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

Departing from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. will take you 8h 11m. Airlines will cover a distance of 2449 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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

Cheapflights users have booked flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. round-trip from $128. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Frontier, from $150, and JetBlue, from $208. Delta is priced at 73% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

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

$75 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Frontier. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Delta and Alaska Airlines, with prices starting from $132 and $138, respectively.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Washington, D.C. ranges from 2.6 - 4.0 inches per month. May is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.0 in. February is typically the driest time to visit Washington, D.C. when rainfall is around 2.6 in.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Washington, D.C., use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 80.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 35.6 F).

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

When deciding which route to take from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. consider San Francisco - Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl, San Francisco - Washington, D.C. Reagan-National or San Francisco - Baltimore/Washington as they are the most popular.

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

On average you can expect to pay $1,737 for a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. The cheapest flight overall is $223 while the most popular route, (San Francisco - Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl) is currently priced at $350.

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

No one likes to see their flight delayed. When booking a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. consider choosing Asiana Airlines (83%), Brussels Airlines (79%) or Austrian Airlines (78%) as they are the most reliable in getting you off to your destination on time.

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

United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Frontier are the most popular airlines when flying from San Francisco to Washington, D.C..

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

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

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

Most people fly from San Francisco (SFO) if they book a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. On average, San Francisco has 33 outbound flights to Washington, D.C. per day from 8 airlines. San Francisco is conveniently located just 11.0 mi from San Francisco’s city center.

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

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

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

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

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

Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. 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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. are usually found in January or February, booked 22 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Friday and return on a Thursday

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

Cheapest

Best

Last-minute

One-way

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 14, 2026.

Fri 10/1610:19 pm -

1 stop29h 01m

Mon 10/196:00 am -

1 stop29h 13m

Deal found 9/13

$331

Mon 10/511:58 pm -

1 stop12h 36m

Tue 10/64:36 pm -

1 stop8h 52m

Deal found 9/11

$345

Sun 10/2510:14 pm -

1 stop8h 03m

Fri 10/302:07 pm -

1 stop11h 22m

Deal found 9/10

$345

Sat 10/1710:14 pm -

1 stop8h 13m

Sat 10/2410:22 am -

1 stop10h 33m

Deal found 9/9

$346

Fri 10/910:14 pm -

1 stop8h 13m

Fri 10/169:12 pm -

2 stops20h 13m

Deal found 9/9

$347

Wed 10/2111:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Sun 10/2510:22 am -

2 stops24h 51m

Deal found 9/9

$351

Sun 10/1811:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Tue 10/205:42 pm -

2 stops29h 56m

Deal found 9/11

$354

Mon 10/511:58 pm -

1 stop8h 42m

Wed 10/149:12 pm -

1 stop23h 43m

Deal found 9/10

$355

Tue 10/1310:14 pm -

1 stop8h 13m

Tue 10/205:42 pm -

2 stops29h 56m

Deal found 9/13

$356

Sat 11/710:17 pm -

1 stop7h 45m

Thu 11/1910:16 am -

1 stop13h 24m

Deal found 9/9

$357

Fri 10/210:05 pm -

1 stop8h 20m

Wed 10/712:45 pm -

1 stop12h 43m

Deal found 9/11

$358

Fri 10/910:14 pm -

1 stop12h 59m

Mon 10/129:52 pm -

2 stops23h 33m

Deal found 9/11

$359

Best flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
Discover carefully curated flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. that have cost, travel time, and layovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated September 14, 2026.

