers a uniquely queer perspective on travelling the world.

Read more
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

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 November 6, 2025.
See what other customers who have flown with Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Raleigh to San Francisco have to say. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

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.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

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.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

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.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

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.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

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.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh to San Francisco?

    To fly from Raleigh to San Francisco, you need to book a flight from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to San Francisco (SFO). Nonstop flights to San Francisco from Raleigh-Durham take 5h 42m on average. When it comes time to book airfare, you have a few options: there are 6 outbound flights from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco offered by 6 different airlines.

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

  • How long is the flight from Raleigh to San Francisco?

    Departing from Raleigh to San Francisco will take you 6h 09m. Raleigh and San Francisco are separated by a distance of 2393 mi. Generally, flights for this route are nonstop.

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

    Flying on JetBlue is currently your cheapest option to San Francisco, with prices starting at $131. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Frontier and American Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $141 and $194, respectively. JetBlue is currently priced 67% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

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

    Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from Raleigh to San Francisco on time: Virgin Australia (89%), United Airlines (89%), Air New Zealand (89%).

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

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $208. While the most popular route (Raleigh-Durham - San Francisco) can be booked for $190 on average, our data indicates $1,293 when flying from Raleigh to San Francisco.

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

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

    Most Atlanta visitors opt to spend their time experiencing Georgia Aquarium, Fox Theatre, and Centennial Olympic Park. Those on a layover in Atlanta interested in visiting Georgia Aquarium, Fox Theatre, or Centennial Olympic Park can do so by traveling 8.6 mi, 9.3 mi, and 8.4 mi, respectively from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. Those landing in Atlanta looking to spend some time exploring during their layover can rent a car for about $59 per day.

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

    Coors Field, 16th Street Mall, and Paramount Theatre are currently the most popular points of interest in Denver at the moment. Coors Field, 16th Street Mall, and Paramount Theatre can be accessed by traveling approximately 18.4 mi, 18.7 mi, and 18.6 mi, respectively from Denver Intl. Those on a layover in Denver in need of a rental car can book one at Denver Intl for about $50.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to San Francisco?

    Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Raleigh to San Francisco (average of $147). Flying from Raleigh to San Francisco in December is currently the most expensive (average of $264). 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
South San Francisco
Santa Cruz
Livermore
Turlock
Manteca
Watsonville
Sunnyvale
Santa Clara
Vallejo
Hollister
San Bruno
Foster City
Redwood City
Union City
Burlingame
Lodi
San Mateo
Vacaville
Lathrop

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Alternative routes for Raleigh to San Francisco

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

Top 6 airlines flying from Raleigh to San Francisco

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Raleigh 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 November 6, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetBlueCheapest$131Average$282FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
FrontierCheapest$141Average$244FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
American AirlinesCheapest$194Average$355FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$218Average$390FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
DeltaCheapest$276Average$317FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$289Average$426FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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