How long is the flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Southwest, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines can get you from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco in just under 6h 10m. Your travel time can differ by up to 9h 19m. There are 2449 mi between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

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

Cheapflights users have booked flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco round-trip from $146. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Frontier, from $151, and Southwest, from $236. JetBlue is currently priced 69% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

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

One-way options have recently been found by users for as low as $66 on Frontier. Other airlines that offer cheap prices include Southwest from $92 and Delta from $128 one-way.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in San Francisco ranges from 0.0 - 4.4 inches per month. January is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.4 in. July is typically the driest time to visit San Francisco when rainfall is around 0.0 in.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to San Francisco, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, September is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 62.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 51.8 F).

What are the most popular routes from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

The most popular route from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - San Francisco. You may also consider Baltimore/Washington - San Francisco or Washington, D.C. Reagan-National - San Francisco.

What are the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

The cheapest flight price from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is $244. On average you can expect to pay $1,779. The most popular route, (Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - San Francisco), can usually be booked for $241.

What are the most reliable airlines from Washington, D.C. 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. to San Francisco on time: Air China (79%), Ethiopian Air (77%), Virgin Australia (71%).

What are the most popular airlines that fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

When booking a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, you may want to consider flying on United Airlines, Frontier or Alaska Airlines as they are the most popular for this route.

Most accurate provider : When it comes to deals on Washington, D.C.-San Francisco flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Washington, D.C.-San Francisco flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Washington, D.C.-San Francisco flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Most trusted provider : When it comes to deals on Washington, D.C.-San Francisco flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub 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 Washington, D.C.-San Francisco flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

What airport do you fly into for flights to San Francisco from Washington, D.C.?

If you book a flight to San Francisco from Washington, D.C., you will be flying to San Francisco, which is the city’s only airport. San Francisco (SFO) is located 11.0 mi from the center of San Francisco. There are 20 flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco per day from 8 different airlines.

Can I find deals for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that include hotel bookings?

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

How can I find direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

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

Can I find deals for business class flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Washington, D.C. 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.

$164+ Cheap Flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco are usually found in February or January, booked 68 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Cheapest

Best

Last-minute

One-way

Cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 11, 2026.

Wed 9/305:42 pm -

2 stops19h 40m

Sat 10/1011:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Deal found 9/7

$344

Sun 9/271:29 pm -

1 stop11h 59m

Sat 10/311:58 pm -

1 stop8h 42m

Deal found 9/8

$346

Thu 10/152:16 pm -

1 stop11h 09m

Tue 10/207:11 pm -

2 stops39h 58m

Deal found 9/8

$347

Wed 10/710:22 am -

1 stop12h 46m

Wed 10/1411:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Deal found 9/6

$348

Sat 10/1012:37 pm -

1 stop12h 48m

Mon 10/1211:59 pm -

2 stops21h 35m

Deal found 9/10

$350

Tue 9/2912:45 pm -

1 stop12h 43m

Mon 10/511:58 pm -

1 stop8h 42m

Deal found 9/10

$351

Sat 10/1012:37 pm -

1 stop12h 48m

Fri 10/1611:59 pm -

2 stops13h 48m

Deal found 9/9

$352

Wed 10/2110:22 am -

1 stop10h 33m

Sun 11/110:17 pm -

1 stop8h 04m

Deal found 9/5

$353

Sat 9/2612:45 pm -

1 stop12h 43m

Tue 9/293:15 pm -

2 stops15h 10m

Deal found 9/5

$354

Thu 10/292:07 pm -

1 stop11h 22m

Mon 11/210:23 pm -

2 stops32h 27m

Deal found 9/6

$355

Wed 10/145:40 am -

2 stops11h 45m

Sun 10/2510:14 pm -

1 stop8h 03m

Deal found 9/7

$356

Fri 9/256:00 am -

1 stop10h 19m

Thu 10/111:58 pm -

1 stop8h 35m

Deal found 9/8

$388

Best flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco
Discover carefully curated flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that have cost, travel time, and layovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated September 11, 2026.