Sat 10/1710:40 am -

1 stop9h 47m

Mon 10/263:40 pm -

1 stop9h 54m

Deal found 9/9

$372

Wed 10/2112:45 am -

1 stop8h 11m

Mon 10/266:34 pm -

Nonstop6h 11m

Deal found 9/10

$401

Wed 11/186:40 am -

1 stop10h 20m

Sun 11/226:59 pm -

Nonstop6h 14m

Deal found 9/9

$430

Tue 12/110:40 pm -

1 stop9h 02m

Wed 12/27:06 pm -

1 stop8h 04m

Deal found 9/13

$457

Thu 12/39:25 pm -

Nonstop5h 05m

Sun 12/66:40 am -

1 stop8h 45m

Deal found 9/10

$457

Wed 10/142:30 pm -

Nonstop5h 23m

Tue 10/205:59 pm -

Nonstop5h 57m

Deal found 9/10

$417

Thu 10/812:05 pm -

1 stop10h 00m

Sun 10/116:15 am -

1 stop8h 00m

Deal found 9/10

$467

Fri 11/610:55 pm -

Nonstop5h 08m

Wed 11/116:20 pm -

Nonstop6h 09m

Deal found 9/13

$467

Sat 10/107:08 am -

2 stops13h 51m

Sat 10/177:02 am -

2 stops13h 42m

Deal found 9/9

$521

Wed 10/710:35 am -

2 stops9h 51m

Mon 10/196:32 pm -

1 stop9h 02m

Deal found 9/10

$555

Wed 10/146:15 am -

2 stops9h 10m

Mon 10/193:55 pm -

2 stops9h 30m

Deal found 9/11

$513

Wed 10/149:09 am -

Nonstop5h 25m

Mon 10/193:04 pm -

1 stop8h 10m

Deal found 9/11

$485

Wed 11/259:46 am -

Nonstop5h 13m

Tue 12/110:59 am -

1 stop24h 03m

Deal found 9/11

$555

Thu 11/196:00 am -

2 stops8h 25m

Tue 12/13:45 pm -

2 stops9h 30m

Deal found 9/12

$528

Thu 10/154:51 pm -

Nonstop5h 15m

Mon 10/195:48 pm -

Nonstop5h 42m

Deal found 9/13

$497

Tue 10/136:07 am -

1 stop12h 52m

Tue 10/206:57 pm -

Nonstop5h 58m

Deal found 9/13

$575

Thu 10/2910:35 am -

2 stops10h 09m

Mon 11/23:59 pm -

1 stop10h 57m

Deal found 9/12

$635

Fri 10/2310:50 pm -

1 stop7h 40m

Sun 10/255:35 pm -

2 stops9h 50m

Deal found 9/13

$531

Fri 10/162:30 pm -

Nonstop5h 23m

Mon 10/195:59 pm -

Nonstop5h 57m

Deal found 9/9

$502

Thu 10/112:23 pm -

1 stop28h 37m

Sun 10/46:57 pm -

Nonstop5h 58m

Deal found 9/9

$585

Sun 11/2211:35 pm -

2 stops9h 30m

Fri 11/276:20 am -

1 stop9h 45m

Deal found 9/11

$538

Thu 10/17:08 am -

1 stop10h 52m

Mon 10/56:57 pm -

Nonstop5h 58m

Deal found 9/13

$632

Wed 10/75:41 pm -

1 stop10h 40m

Mon 10/195:48 pm -

Nonstop5h 42m

Deal found 9/9

$575

Sun 9/2710:30 pm -

Nonstop5h 05m

Thu 10/16:10 am -

1 stop7h 55m

Deal found 9/9

$579

Sun 10/1110:40 pm -

Nonstop5h 21m

Sat 10/178:30 am -

Nonstop5h 52m

Deal found 9/13

$577

Fri 10/911:40 pm -

1 stop8h 20m

Sat 10/101:00 pm -

2 stops11h 15m

Deal found 9/13

$582

Tue 10/209:43 am -

1 stop9h 16m

Sun 10/256:57 pm -

Nonstop5h 58m

Deal found 9/12

$647

Tue 10/206:45 am -

Nonstop5h 19m

Sun 10/256:15 am -

Nonstop5h 59m

Deal found 9/13

$577

Thu 10/1512:05 pm -

2 stops9h 50m

Sun 10/183:30 pm -

2 stops9h 05m

Deal found 9/11

$606

Fri 10/22:07 pm -

Nonstop5h 23m

Sun 10/47:20 am -

Nonstop5h 57m

Deal found 9/10

$587

Last-minute flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
Discover last-minute flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Data last updated September 14, 2026 and is based on user searches.

