San Francisco

$128+ Cheap flights from Dulles Intl (IAD) to San Francisco (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 7/30. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
IAD — SFO
Jul 30 — Aug 61
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Francisco are usually found in May or August, booked 31 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Dulles Intl to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Dulles Intl (IAD) 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 July 25, 2025.

Round-trip from

$267
(Hawaiian Airlines)

One-way from

$129
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$427

Good round-trip deal

$443 or less

Good one-way deal

$288 or less
From Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Francisco
One-way flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Francisco
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 11% potential increase in price ($53 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($10 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Francisco.
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Francisco.

Find flight deals from Dulles Intl to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Dulles Intl to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Dulles Intl to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on July 25, 2025.

This Hawaiian Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/22. 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 Hawaiian Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 8/138:10 amIAD - SFO
Nonstop5h 45mHawaiian Airlines
Tue 8/2610:08 amSFO - IAD
1 stop11h 12mHawaiian Airlines
Deal found 7/22$267
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/24. 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 CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 8/67:30 amIAD - SFO
1 stop16h 51mFrontier
Sat 8/1610:29 pmSFO - IAD
1 stop13h 59mFrontier
Deal found 7/24$268
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/24. 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.
Wed 9/106:15 amIAD - SFO
1 stop7h 42mDelta
Mon 9/1510:55 pmSFO - IAD
1 stop17h 42mDelta
Deal found 7/24$275
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/22. 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.
Wed 8/2710:25 amIAD - SFO
2 stops10h 45mAmerican Airlines
Tue 9/211:30 pmSFO - IAD
1 stop7h 37mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 7/22$282
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/24. 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 8/193:00 pmIAD - SFO
Nonstop5h 49mUnited Airlines
Mon 8/259:10 pmSFO - IAD
Nonstop5h 14mUnited Airlines
Deal found 7/24$287
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/22. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/107:00 amIAD - SFO
1 stop9h 38mAlaska Airlines
Tue 12/165:45 pmSFO - IAD
1 stop9h 10mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 7/22$296
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/23. 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 8/164:07 pmIAD - SFO
1 stop8h 21mMultiple Airlines
Sat 8/236:00 amSFO - IAD
1 stop7h 47mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/23$301

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Dulles Intl 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 July 25, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Dulles Intl

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 8/13

8:10 am-10:55 am

Nonstop5h 45m

San Francisco

Tue 8/26

10:08 am-12:20 am

1 stop11h 12m

$267

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 8/6

7:30 am-9:21 pm

1 stop16h 51m

San Francisco

Sat 8/16

10:29 pm-3:28 pm

1 stop13h 59m

$268

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 9/10

6:15 am-10:57 am

1 stop7h 42m

San Francisco

Mon 9/15

10:55 pm-7:37 pm

1 stop17h 42m

$275

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 8/27

10:25 am-6:10 pm

2 stops10h 45m

San Francisco

Tue 9/2

11:30 pm-10:07 am

1 stop7h 37m

$282

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Tue 8/19

3:00 pm-5:49 pm

Nonstop5h 49m

San Francisco

Mon 8/25

9:10 pm-5:24 am

Nonstop5h 14m

$287

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Sat 8/16

4:07 pm-9:28 pm

1 stop8h 21m

San Francisco

Sat 8/23

6:00 am-4:47 pm

1 stop7h 47m

$301

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Fri 9/12

6:09 pm-12:04 am

1 stop8h 55m

San Francisco

Tue 9/16

6:00 am-4:52 pm

1 stop7h 52m

$306

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 7/30

7:30 am-12:15 pm

1 stop7h 45m

$128

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Tue 8/26

7:00 am-1:46 pm

1 stop9h 46m

$133

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD - SFO

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Mon 9/15

5:52 pm-7:52 am

2 stops17h 00m

$134

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/24

Showing 1-10 of 15 results
1
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The best insider tips for Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco trip
Airlines
United Airlines

United's Economy Plus offers extra legroom, perfect for comfort on longer domestic routes.


United's Polaris Lounges provide exclusive amenities like showers and dining for premium passengers.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska's Premium Class offers extra legroom and free cocktails, ideal for added comfort on longer flights.


Alaska's Wi-Fi is a flat fee, allowing business travelers to work efficiently during flights.

Airports
IAD

For a smooth departure from IAD, use the Aerotrain to quickly reach distant gates. Pay attention to signage as it's not a loop system.

Read more about IADby Ramsey Qubein
SFO

Use BART for a cost-effective trip from SFO to downtown San Francisco. The journey takes about 40 minutes.

Read more about SFOby Harriet Baskas
Our travel experts
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on United Airlines and 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
Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

Expert on Alaska Airlines

Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

One of the web's original travel bloggers, Robert launched his first site Leave Your Daily Hell in 2009. Since then, he's expanded into destination niche sites (one each for Japan, Thailand and Taiwan), in addition to having written for the inflight magazines of Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. Overall, he's visited nearly 100 countries, and flies business as often as possible.

Read more
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on IAD

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Read more

Best time to book a flight from Dulles Intl to San Francisco

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco from Dulles Intl 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco

How far ahead should I book a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Dulles Intl to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on July 18, 2025.

Booking 23 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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 IAD to SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Dulles Intl 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 July 25, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco in the morning. Doing so could potentially save you 26% on the flight price compared to flying in the afternoon, which is usually more expensive.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Dulles Intl to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on July 20, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flight should consider departing on Thursday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Saturday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco

Explore weekly flight availability from Dulles Intl 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 July 25, 2025.

The most flights from IAD to SFO are scheduled on a Thursday (47 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (38 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 July 25, 2025.
See what other customers who have flown with Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and Delta from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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.

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
8.0
Very good

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Dulles Intl 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 airport do you fly into for flights to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl?

    San Francisco (SFO), located 11.8 mi from the city center, is the airport you fly into when you book flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Francisco. 7 airlines have flights to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl on a regular basis. Booking flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Francisco should not be difficult; the airport handles an average of 41 inbound flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl per day.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco round-trip?

    According to our current data, Hawaiian Airlines ($267), Frontier ($268), and Delta ($275) offers the cheapest pricing from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco. Hawaiian Airlines is 38% cheaper than the average price of flights available within the next 90 days to this destination.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco one-way?

    For one-way options, check prices for Frontier. According to our data, you can fly for as low as $129. Users have also found prices from $133 and $134 on Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, respectively.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco on time: Ethiopian Air (95%), Egyptair (88%), Air China (79%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $178. While the most popular route (Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - San Francisco) can be booked for $257 on average our data indicates $1,957 when flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Dulles Intl 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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
Mountain View
Santa Cruz
South San Francisco
Livermore
Turlock
Manteca
Antioch
Hollister
Watsonville
Newark
Milpitas
Sunnyvale
Campbell
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San Leandro
Burlingame

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Alternative routes for Dulles Intl to San Francisco

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

Top 7 airlines flying from Dulles Intl to San Francisco

Discover the top 7 airlines that operate flights from Dulles Intl 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 July 25, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$137Average$278FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$241Average$396FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
DeltaCheapest$256Average$347FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Hawaiian AirlinesCheapest$267Average$397FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time85%
United AirlinesCheapest$297Average$474FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$316Average$497FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$336Average$458FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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