Tue 11/310:40 am -

Nonstop6h 10m

Mon 11/99:25 pm -

Nonstop5h 05m

Deal found 9/8

$371

Thu 10/15:29 pm -

1 stop8h 30m

Sat 10/39:09 am -

Nonstop5h 25m

Deal found 9/8

$381

Sat 10/247:02 am -

2 stops15h 29m

Mon 10/2610:21 am -

2 stops16h 19m

Deal found 9/10

$433

Wed 11/42:28 pm -

1 stop9h 12m

Fri 11/1310:59 pm -

1 stop7h 56m

Deal found 9/10

$467

Tue 10/2011:45 am -

Nonstop5h 50m

Mon 10/269:35 pm -

Nonstop5h 10m

Deal found 9/10

$400

Sat 10/177:02 am -

2 stops13h 42m

Wed 10/218:47 am -

2 stops12h 12m

Deal found 9/8

$433

Sat 10/2412:45 pm -

Nonstop5h 48m

Wed 10/289:28 pm -

Nonstop5h 07m

Deal found 9/7

$437

Thu 11/54:00 pm -

2 stops10h 20m

Sat 11/711:35 pm -

2 stops9h 30m

Deal found 9/10

$401

Sat 11/77:45 am -

Nonstop6h 12m

Wed 11/112:18 pm -

Nonstop5h 12m

Deal found 9/7

$437

Sat 11/77:46 am -

1 stop9h 24m

Thu 11/127:04 am -

1 stop7h 36m

Deal found 9/10

$463

Sat 10/246:55 am -

1 stop9h 45m

Sat 10/316:20 am -

2 stops8h 55m

Deal found 9/9

$442

Fri 11/67:45 am -

Nonstop6h 12m

Tue 11/102:18 pm -

Nonstop5h 12m

Deal found 9/10

$447

Sun 12/66:59 pm -

Nonstop5h 57m

Wed 12/169:40 am -

Nonstop5h 19m

Deal found 9/7

$477

Sat 10/316:00 am -

2 stops10h 00m

Tue 11/38:20 am -

2 stops11h 00m

Deal found 9/8

$447

Thu 11/195:38 pm -

Nonstop5h 57m

Fri 11/271:50 pm -

Nonstop5h 06m

Deal found 9/9

$477

Sat 10/106:00 am -

2 stops14h 45m

Sat 10/1711:40 pm -

1 stop9h 35m

Deal found 9/10

$448

Wed 10/282:30 pm -

Nonstop6h 08m

Mon 11/29:12 am -

Nonstop5h 14m

Deal found 9/8

$481

Fri 11/134:25 pm -

2 stops9h 55m

Mon 11/166:00 am -

1 stop7h 15m

Deal found 9/8

$463

Wed 11/111:00 pm -

2 stops11h 20m

Fri 11/135:05 am -

2 stops8h 50m

Deal found 9/8

$468

Thu 9/2412:15 pm -

1 stop9h 09m

Sat 10/39:09 am -

Nonstop5h 25m

Deal found 9/10

$536

Thu 10/154:20 pm -

2 stops10h 00m

Tue 10/2011:40 pm -

1 stop9h 15m

Deal found 9/8

$472

Wed 9/306:35 am -

Nonstop5h 48m

Wed 9/301:50 pm -

Nonstop5h 19m

Deal found 9/7

$537

Tue 10/1311:40 am -

2 stops13h 40m

Thu 10/158:00 pm -

2 stops9h 50m

Deal found 9/10

$474

Wed 10/144:15 pm -

Nonstop5h 53m

Tue 10/204:10 pm -

1 stop11h 19m

Deal found 9/8

$565

Thu 11/1210:35 am -

Nonstop6h 10m

Tue 11/179:25 pm -

Nonstop5h 05m

Deal found 9/7

$475

Thu 10/2911:45 am -

Nonstop5h 50m

Tue 11/39:25 pm -

Nonstop5h 05m

Deal found 9/6

$475

Mon 10/196:35 am -

Nonstop5h 48m

Mon 10/269:28 pm -

Nonstop5h 07m

Deal found 9/9

$587

Wed 11/116:05 am -

2 stops10h 55m

Mon 11/168:20 am -

2 stops11h 00m

Deal found 9/6

$477

Fri 10/166:37 pm -

Nonstop5h 49m

Mon 10/199:30 pm -

Nonstop5h 16m

Deal found 9/10

$587

Wed 10/214:00 pm -

2 stops9h 50m

Sun 10/2511:40 pm -

1 stop11h 20m

Deal found 9/10

$478

Last-minute flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco
Discover last-minute flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Data last updated September 11, 2026 and is based on user searches.