Fri 10/210:05 pm -

1 stop8h 20m

Wed 10/712:45 pm -

1 stop12h 43m

Deal found 9/11

$358

Mon 10/511:58 pm -

1 stop12h 36m

Tue 10/64:36 pm -

1 stop8h 52m

Deal found 9/11

$345

Mon 10/511:58 pm -

1 stop8h 42m

Wed 10/149:12 pm -

1 stop23h 43m

Deal found 9/10

$355

Fri 10/910:14 pm -

1 stop8h 13m

Fri 10/169:12 pm -

2 stops20h 13m

Deal found 9/9

$347

Fri 10/910:14 pm -

1 stop12h 59m

Mon 10/129:52 pm -

2 stops23h 33m

Deal found 9/11

$359

Tue 10/1310:14 pm -

1 stop8h 13m

Tue 10/205:42 pm -

2 stops29h 56m

Deal found 9/13

$356

Fri 10/1610:19 pm -

1 stop29h 01m

Mon 10/196:00 am -

1 stop29h 13m

Deal found 9/13

$331

Sat 10/1710:14 pm -

1 stop8h 13m

Sat 10/2410:22 am -

1 stop10h 33m

Deal found 9/9

$346

Sun 10/1811:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Tue 10/205:42 pm -

2 stops29h 56m

Deal found 9/11

$354

Wed 10/2111:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Sun 10/2510:22 am -

2 stops24h 51m

Deal found 9/9

$351

Sun 10/2510:14 pm -

1 stop8h 03m

Fri 10/302:07 pm -

1 stop11h 22m

Deal found 9/10

$345

Thu 10/2911:52 pm -

1 stop8h 00m

Sun 11/12:07 pm -

1 stop11h 22m

Deal found 9/10

$357

One-way flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
Search for one-way flight options from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated September 14, 2026.

Sat 10/1711:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/10

$164

Thu 10/110:24 pm -

2 stops21h 40m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/10

$165

Fri 10/1611:59 pm -

1 stop8h 34m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/9

$166

Tue 10/2712:20 pm -

2 stops18h 30m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/11

$167

Wed 11/186:00 am -

2 stops8h 35m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/13

$168

Thu 10/158:58 am -

2 stops23h 00m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/13

$169

Thu 11/1211:06 am -

2 stops19h 15m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/10

$170

Fri 10/910:14 pm -

1 stop12h 59m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/10

$171

Wed 10/2111:59 pm -

1 stop7h 59m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/11

$172

Mon 10/268:58 am -

2 stops23h 10m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/10

$173

Tue 10/1311:59 pm -

1 stop8h 34m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/11

$174

Mon 10/511:58 pm -

1 stop8h 42m

Wed 12/3112:00 am -

Nonstop0h 00m

Deal found 9/11

$175

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

Most accurate provider	FlightHub 3 stars
Most trusted provider	FlightHub 3 stars
Round-trip from	$331 (Expedia)
One-way from	$164 (Super.com)
Popular in	June
Cheapest in	January
Average price	$491
Good round-trip deal	$451 or less
Good one-way deal	$189 or less

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

Search Deals

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

Search Deals

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

Search Deals

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

Search Deals

Highest demand for flights based on searches. 12% potential increase in price ($67 potential increase over avg. RT price).

Search Deals

Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($10 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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C. (WAS).

Search Deals

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

Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

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

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

San FranciscoBaltimore

SFO San Francisco - BWI Baltimore/Washington

SFOBWI

San Francisco

Mon 10/26

9:35 pm-5:45 am

Nonstop5h 10m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$186

San FranciscoBaltimore

SFO San Francisco - BWI Baltimore/Washington

SFOBWI

San Francisco

Wed 12/9

8:00 am-9:09 pm

1 stop10h 09m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$186

San FranciscoBaltimore

SFO San Francisco - BWI Baltimore/Washington

SFOBWI

San Francisco

Thu 11/26

6:00 am-5:24 pm

1 stop8h 24m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$196

San FranciscoBaltimore

SFO San Francisco - BWI Baltimore/Washington

SFOBWI

San Francisco

Thu 10/15

12:05 pm-1:05 am

1 stop10h 00m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$196

San FranciscoWashington, D.C.

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

SFOIAD

San Francisco

Mon 11/23

6:17 am-12:20 am

1 stop15h 03m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$197

San FranciscoWashington, D.C.

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

SFODCA

San Francisco

Wed 10/7

10:30 am-11:17 pm

1 stop9h 47m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$201

San FranciscoBaltimore

SFO San Francisco - BWI Baltimore/Washington

SFOBWI

San Francisco

Mon 10/5

9:35 pm-5:45 am

Nonstop5h 10m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$214

San FranciscoBaltimore

SFO San Francisco - BWI Baltimore/Washington

SFOBWI

San Francisco

Fri 10/16

9:35 pm-5:45 am

Nonstop5h 10m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$215

San FranciscoWashington, D.C.

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

SFOIAD

San Francisco

Sat 10/17

7:03 am-11:59 pm

2 stops13h 56m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$217

San FranciscoWashington, D.C.

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

SFOIAD

San Francisco

Tue 12/1

11:48 pm-11:19 am

1 stop8h 31m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 12/31

12:00 am-9:00 pm

Nonstop0h 00m

$219

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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. 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
CheapTicketsDeal	Price Accuracy1 star	Trust Score*3 stars
CheapOair	Price Accuracy3 stars	Trust Score*3 stars
Kiwi.com	Price Accuracy3 stars	Trust Score*3 stars
eDreams	Price Accuracy2 stars	Trust Score*3 stars
Priceline	Price Accuracy1 star	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 San Francisco-Washington, D.C. flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on San Francisco-Washington, D.C. flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from San Francisco-Washington, D.C. flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on San Francisco-Washington, D.C. 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 San Francisco-Washington, D.C. 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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

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

SFO-WAS

SFO-IAD

SFO-BWI

SFO-DCA

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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

SFO-WAS

SFO-IAD

SFO-BWI

SFO-DCA

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. (average of $370). Flying from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. in June is currently the most expensive (average of $596). 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 SFO to WAS?

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are in the morning tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the afternoon could potentially save you up to 18% on airfare.

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

The most flights from SFO to WAS are scheduled on a Sunday (42 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (27 on average).

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

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.

San Francisco to Washington, D.C. flights typically cost between $426 and $604 in October.
The cheapest round-trip price found within the last 5 days was $331 on Frontier (Oct 16-Oct 19).

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

Denver (DEN) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 67% of 1-stop itineraries from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. on Cheapflights.

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

Denver (DEN) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $279.

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

Flights via Detroit (DTW) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 7h 17m.

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

Flights via Detroit (DTW) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 1h 10m.

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

The price you pay for your flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 21 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

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

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco to Washington, D.C. flight should consider departing on Tuesday at noon 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.

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

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

Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest,Alaska Airlines, andDelta from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,189 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0

Excellent

La Tracimeldamarcos,Jun 2026

LAX - SLC

The second flight was not as comfortable as the first as we had to change planes to what seemed to be a slightly older aircraft. The seats weren’t as comfortable as the other plane. But it wasn’t bad.

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,189 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,189 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0

Excellent

La Tracimeldamarcos,Jun 2026

LAX - SLC

Alaska Airlines

7.9

Good

12,925 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,189 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0

Excellent

La Tracimeldamarcos,Jun 2026

LAX - SLC

Delta

7.8

Good

8,564 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,189 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0

Excellent

La Tracimeldamarcos,Jun 2026

LAX - SLC

United Airlines

7.4

Good

10,213 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,189 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0