Fri 9/256:00 am -

1 stop10h 19m

Thu 10/111:58 pm -

1 stop8h 35m

Deal found 9/8

$388

Sun 9/271:29 pm -

1 stop11h 59m

Sat 10/311:58 pm -

1 stop8h 42m

Deal found 9/8

$346

Tue 9/2912:45 pm -

1 stop12h 43m

Mon 10/511:58 pm -

1 stop8h 42m

Deal found 9/10

$351

Tue 9/2910:22 am -

2 stops24h 52m

Sat 10/311:58 pm -

1 stop8h 42m

Deal found 9/8

$354

Wed 9/305:42 pm -

2 stops19h 40m

Sat 10/1011:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Deal found 9/7

$344

Wed 10/710:22 am -

1 stop12h 46m

Wed 10/1411:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Deal found 9/6

$348

Sat 10/1012:37 pm -

1 stop12h 48m

Mon 10/1211:59 pm -

2 stops21h 35m

Deal found 9/10

$350

Sat 10/1012:37 pm -

1 stop12h 48m

Fri 10/1611:59 pm -

2 stops13h 48m

Deal found 9/9

$352

Wed 10/145:40 am -

1 stop15h 15m

Mon 10/1910:14 pm -

1 stop8h 13m

Deal found 9/6

$353

Wed 10/145:40 am -

2 stops11h 45m

Sun 10/2510:14 pm -

1 stop8h 03m

Deal found 9/7

$356

Thu 10/152:16 pm -

1 stop11h 09m

Tue 10/207:11 pm -

2 stops39h 58m

Deal found 9/8

$347

Thu 10/292:07 pm -

1 stop11h 22m

Mon 11/210:23 pm -

2 stops32h 27m

Deal found 9/6

$355

One-way flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco
Search for one-way flight options from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated September 11, 2026.

Tue 10/135:40 am -

2 stops29h 33m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/7

$164

Fri 10/162:16 pm -

1 stop11h 09m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/9

$165

Sat 10/245:40 am -

2 stops11h 45m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/10

$166

Tue 12/812:32 pm -

2 stops28h 42m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/9

$167

Fri 10/26:00 am -

2 stops18h 27m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/5

$168

Tue 10/66:38 am -

2 stops30h 44m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/9

$169

Wed 10/75:42 pm -

2 stops19h 12m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/6

$170

Thu 10/159:12 pm -

2 stops38h 01m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/10

$172

Tue 9/295:42 pm -

2 stops19h 40m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/9

$173

Wed 10/1410:22 am -

1 stop10h 33m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/6

$174

Wed 9/234:36 pm -

1 stop8h 52m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/7

$175

Thu 10/222:16 pm -

2 stops33h 22m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/6

$175

Find flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Most accurate provider	FlightHub 3 stars
Most trusted provider	FlightHub 3 stars
Round-trip from	$344 (Kiwi.com)
One-way from	$164 (Kiwi.com)
Popular in	June
Cheapest in	February
Average price	$508
Good round-trip deal	$490 or less
Good one-way deal	$258 or less

Provider with most accurate pricing for Washington, D.C. (WAS)-San Francisco flight deals.

Search Deals

Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Washington, D.C. (WAS)-San Francisco flights.

Search Deals

From Washington, D.C. (WAS) to San Francisco

Search Deals

One-way flight from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to San Francisco

Search Deals

Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($26 potential increase over avg. RT price).

Search Deals

Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).

Search Deals

Average for round-trip flights in September 2026

Search Deals

Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to San Francisco.

Search Deals

Price to beat on a one-way flight from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to San Francisco.

Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

BaltimoreSan Francisco

BWI Baltimore/Washington - SFO San Francisco

BWISFO

Baltimore/Washington

Mon 12/7

10:40 am-1:50 pm

Nonstop6h 10m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$186

BaltimoreSan Francisco

BWI Baltimore/Washington - SFO San Francisco

BWISFO

Baltimore/Washington

Tue 11/10

10:40 am-1:50 pm

Nonstop6h 10m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$186

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - SFO San Francisco

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Sat 10/3

7:02 am-10:49 pm

1 stop18h 47m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$187

Quickest round-trip

BaltimoreSan Francisco

BWI Baltimore/Washington - SFO San Francisco

BWISFO

Baltimore/Washington

Fri 10/2

11:45 am-2:35 pm

Nonstop5h 50m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$215

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - SFO San Francisco

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 10/7

7:02 am-5:00 pm

2 stops12h 58m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$217

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - SFO San Francisco

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 10/14

7:02 am-6:50 pm

2 stops14h 48m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$217

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - SFO San Francisco

IADSFO

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Sat 10/31

7:02 am-5:00 pm

2 stops12h 58m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$217

BaltimoreSan Francisco

BWI Baltimore/Washington - SFO San Francisco

BWISFO

Baltimore/Washington

Mon 11/23

3:29 pm-11:48 pm

1 stop11h 19m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$224

Washington, D.C.San Francisco

DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National - SFO San Francisco

DCASFO

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Tue 12/8

6:59 pm-9:56 pm

Nonstop5h 57m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$229

BaltimoreSan Francisco

BWI Baltimore/Washington - SFO San Francisco

BWISFO

Baltimore/Washington

Fri 11/13

10:40 am-7:05 pm

2 stops11h 25m

San Francisco

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-3:00 am

Nonstop0h 00m

$230

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 9/10

Showing 1-10 of 60 resultsSorted by cheapest first

...

Compare providers for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco in September.

Provider	Price Accuracy	Trust Score*
Expedia	Price Accuracy1 star	Trust Score*3 stars
FlightHub	Price Accuracy3 stars	Trust Score*3 stars
JustAirTicket	Price Accuracy-	Trust Score*1 star
Super.com	Price Accuracy-	Trust Score*3 stars

*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 Washington, D.C.-San Francisco flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Washington, D.C.-San Francisco flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Washington, D.C.-San Francisco flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Washington, D.C.-San Francisco flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub 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 Washington, D.C.-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 Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. with our price prediction graph.

WAS-SFO

BWI-SFO

IAD-SFO

DCA-SFO

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. to San Francisco

WAS-SFO

BWI-SFO

IAD-SFO

DCA-SFO

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco (average of $394). Flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $574). 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 WAS to SFO?

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco at noon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 30% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the afternoon.

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

The most flights from WAS to SFO are scheduled on a Wednesday (38 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Friday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (13 on average).

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.

Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights typically cost between $432 and $636 in September.
The cheapest round-trip price found within the last 5 days was $344 on Frontier (Sep 30-Oct 10).

What’s the top layover airport for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Denver (DEN) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 71% of 1-stop itineraries from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest layover airport for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Las Vegas (LAS) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $203.

What’s the fastest layover option from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Flights via Denver (DEN) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 7h 45m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest layover for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Flights via Charlotte (CLT) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 0h 58m.

How often are flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco delayed?

About 17% of weekly flights between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 186 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights?

Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the evening tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Tuesday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Thursday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights?

Over the last year, United Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 16% of flights being delayed.

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

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, you should look to book at least 52 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

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

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

The best insider tips for Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights

Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Washington, D.C. to San Francisco trip

Our travel experts

Harriet Baskas

Expert on United Airlines and SFO

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.

Robert Schrader

Expert on Alaska Airlines

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.

Emily Zemler

Expert on DCA

Emily is a freelance writer and book author based in London covering entertainment and travel. Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Times, Observer, and Conde Nast Traveler She has ventured to more than 40 countries and all seven continents, always in search of a great art museum. She has written extensively about hotels, luxury travel, and aviation.

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on IAD

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 reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest,Alaska Airlines, andDelta from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,194 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0

Excellent

Walter,May 2026

LAS - BUR

Short but excellent flight. Everyone was friendly and professional it was a great flight!

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,194 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,194 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0

Excellent

Walter,May 2026

LAS - BUR

Short but excellent flight. Everyone was friendly and professional it was a great flight!

Alaska Airlines

7.9

Good

12,909 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,194 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0

Excellent

Walter,May 2026

LAS - BUR

Short but excellent flight. Everyone was friendly and professional it was a great flight!

Delta

7.8

Good

8,557 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,194 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0

Excellent

Walter,May 2026

LAS - BUR

Short but excellent flight. Everyone was friendly and professional it was a great flight!

United Airlines

7.4

Good

10,200 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,194 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0

Excellent

Walter,May 2026

LAS - BUR

Short but excellent flight. Everyone was friendly and professional it was a great flight!

Frontier

5.6

Fair

2,608 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,194 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0

Excellent

Walter,May 2026

LAS - BUR

Short but excellent flight. Everyone was friendly and professional it was a great flight!