Excellent

La Tracimeldamarcos,Jun 2026

LAX - SLC

Frontier

5.6

Fair

2,601 reviews

Southwest

8.0

Very good

4,189 reviews

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0

Excellent

La Tracimeldamarcos,Jun 2026

LAX - SLC

Related info for your journey

What airport do you fly from for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?
Most people fly from San Francisco (SFO) if they book a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. On average, San Francisco has 33 outbound flights to Washington, D.C. per day from 8 airlines. San Francisco is conveniently located just 11.0 mi from San Francisco’s city center.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?
Departing from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. will take you 8h 11m. Airlines will cover a distance of 2449 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.
What are the cheapest airlines flying from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. round-trip?
Cheapflights users have booked flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. round-trip from $128. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Frontier, from $150, and JetBlue, from $208. Delta is priced at 73% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.
What are the cheapest airlines to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. one-way?
$75 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Frontier. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Delta and Alaska Airlines, with prices starting from $132 and $138, respectively.
What are the most popular routes from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?
When deciding which route to take from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. consider San Francisco - Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl, San Francisco - Washington, D.C. Reagan-National or San Francisco - Baltimore/Washington as they are the most popular.
What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?
No one likes to see their flight delayed. When booking a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. consider choosing Asiana Airlines (83%), Brussels Airlines (79%) or Austrian Airlines (78%) as they are the most reliable in getting you off to your destination on time.
What are the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?
On average you can expect to pay $1,737 for a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. The cheapest flight overall is $223 while the most popular route, (San Francisco - Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl) is currently priced at $350.
Can I find deals for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. that include hotel bookings?
Yes. In addition to deals on San Francisco to Washington, D.C. flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.
How can I find direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?
After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C..
Can I find deals for business class flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?
Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. 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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?
Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. (average of $370). Flying from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. in June is currently the most expensive (average of $596). 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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Airline	Cheapest	Average	Flexibility	On-time
Delta	Cheapest$128	Average$428	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-timeN/A
Frontier	Cheapest$150	Average$351	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time62%
Alaska Airlines	Cheapest$178	Average$458	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time75%
JetBlue	Cheapest$208	Average$419	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time62%
Hawaiian Airlines	Cheapest$212	Average$288	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time85%
United Airlines	Cheapest$272	Average$568	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time69%
Southwest	Cheapest$288	Average$494	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time63%
American Airlines	Cheapest$296	Average$505	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time71%

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

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 10/17. 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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 14, 2026.

Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 14, 2026.

Best flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.Discover carefully curated flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. that have cost, travel time, and layovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated September 14, 2026.

Discover carefully curated flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. that have cost, travel time, and layovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated September 14, 2026.

Last-minute flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.Discover last-minute flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Data last updated September 14, 2026 and is based on user searches.

Discover last-minute flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Data last updated September 14, 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.Search for one-way flight options from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated September 14, 2026.

Search for one-way flight options from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated September 14, 2026.

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

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

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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C. in September.

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

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

Cheapflights Insights

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

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

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated September 14, 2026.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are in the morning tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the afternoon could potentially save you up to 18% on airfare.

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

The most flights from SFO to WAS are scheduled on a Sunday (42 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (27 on average).

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

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.

San Francisco to Washington, D.C. flights typically cost between $426 and $604 in October.The cheapest round-trip price found within the last 5 days was $331 on Frontier (Oct 16-Oct 19).

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

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

Denver (DEN) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 67% of 1-stop itineraries from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. on Cheapflights.

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

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

Denver (DEN) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $279.

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

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

Flights via Detroit (DTW) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 7h 17m.

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

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

Flights via Detroit (DTW) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 1h 10m.

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

The price you pay for your flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 21 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Price data was last updated on September 12, 2026.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco to Washington, D.C. flight should consider departing on Tuesday at noon 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.

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

Our travel experts

Reviews of airlines servicing Washington, D.C.

Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest,Alaska Airlines, andDelta from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Related info for your journey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Traveling to a place near Washington, D.C.?

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 14, 2026.

Best flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
Discover carefully curated flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. that have cost, travel time, and layovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated September 14, 2026.

Last-minute flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
Discover last-minute flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Data last updated September 14, 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
Search for one-way flight options from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated September 14, 2026.

San Francisco to Washington, D.C. flights typically cost between $426 and $604 in October.
The cheapest round-trip price found within the last 5 days was $331 on Frontier (Oct 16-Oct 19).