Related info for your journey

What airport do you fly into for flights to San Francisco from Washington, D.C.?
If you book a flight to San Francisco from Washington, D.C., you will be flying to San Francisco, which is the city’s only airport. San Francisco (SFO) is located 11.0 mi from the center of San Francisco. There are 20 flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco per day from 8 different airlines.
How long is the flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?
Southwest, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines can get you from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco in just under 6h 10m. Your travel time can differ by up to 9h 19m. There are 2449 mi between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.
What are the cheapest airlines flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco round-trip?
Cheapflights users have booked flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco round-trip from $146. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Frontier, from $151, and Southwest, from $236. JetBlue is currently priced 69% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.
What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco one-way?
One-way options have recently been found by users for as low as $66 on Frontier. Other airlines that offer cheap prices include Southwest from $92 and Delta from $128 one-way.
What are the most popular routes from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?
The most popular route from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - San Francisco. You may also consider Baltimore/Washington - San Francisco or Washington, D.C. Reagan-National - San Francisco.
What are the most reliable airlines from Washington, D.C. 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. to San Francisco on time: Air China (79%), Ethiopian Air (77%), Virgin Australia (71%).
What are the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?
The cheapest flight price from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is $244. On average you can expect to pay $1,779. The most popular route, (Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - San Francisco), can usually be booked for $241.
Can I find deals for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that include hotel bookings?
Yes. In addition to deals on Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.
How can I find direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?
After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.
Can I find deals for business class flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?
Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Washington, D.C. 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. to San Francisco?
Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco (average of $394). Flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $574). 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.

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Top 8 airlines flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Airline	Cheapest	Average	Flexibility	On-time
JetBlue	Cheapest$146	Average$429	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time62%
Frontier	Cheapest$151	Average$320	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time62%
Sun Country Air	Cheapest$162	Average$335	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time83%
Alaska Airlines	Cheapest$217	Average$423	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time75%
Southwest	Cheapest$236	Average$464	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time63%
Delta	Cheapest$256	Average$453	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-timeN/A
United Airlines	Cheapest$276	Average$547	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time69%
American Airlines	Cheapest$291	Average$574	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time71%

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$164+ Cheap flights from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to San Francisco (SFO)

This is the cheapest round-trip flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 10/13. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.

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Cheap flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San FranciscoExplore the most affordable flight options available from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 11, 2026.

Explore the most affordable flight options available from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 11, 2026.

Best flights from Washington, D.C. to San FranciscoDiscover carefully curated flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that have cost, travel time, and layovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated September 11, 2026.

Discover carefully curated flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that have cost, travel time, and layovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated September 11, 2026.

Last-minute flights from Washington, D.C. to San FranciscoDiscover last-minute flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Data last updated September 11, 2026 and is based on user searches.

Discover last-minute flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Data last updated September 11, 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from Washington, D.C. to San FranciscoSearch for one-way flight options from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated September 11, 2026.

Search for one-way flight options from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated September 11, 2026.

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Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that are best for you.

Compare providers for flights from Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. to San Francisco in September.

Best time to book a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. with our price prediction graph.

Cheapflights Insights

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

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

Find hourly flight availability from Washington, D.C. 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 September 11, 2026.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco at noon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 30% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the afternoon.

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

The most flights from WAS to SFO are scheduled on a Wednesday (38 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Friday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (13 on average).

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.

Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights typically cost between $432 and $636 in September.The cheapest round-trip price found within the last 5 days was $344 on Frontier (Sep 30-Oct 10).

What’s the top layover airport for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Share of 1-stop round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, using the same layover each way.

Denver (DEN) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 71% of 1-stop itineraries from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest layover airport for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Average round-trip fare for 1-stop flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, with the same layover each way.

Las Vegas (LAS) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $203.

What’s the fastest layover option from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Shortest average travel time for 1-stop one-way flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, based on itineraries clicked by Cheapflights users over the past 12 months, grouped by layover airport.

Flights via Denver (DEN) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 7h 45m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest layover for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Average layover duration for 1-stop one-way flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, chosen by Cheapflights users in the last 12 months, grouped by stopover airport.

Flights via Charlotte (CLT) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 0h 58m.

How often are flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco delayed?

About 17% of weekly flights between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 186 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights?

Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the evening tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Tuesday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Thursday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights?

Over the last year, United Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 16% of flights being delayed.

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

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, you should look to book at least 52 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on September 5, 2026.

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

The best insider tips for Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights

AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.

Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Washington, D.C. to San Francisco trip

Our travel experts

Reviews of airlines servicing San Francisco

Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest,Alaska Airlines, andDelta from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Related info for your journey

What airport do you fly into for flights to San Francisco from Washington, D.C.?

How long is the flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

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

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

What are the most popular routes from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

What are the most reliable airlines from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 11, 2026.

Best flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco
Discover carefully curated flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that have cost, travel time, and layovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated September 11, 2026.

Last-minute flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco
Discover last-minute flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Data last updated September 11, 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco
Search for one-way flight options from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated September 11, 2026.

Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights typically cost between $432 and $636 in September.
The cheapest round-trip price found within the last 5 days was $344 on Frontier (Sep 30-Oct 10).